What should I do if my dog’s eye is weeping?
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Overview
If your dog’s eye is weeping, start by looking for simple causes such as dust, a bit of irritant, or mild discomfort. It can also happen with conditions like a scratch, blocked tear duct or an eye infection, so it’s worth checking the eye carefully rather than just wiping it and hoping it settles.
If the discharge is clear and your dog seems otherwise comfortable, it may be a minor irritation. If the eye is red, sticky, cloudy, painful, or your dog is rubbing at it, it needs a closer look.
Things To Check
1. Notice whether the eye is watering on one side or both, and whether the discharge is clear, cloudy, yellow or green.
2. Check for redness, squinting, blinking more than usual, or obvious discomfort.
3. Look for swelling around the eye, a dirty or sticky coat under the eye, or any crusting on the eyelids.
4. See if your dog is rubbing the eye with a paw or against furniture, as this can make irritation worse.
5. Think about what happened before it started, such as a walk in wind, grass seeds, bathing, grooming, or play.
6. Check whether the eye looks cloudy, has a scratchy surface, or seems different in size or shape from the other eye.
7. Look at your dog’s behaviour too, including appetite, energy levels and whether they’re keeping the eye closed.
Common Causes
The most common reason is mild irritation from dust, pollen, wind or a small bit of debris in the eye. This often causes clear tears and temporary watering.
Other common causes include a scratch to the eye surface, a blocked tear duct, or an eye infection. These may cause more obvious redness, thicker discharge, or squinting.
Less commonly, a weeping eye can be linked to eyelid or eyelash problems, dry eye, a foreign body, or another eye condition that needs veterinary assessment.
What To Do
If your dog seems comfortable and the discharge is clear, you can gently wipe the area with clean damp cotton wool or gauze. Use a fresh piece for each wipe and clean from the inner corner outwards.
Keep an eye on whether it improves over the next day. Try to reduce exposure to obvious irritants such as dusty bedding, windy walks or freshly cut grass if these seem to make it worse.
Stop your dog from rubbing the eye if you can, because that can turn a small irritation into a bigger problem. Don’t use human eye drops unless your vet has told you to.
If the watering keeps coming back, changes in colour, or your dog seems uncomfortable, arrange veterinary advice rather than waiting it out.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet promptly if the eye is red, swollen, painful, cloudy, closed, or producing yellow or green discharge. You should also seek advice if your dog is rubbing the eye, there may be a scratch or foreign body, or the weeping doesn’t improve quickly.
Eye problems can worsen if they’re left alone, especially if your dog is squinting or the eye looks different from normal.
Products That May Help
Keeping the area around your dog’s eyes clean and supporting regular grooming can be helpful when you’re managing mild weeping or debris around the eye.
Related Questions
Why is my dog’s eye watering but not red?
Can I wipe my dog’s eye discharge at home?
When is eye discharge in dogs an emergency?
Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.