What Causes Eye Boogers in Dogs?

What Causes Eye Boogers in Dogs?

If you feel like you’re constantly wiping eye boogers out of your dog’s eyes, you’re not alone. Eye discharge can build up over time, causing dogs to have eye boogers. Though not very cute, all that gunk in your dog’s eyes is usually harmless. Here are the main reasons that your dog likely has eye boogers:

Allergies

Just like us, dogs can have allergies to grass, pollen, and dust that may lead to eye discharge. Allergic reactions occur when our bodies think that foreign items are dangerous even when they aren’t. Even though these items are harmless, our bodies react as if they are harmful. In dogs, this commonly results in itchy, runny eyes and can cause eye discharge. Setters, retrievers, terriers, and dogs with flat faces are more prone to allergies, so if you own one of these breeds, their eye boogers may be the result of allergies. Talk to your vet about any concerns about doggie allergies and pet-friendly allergy relief meds.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that occurs when pressure is put on the eye and ocular fluid is unable to drain. This leads to gunky build-up in your dog’s eyes. Excessive blinking, eye bulging, cloudy eyes, and dilated pupils are all symptoms of glaucoma. Older dogs and breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Poodles are more prone to glaucoma. If you think your pup is suffering from glaucoma, get them to the vet to check ocular pressure and determine whether further treatment is necessary.

Conjunctivitis

You may be familiar with the colloquial term for conjunctivitis, pink eye. If their eye boogers seem clear or pus-like and their eyes look red, you should get them checked out by the vet to make sure they don’t have pink eye. Red eyes, inflammation, pawing at the eyes, squinting, and crusty eyes are all signs that your dog might have pink eye. It’s transmittable to humans, so wash your hands and anything their eyes may have touched if you think your dog has pink eye.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

Another long and difficult-to-pronounce term, keratoconjunctivitis sicca is better known as dry eye. If tear glands become infected or experience trauma, dry eye can occur. Symptoms include yellowish discharge, eye inflammation, swelling of the eyelids, and excessive blinking. Your dog’s corneas may be at great risk when they have dry eye, which can lead to more eye infections and corneal damage. You should notify your vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms, because this condition can result in vision loss.

Eye boogers can result from a variety of causes. Talk to your vet to better understand your dog’s eye health and tackle any problems before they become too serious.