Dog Keeps Getting Eye Boogers: What's Wrong?

Is your furry friend constantly leaving behind a trail of eye boogers? Don't worry! Just like us, dogs have a normal metabolic process that results in a small amount of eye discharge. If it's just a small amount in the morning, it's usually nothing to fret about.

But if your dog's eye boogers are excessive or if they have an unusual color—such as yellow, yellowgreen, or reddishbrown—this is a red flag. It often indicates that there's an underlying eye condition at play.

What's Causing My Dog's Eye Boogers?

1. Physiological Factors: Dogs have a lot of meibomian glands in their eyelids, similar to sebaceous glands, which continuously secrete oils to lubricate the cornea. When these oils mix with bacteria, tears, and dust, they form the eye boogers that accumulate in the corners of their eyes.

2. Environmental Factors: High levels of allergens like dust and pollen in the air, or irritants like smoke or direct air conditioning drafts, can cause discomfort in your dog's eyes, leading to increased tear production and, consequently, more eye boogers.

3. Eye Diseases: Conditions like conjunctivitis, keratitis, dry eye, entropion, and glaucoma are common causes of excessive eye boogers in dogs. These are often accompanied by symptoms like excessive tearing, frequent blinking, cloudy corneas, and red, swollen eyes.

4. Poor Diet: Your dog's diet plays a significant role in eye health. If their food is too greasy, too salty, or lacks essential nutrients, it can lead to an increase in eye boogers.

5. Respiratory Infections: Upper respiratory infections can also cause an increase in eye discharge, resulting in puslike eye boogers. If your dog is also sneezing, sniffling, coughing, or has a dry nose, they might be suffering from a cold or even canine distemper.

How to Address the Issue?

1. Regular Cleaning: If your dog has a lot of eye boogers, regular cleaning is crucial. Keeping their eyes clean not only helps alleviate discomfort but also prevents the growth of bacteria that can lead to more severe infections.

2. Prompt Medication: If your dog is showing additional symptoms like excessive tearing, blinking, redness, or swelling, you can use antibacterial eye drops such as Tobramycin or Neomycin sulfate. For more pronounced inflammation, consider using a combination of Neomycin sulfate eye drops and Erythromycin ointment for enhanced antiinflammatory effects. However, if your dog shows signs of cloudy corneas or is experiencing fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, or coughing, it's essential to seek veterinary care immediately!

3. Adjust Your Dog's Diet: Feed your dog a balanced, nonallergenic diet. Include plenty of cooling fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, bitter melon, cabbage, pears, watermelons, and avoid overly greasy, salty, or sugary foods that can lead to eye irritation.

In summary, while a little eye discharge is normal for dogs, an abundance of it is often a sign of underlying health issues. As a pet parent, it's important to pay close attention and take prompt action to ensure your beloved companion maintains bright, healthy eyes.