Runny Eyes in Dogs: What You Can Do About It

By September 28, 2022 Dog Diseases, Dog Health, Eye Health, Supplements for Dogs, Vision Support 0 Comments

Runny Eyes in Dogs: What You Can Do About It

Ocular complications may have a wide range of causes, and runny eyes in dogs (epiphora) are the most common. Excessive tears may be caused by eyelid defects, infection or different eye illnesses.

Epiphora may be resolved with simple or elaborate procedures. While it is not breed-specific, certain breeds are more prone to particular eye disorders.

For example, dogs with the anatomical “flattened or squashed” face sometimes have tear duct drainage issues.

Red, watery eyes in dogs, often caused by several illnesses, become a concern when accompanied by additional signs of irritation.

Eye disorders may be uncomfortable for your pet and should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the following lines, you can find out what to do if your dog has eye discharge.

Table of Contents

Check out our Nutrition Strength Eye Health Supplement for Dogs here.

Are Watery Eyes Normal in Dogs?

Excessive watery eye discharge, also known as epiphora, is characterized by an overproduction of fluid discharge from the eyes. Most dogs generate clear eye discharge, while others produce yellow or green discharge.

Excessive eye weeping, however, is not usually indicative of eye disease. Sometimes, a dog may shed more tears than usual, although this is still considered normal.

Because of physical differences, some breeds, for example, generate more tears than others.

Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Bulldogs, Maltese and Pugs are more prone to shedding tears than other breeds. Though not considered an issue, excessive tear production in these breeds should be observed.

That is because they are prone to developing eye difficulties and other consequences, such as skin fold dermatitis in Bulldogs. The last one occurs when moisture from tears becomes trapped between face skin folds.

Excessive tear production due to eye disease is often accompanied by additional symptoms. When these symptoms are combined with epiphora, it nearly guarantees that your dog has an eye condition and that a trip to the clinic is in order. Among these signs are:

  • Cloudiness in the eye’s clear part.
  • The white area of the eye globe (sclera) is red.
  • The squinting of one or both eyes.
  • Unable to open one’s eyelids.
  • The mucosal membrane swells (termed conjunctivitis).
  • In the dark, colliding with walls and objects.
  • Excessive staining or the formation of gunk around the eyes.
  • Grabbing the eyelids.

Types of Runny Eyes in Dogs

Suppose you see any of the following symptoms in your dog, together with excessive eye discharge. In that case, he or she may suffer from an eye problem.

Many eye disorders in dogs may cause excessive tear production, so it’s essential to get your dog’s eyes adequately evaluated.

Let’s look at the five most prevalent forms of dog eye discharge and what you should do about it.

A Little Goop or Crust

Tears are necessary for sustaining eye health. They feed and oxygenate the cornea (the transparent layer of tissue at the front of the eye) and aid in removing debris from the eye’s surface.

Tears flow via ducts in the inner corners of each eye, although goop or crust may build up there from time to time.

This substance is often transparent or a little reddish-brown tint and is composed of dried tears, oil, mucus, dead cells, dust and other substances.

It is most noticeable in the morning and is often entirely normal. The quantity of ocular goop produced by a dog each night (or after a lengthy snooze) should be pretty consistent.

With particular wipes, the goop or crust should be simple to remove. Your dog’s eyes should not be red, and he should not show any indicators of eye discomfort (rubbing, squinting, blinking, and / or light sensitivity).

Make an appointment with your vet if you mark an increase in your dog’s eye goop or other concerning signs.

Watery Eyes

Excessive eye watering (epiphora) is linked to various illnesses ranging from relatively innocuous to dangerous. Here are some of the most prevalent reasons for watery eyes in dogs:

  • Allergies.
  • Irritants.
  • Foreign material in the eye.
  • Anatomical abnormalities (e.g., prominent eyes or rolled-in eyelids).
  • Blocked tear ducts.
  • Corneal wounds.
  • Glaucoma (increased eye pressure).

If your dog has a slight increase in weeping, but his eyes are standard in all other ways — and he doesn’t appear to be in any discomfort — appropriate it’s to keep an eye on the problem for a day or two.

Your dog may have just been exposed to pollen or dust and the increased ripping is attempting to alleviate the situation.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog has watery eyes or if your dog has red, painful eyes or other forms of eye discharge.

Reddish-Brown Tear Stains

Light-colored dogs’ hair often develops a reddish-brown stain at the inner corner of their eyes. This happens because tears contain a pigment called porphyrin. It becomes reddish-brown when exposed to air for an extended period.

Tear staining in this part is typical in the absence of other diseases and is just a cosmetic concern. Try one or more of the following treatments to reduce your dog’s tear stains:

  • Wipe the region down several times daily using a cleaning product designed exclusively for dogs. In a pinch, wet cloth with warm water can suffice.
  • Keep the hair around your dog’s eyes short.
  • Give your dog an antibiotic-free dietary supplement to help with tear stains.

Remember that porphyrin-stained fur may take months to grow out and for these treatments to work.

If your puppy has watery eyes оr you detect any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your veterinarian for an eye examination:

  • An increase in the quantity of staining caused by tears.
  • The look of your dog’s tear stains has changed.
  • The eyes of your dog get inflamed and painful.

White-Gray Mucus

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS) is a disorder that occurs when the immune system of a dog assaults and kills the glands that generate tears.

When there are fewer tears, the body attempts to compensate by producing more mucus to moisten the eyes.

However, since mucus cannot replace all of the functions of tears, the eyes become red and irritated and ulcers and aberrant corneal pigmentation may occur.

If left untreated, KCS may cause severe pain and blindness.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you observe white-gray mucous forming around your dog’s eyes and your dog has runny eyes.

He may use a simple “Schirmer Tear Test” test to distinguish KCS from other disorders linked with increased ocular mucus production.

Most dogs respond well to KCS treatment, including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, artificial tears, and / or other medications.

Surgery is an option but should be reserved for instances when medical therapy has failed.

Yellow or Green Eye Discharge

A dog whose eyes generate yellow or green discharge is likely to have an eye infection, especially if redness and pain are also present.

Eye infections may occur as a standalone issue or as a consequence of another disease (wounds, dry eye, etc.) that compromises the eye’s natural defenses against infection.

What seems to be an eye infection is often an indication of a systemic sickness or a condition affecting the respiratory tract, neurological system or another portion of the body.

If the dog has an eye infection or if the puppy has runny eyes should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of Watery Eyes in Dogs

Because wet eyes might indicate a severe condition, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately for an eye inspection.

The vet will want to know how long the eyes have been watering and whether there has been any recent sickness.

If your dog is in discomfort, a topical anesthetic may be administered directly to the eye before the inspection starts to numb the surface. On the eye, a fluorescein stain may be used.

This painless treatment is used to examine for scratches, foreign objects and tear drainage. The vet will check the drainage capacities of the nose once the stain has been applied and your dog’s head has been turned slightly downward. The stain will become visible in the nose within minutes of normal function.

The veterinarian will also examine your pet’s eyes to assess tear production (through a Schirmer Tear Test), corneal damage and nasolacrimal duct function. Radiographs may be taken to search for potential blockages.

Depending on the etiology of the epiphora, the veterinarian may recommend further testing with an ophthalmologist for all puppies with watery eyes.

Common Reasons and Therapies of Eye Discharge in Dogs

If your dog has clear eye discharge, it’s likely due to allergies or something physical, such as dust in the eye or wind in the face.

A watery discharge or mucus from one eye is often caused by foreign material, such as an eyelash. Still, a yellow-green or pus-like eye discharge might signal a severe illness.

Always see your veterinarian to determine the reason for your dog’s eye discharge since specific issues may result in blindness or loss of an eye if left untreated.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of your dog’s eye, may manifest as mucus, yellow-green pus or watery eye discharge.

Conjunctivitis may be caused by various factors, including allergies, injuries, birth deformities, tear duct difficulties, foreign matter, dry eye, distemper or malignancies.

Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include significantly red eyes, inflammation, excessive blinking, squinting, crusty eyes, pawing at the eyes or closing the eyes.

To treat conjunctivitis, you must first determine what is causing it. Treatment may include removing the irritant and calming the region with pain medication, antibiotics and saline wash to control infection, surgery to correct duct abnormalities or birth deformities, antihistamines for allergies or other drugs, depending on the cause.

Corneal Ulcers

These may be painful, superficial or severe sores. Trauma to the cornea, sickness, a lack of tears, anything foreign in the eye and other ailments may all cause them.

Corneal ulcers produce hot and watery eyes, light sensitivity, squinting, paw rubbing, a film over the eye and discharge from the eye.

Surgery, antibiotics or anti-inflammatories may be required for treatment. Seek immediate medical treatment for your pet.

Epiphora (Excessive Tearing)

Watery, weeping eyes that result in discolored or smelly fur and / or infected skin may be caused by various problems.

These include aberrant eyelashes, inflammation, allergies, corneal ulcers, tumors and eye discomfort.

Excessive weeping may be treated with topical antibiotics or steroids for tear duct inflammation, antibiotics and topical medicines for cornea injury or surgery for duct blockage, ulcers or atypical eyelashes.

Dry Eye

A sticky, persistent eye discharge might indicate canine dry eye caused by a lack of tear production.

Dry eyes, which may also contain mucous and inflammation, can be caused by distemper, injury, a blow to the head near a tear-producing gland or the body’s immune system attacking tear gland tissue.

Infection is a severe concern for dogs suffering from dry eyes, which may result in painful, inflamed eyes.

Ulcers on the cornea (surface of the eye) are also a significant concern because, in the absence of tears, the eyelid’s opening and shutting may damage the eye’s surface.

Depending on the severity of the dry eye, treatment may involve artificial tears for many weeks for mild cases, antibiotic eyedrops to manage secondary infections, immunosuppressant medicines to help regulate the immune system or surgery.

Glaucoma

This disorder is caused by high pressure in the eye. It may be identified by a bulging eye or eyes, hazy eyes and sometimes weeping.

Glaucoma is very painful and the vet may attempt to control the eye pressure with drugs, but surgery may be necessary.

Breed Issues

Flat-faced dogs, such as pugs, Pekingese, Boxers and Bulldogs, may be more prone to ocular discharge than other breeds due to deeper eye sockets and projecting eyes.

Dogs with more prominent eyes, known as brachycephalic breeds, may have tear drainage issues. Eyelids that fold inward (entropion), producing irritation from the lashes or do not close completely may necessitate surgery.

Breeds with loose facial skin, such as Bloodhounds, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Saint Bernards and certain Terriers, are more prone to rolling outward eyelids (ectropion) and cherry eye.

This disorder arises when an eyelid gland slides out of place. While antibiotics and steroids may assist, these illnesses often need surgery.

These are only a handful of the most prevalent causes of dog eye discharge. Because eye issues may indicate brain or nerve damage, infection or other severe disorders, get your dog’s eyes evaluated by a veterinarian to determine what’s causing the discharge.

Steps for Applying Your Dog’s Eye Medication

Eye disorders may need the use of eye drops or ointments, which are both simpler to apply with a few quick tips:

  • Keep the eye drops or ointment nearby, then use warm water and a cotton ball to wipe up any discharge around your dog’s eyes.
  • Tilt your dog’s head back slightly for eyedrops. Then, keeping your hand on your dog’s head to prevent the dropper from hitting its eye if the dog moves, squeeze drops into the top portion of your dog’s eye.
  • Gently pull down your dog’s lower lid to create a pocket for the eye ointment. Place a hand on your dog’s head. If the dog moves, the ointment applicator won’t contact the eye. Then, insert an ointment ribbon into the dog’s eye.
  • Gently open and shut the lids for a few seconds to help properly distribute the ointment or drops.

Preventing Eye Problems in Dogs

First, examine your dog’s eyes closely. Your dog’s pupils should be the same size, and his eyes should be bright and crust-free, with white surrounding the iris.

There should be minimal or no tearing, little squinting, and no visible inner eyelids. Pull your dog’s lower lids down gently — they should be pink, not red or white.

Something may be amiss if you see weeping, discharge, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, a visible third eyelid, closed or slanted eyes, or pupils of varying size. If your dog’s eye is red and watery, it’s time to contact your veterinarian.

Keep long hair out of your dog’s eyes (take your dog to a groomer or use round-tipped scissors to clip the hair).

Keep irritants like shampoos, soaps and flea treatment away from the eyes; and, lastly, monitor for indicators of an eye issue, such as redness, pawing, rubbing and squinting.

The Takeaway

You must finish the whole term of medicine to treat your dog’s weepy eye since if you stop too soon, the problem may not clear up fully or reoccur.

It is critical to monitor any changes in your dog’s eye health. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you see anything wrong with your dog’s eyes. Eyes are simply too valuable to risk and if left untreated, the issue might swiftly worsen.

Even if your dog has had weepy eyes for a time, make an appointment with your veterinarian to get them examined. Even if the issue has been present for some time, there is a potential that it is curable.

Nutrition Strength Eye Health Supplement for Dogs

Nutrition Strength Eye Health Supplement for Dogs

Check out our Nutrition Strength Eye Health Supplement for Dogs here.

Nutrition Strength’s Eye Health Supplement for Dogs with Lutein, Bilberry Fruit, Grape Seed and Green Tea Extract, Multivitamin Support for Dog Eye Allergies and Irritation Problems is specifically formulated to help support your pet’s vision and eye health.

A great way to help your dog cope with dog eye irritation and other ocular issues, our premium supplement benefits your furry friends by:

  • Providing lutein and zeaxanthin to support vision clarity.
  • Protecting the eyes from free radical damage with the help of astaxanthin.
  • Supporting eye health with a special blend of antioxidants, including astaxanthin and vitamins A, C and E.
  • Promoting a better eyesight with the help of bilberry fruit, which may help with retinal disorders.
  • Supplying green tea extract which may help lower the risk of developing retina disorders and macular degeneration.

Our tasty eye support blend tablets contains grape seed extract — an antioxidant that may help with eye disease.

Our safe eye supplement for dogs provides lutein and zeaxanthin, which are highly concentrated in the macula — a small area of the retina responsible for the three-color vision.

Furthermore, lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to make it less likely that your pet would develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slow its progression if it does occur.

Astaxanthin has been shown to improve the lens accommodative function and protect the optic nerve from damage, in addition to improving the retinal blood flow and protecting the eyes from UV damage.

Packed with powerful antioxidants, our premium eye health supplement for dogs may help decrease oxidative damage to support overall ocular health.

Image source: Wikimedia / Canada Hky.

Related Posts