Decoding Dog Eye Discharge: More Than Just Messy!

It's quite common for dogs to have a small amount of eye discharge, but an excessive amount typically signals underlying health issues. Below, we'll delve into the common causes of excessive eye discharge in dogs, along with safe and effective treatment methods, hoping to assist all pet owners.

What Causes Excessive Eye Discharge in Dogs?

Excessive eye discharge in dogs can stem from a variety of factors, primarily including the following:

1. Diet Issues: Dogs that frequently consume highsalt, highfat, or overly proteinrich foods may experience "internal heat," leading to increased eye discharge. Severe internal heat can also result in symptoms like halitosis, swollen gums, constipation, or soft stools.

2. Eye Diseases: Conditions such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and blocked tear ducts are common causes of excessive eye discharge. These issues can lead to red eyes, excessive tearing, and a buildup of eye discharge.

3. Foreign Body Irritation: The presence of foreign objects like dust or grass seeds can irritate the tear glands, causing an increase in eye discharge. Additionally, ingrown eyelashes can also irritate the eye, leading to more discharge.

4. Systemic Diseases: Conditions such as canine distemper, bronchitis, and infectious hepatitis can also lead to increased eye secretions, particularly canine distemper, which often presents with purulent eye discharge and mucus.

How to Alleviate Excessive Eye Discharge in Dogs?

1. Prompt Cleaning

When you notice eye discharge in your dog, gently wipe it away with a damp cotton ball soaked in warm water or saline solution. Be cautious to avoid secondary bacterial infections that could lead to eye inflammation.

2. Adjusting Diet

● Choose a mild and easily digestible dog food, avoiding excessive amounts of highsalt, highfat, or highprotein foods. If your dog is on goat's milk powder, consider switching to a brand that is less likely to cause internal heat.

● Encourage your dog to drink more water to promote metabolism and reduce symptoms of internal heat.

● Feed your dog some cooling and diuretic fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, winter melons, cabbage, pears, and broccoli.

3. Combination of Internal and External Remedies

If you suspect that your dog's excessive eye discharge is due to internal heat, you can alleviate the symptoms using a combination of external and internal treatments. Apply Shan Jing (Jinyinhua Eye Wash), an external solution containing ingredients like honeysuckle and bilberry, which can effectively soothe eye discomfort. Internally, use Kawa Ning (Qingwen Baidu Tablets), a herbal formula that helps to cool the blood and detoxify the body.

4. Monitor Eye Health

In cases where your dog's excessive eye discharge is accompanied by symptoms like redness, pus, difficulty opening the eyes, excessive tearing, and photophobia, after cleaning the eye discharge, use antibiotic eye drops such as Bailangming (Neomycin Sulfate Eye Drops), applying them 3 to 5 times a day, 1 to 2 drops each time. If home remedies do not improve the situation, seek veterinary care promptly.