Eye discharge is a common problem for some dogs. It could just be normal eye discharge or it could be a sign of something more serious, from infection to glaucoma to allergies. Our South Florida vets are here to explain the types of discharge and the reasons behind them.
Eye discharge is common in dogs, but it is important to know when there is a problem. There could be an underlying medical condition of a more serious magnitude. To ensure corrective action, you must learn the various types of eye discharges in dogs and what can be done.
Types of Eye Discharge In Dogs
There are a number of different types of eye discharge that are common in dogs. We have provided a list below with the most common types as well as warning signs for each one.
Clear, Watery Discharge
While tears play a vital role in keeping the eye and the cornea nourished with oxygen and moisture. The excessively watery eyes of your dog may be associated with many medical conditions varying from common allergies to more serious anatomical abnormalities.
Epiphora is the excessive watering of the eye that occurs in dogs when they are exposed to dust, irritants, pollutants, pollen, or smoke in excessive amounts.
However, If your dog experiences constant redness or inflammation in his eyes and appears to be in pain you should contact your South Florida vets immediately to rule out any chances of any corneal wounds or glaucoma.
Mucus With Yellow Pus Discharge
If you observe excessive watering in addition to the discharge of mucus and pus from your dog's eyes, this could be a sign that your dog is suffering from conjunctivitis, which causes inflammation of the membrane that lines the inside of the dog's eyes.
Dogs can get conjunctivitis for a variety of reasons, including tumors, distemper, dry eye, the presence of foreign matter, tear duct conditions, birth defects, and injuries. Tumors are one of the most common causes.
Sticky And Tenacious Discharge
There is a possibility that your dog has a condition known as canine dry eye if it has an eye that is constantly producing a substance that is similar to mucus and has a sticky appearance.
A dry eye occurs when the dog’s tear glands are unable to produce enough tears for keeping the eye cleansed and hydrated. When left untreated, dry eyes can advance to more serious eye infections and eye ulcers due to excessive scratching or chaffing of the eye in absence of enough lubrication.
Glaucoma Associated Discharge
Glaucoma is a condition that is more likely to appear in certain dog breeds than in others. These breeds include Cocker Spaniels, Chow-Chows, and Poodles, among others.
Glaucoma may be classified into two basic categories including primary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. Common symptoms of glaucoma include dilated pupils, clouded eyes, bulging of the eyes, the sensation of high pressure on the eyes, abnormal blinking, and loss of vision.
Reddish Brown Stain-Like Discharge
Light-colored breeds have a higher risk of developing a reddish-brown pigmentation in the fur just beneath the inner eye corners of their eyes.
Because of the presence of a pigment known as porphyrin in the dog's tears, the tears have this color. This pigment, when left exposed to the air for an extended period of time, turns a shade that is somewhere between red and brown.
In most cases, this condition is merely a "cosmetic" one, and it does not indicate that there is any kind of significant problem with the patient's health.
Reasons For Eye Discharge In Dogs
Your dog could suffer from dog eye discharge due to several reasons. The principal two reasons are canine conjunctivitis and seasonal discharge. Since the eye of the dog is similar to humans, the animal's eyes could get red and itchy. The primary cause of such a symptom is wind, dust, dirt, and pollen allergies. Mold spores and mites are also responsible.
A few dogs could develop several benign tumors on eyelids that rub the eye's surface. The result is discomfort accompanied by discharge for the dog. A few canines could also be born with collapsed or incomplete tear ducts. These lead tears to regularly spill over and consequently stain fur located underneath the eyes. A few dogs could be born with droopy eyelids. They roll in, causing dryness or chronic irritation, leading to eye goobers.
Dog eye discharge could also be a result of a traumatized cornea. Keratitis conjunctivitis or dry eye may cause the accumulation of slimy green mucus on the eye of a dog. Canines could suffer from excessive tearing as a consequence of abnormal lashes, glaucoma, or conjunctivitis infections.
Treatment For Eye Discharge In Dogs
Luckily there are ways to treat this and get your dog back to normal as soon as possible. The first option is to take your dog to a vet for its regular visits at least twice every year. Your vet will take the necessary steps to make sure that the eye of the dog will not cause any problems down the road.
In the case your pet is susceptible to seasonal allergies, you should start the treatment with the compound diphenhydramine. Discuss with the vet concerning antihistamines.
In case your dog has wispy and long hair which sticks to the dog's eyeballs, trim its hair away from the eyes. Surgical treatments are a must if the dog has deep nasal folds rubbing the eye or rolled eyelids. The best technique to treat dog eye discharge is gentle eye irrigation with sterile saline.
It is important to do this in order to flush the eye of any potentially irritant substance, such as pollen or dirt. The procedure should be carried out at least once per day, and some people recommend carrying it out twice daily.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.