What causes eye discharge and redness in dogs? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

Eye discharge and redness in dogs can happen for several reasons, and it’s often due to irritation, allergy, a bit of dust or a minor infection. Sometimes it’s just a temporary reaction, but if the eye looks painful, cloudy or keeps getting worse, it needs attention.

Things To Check

1. Check whether one eye or both eyes are affected. One-sided problems can sometimes point to something local, like a scratch or something in the eye.

2. Look at the type of discharge. Clear tears, sticky yellow or green discharge, or a crusty build-up can each suggest different causes.

3. Notice whether the eye is red, swollen, held closed or blinking more than usual. These are useful clues that the eye is sore or irritated.

4. See if your dog has been rubbing the face, pawing at the eye or keeping away from bright light.

5. Check for obvious irritants such as dust, grass seeds, shampoo residue, loose hair or a small foreign body near the eye.

6. Look at the surrounding skin and eyelids for swelling, scabs, a scratch or signs of a bite or knock.

7. Think about whether it started after grooming, a windy walk, play in long grass or time outside on a dusty day.

Common Causes

Minor irritation is one of the most common reasons, especially after wind, dust, grass, grooming or a bit of debris getting into the eye.

Allergies can also cause watery eyes, redness and mild discharge, often along with itching, sneezing or general face rubbing.

Conjunctivitis is another common cause and may make the eye look red, sticky or uncomfortable. It can happen on its own or alongside other eye irritation.

A scratch to the eye surface, a trapped eyelash or a small foreign body can cause noticeable redness, blinking and discharge, often in just one eye.

Less commonly, discharge and redness may be linked to blocked tear ducts, eyelid problems or a more serious eye condition that needs veterinary assessment.

What To Do

Start by keeping the area clean and dry. Gently wipe away discharge with clean cotton wool or gauze dampened with cooled boiled water, using a fresh piece for each wipe.

Try to stop your dog rubbing the eye, as that can make irritation worse.

If you can see something obvious on the surface, don’t try to dig it out. It’s safer to get veterinary advice.

Keep a note of when it started, whether it’s one eye or both, and whether the discharge is getting better, staying the same or worsening.

If the eye looks mildly irritated but your dog is otherwise well, short-term monitoring can be reasonable. If the redness or discharge continues, gets thicker, or your dog seems uncomfortable, contact your vet.

Products That May Help

If your dog is prone to messy eyes, mild staining or general grooming needs around the face, this collection can be useful as part of a simple cleaning routine.

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