Dog Runny Eyes

Dogs usually have a bit of dirt and other debris accumulated in the corners of their eyes.



The eyes attempt to flush out foreign substances through tearing. This is a natural function of the body which helps in getting rid of any unwanted foreign material in the eyes. In some cases, however, the tearing may occur excessively and repeatedly. The discharge from the eye may also take on a greenish yellow discoloration. The discharge may be thicker and may even have blood in it. The surrounding eyes tissues may also become red and inflamed.  Such dog eye discharge may either be mild or severe and can occur suddenly or over a period of time. The amount of eye discharge that occurs will determine how serious the condition is.



The more runny dog’s eye is, the more severe the disease.

Eye discharge in dogs is a common problem, but it usually does not pose any serious health issues. Most dogs do happen to suffer from this ailment sometime or the other during their lifetime. Younger dogs are more prone to be affected by eye discharge due to their weak immune systems. If your dog is suffering from this problem, you might want to know what causes ocular eye discharge in dogs. Eye discharge, also referred to as article ocular eye discharge in dogs and can occur due to a number of reasons. 

Causes and Symptoms of Eye Discharge In Dogs

• The most common cause for eye discharge in dogs is the presence of some foreign matter in the eyes such as dust particles, pollens, and other tiny materials, due to the wind. Owing to their very nature, most dogs are prone to this kind of occurrence.

• Bacterial or viral infection is another main reason.  Viral infection such as conjunctivitis results in sticky eyes and green eye discharge in dogs.



Some bacterial infections may cause white or yellow eye discharge in dogs. Prolonged and severe infection may result in smelly eye discharge in dogs.

• Another major cause for eye discharge in dogs is excessive tearing. In medical terms, this condition is referred to as epiphora. Excessive tearing in dogs may occur due to a number of reasons such as glaucoma, skin allergy, corneal ulcer, abnormal eyelashes, and tumors. Excessive tearing usually results in a sticky white eye discharge in dogs.

• Allergies to certain foods may also result in yellow or green eye discharge in dogs.

• Dry eye condition may also result in eye discharge in dogs. In dry eye condition, the secretion of the eye, cleansing tears, is restricted, which leads to inflammation and mucus formation in the eyes.

• Some breeds such as boxers, pugs, and bulldogs are more prone to eye discharge as their eyes are bulge out, making them more prone to catching dust particles and other tiny objects.

• Ailments such as inflammation of eyelids, referred to as blepharitis, can also result in eye discharge.

• Inflammation of cornea is another common cause for eye discharge in dogs. Inflammation of cornea usually occurs due to some impact or injury. External or internal eye injuries are another common cause for eye discharge in dogs.

• Some people notice eye discharge in dogs only during pregnancy.However, the two are not related. Eye discharge during pregnancy may also occur due to the same reasons as in case of normal conditions.

Abnormal eye discharge may be caused due to many reasons such as conjunctivitis in dogs, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, cherry eye or glaucoma. The eye consists of several parts such as the iris, cornea, eyelids and eye surface. An infection that affects any of these parts can result in discharge. Blockage of the tear ducts, over-production by the tear ducts, ulcers in the cornea, lens displacement and injury or trauma of the eye can also lead to eye discharge.

When it comes to eye discharge in dogs, symptoms include sticky eyes, irritation, and redness with yellow or green mucus discharge from the eyes. Since the symptoms of the eye discharge in dogs can be visibly observed, it is very easy to identify the problem.

Treatments for Canine Eye Discharge

Treatment of eye discharge in dogs is not very difficult; the only thing is to identify the exact cause. If you notice eye discharge in your dog, cure can be easily done at home. If it is due to dust or any other foreign particle, wash the eyes of your dog with saline water 3 to 4 times a day. For this, you must use sterilized saline water only. This is the simplest and best eye discharge in dogs home remedy. If eye discharge is due to some bacterial or viral infection, usually medical treatment is given, which includes administering antibiotic drugs and certain eye drops or ointment suitable for the specific ailment. You need to contact your vet for medication.

For constant and excessive yellow or green eye discharge in dogs, you must consult your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. For this particular ailment, consulting a veterinarian eye specialist would be a better option.

At the first sight of abnormal or excessive eye discharge, you can examine your dog’s eye and check the color and consistency of the discharge. Also look for any signs of injury or growth around the affected eye. Remember to wear clean rubber gloves before touching the dog’s eye in order to prevent aggravation of the condition. If there any no additional symptoms accompanying the eye discharge, then you can flush out the discharge and clean the dog’s eyes using a saline solution. If the condition does not improve in a couple of days, then visiting the veterinarian is recommended. If the dog becomes irritated and disturbed by the discharge and displays symptoms such as rubbing the eyes, then it is better to take the dog to the vet immediately. Also if you detect any sort of injury in or around the dog’s eyes, then early medical attention is necessary. It is important that you do not use human eye drops to treat dog eye problems. Dog runny eye treatment can also include herbal eye washes which are known to bring relief and soothe eye irritations. An infusion of the herb chamomile may be mixed with a saline solution after filtering, and used to wash the dog’s eyes.