3 Reasons Why Your Dog Has Eye Discharge

Does your dog have liquid discharging from his or her eyes? Discharge is common among dogs. If the discharge is clear, there is probably no reason for concern. It may have been caused by something as simple as an eyelash coming loose or even the wind blowing a dust particle into your dog's eyes. The issue will likely pass just as it does for humans when our eyes water.

However, if the discharge is colored and the texture feels thicker or different from water, there could be an underlying health issue that should be addressed. Below are a few reasons why dogs could have eye discharge and how those issues can be treated:

Breed issues. Some breeds are more prone to eye issues than others. Breeds like pugs, boxers, and bulldogs have flat faces that make their eyes bulge. This means their eyelids may not close fully and particles of dust or other contaminants can get into their eyes. That can cause irritation and discharge. If you own one of these breeds, your veterinarian should spend time each visit examining their eyes. You also may want to use saline drops to regularly clean your dog's eyes. If contaminants build up, it can cause serious issues that may eventually require surgery.

Dry eye. Dogs can suffer from dry eye just like humans. Dry eye is the inability to produce tears that are needed to cleanse the eyes. It can be caused by a wide range of problems including head injuries, distemper, and even immune system issues that cause the immune system to attack the tear-producing glands behind the eyes. If dry eye becomes severe enough, you may see mucus, inflammation, and discharge around your dog's eyes.

The treatment for dry eye depends on the underlying cause. In most cases, it is treated with antibacterial eye drops. If it is caused by immune system issues, your dog may need to take immunosuppressant medications. If it was caused by a head injury, there is a wide range of treatments that may be needed.

Pink eye. Also known as conjunctivitis, this can be caused by many different issues. The most common causes are foreign matter entering the eye. However, it can also be caused by allergies, injuries to the tear duct, birth defects, and more. There are many different treatments, but they all usually begin with cleaning the eye regularly to remove foreign substances. Your vet can recommend washes to use to remove irritants and soothe the swelling around the eyes.

Then depending on the underlying cause, you could use one of several types of products to resolve pink eye. Antibacterial drops could be effective. If allergies are the cause, your vet may recommend antihistamines. In very severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

If you're concerned about your dog's eye discharge, contact your vet today. They can examine your dog and recommend the next steps or prescribe dog pink eye products

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