Why are both of my dog’s eyes discharging? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If both of your dog’s eyes are discharging, it often points to something affecting the eyes or the face generally, such as irritation, allergies, a blocked tear duct, or a mild infection. It can also happen when dust, wind, grooming products, or a dirty coat around the eyes are irritating both sides at once.

Because both eyes are involved, it’s worth checking for patterns and any other signs, but it doesn’t always mean something serious.

Things To Check

1. Look at the discharge itself. Clear, watery discharge can fit irritation or allergies, while thicker yellow or green discharge is more suggestive of infection or inflammation.

2. Check whether the eyes look red, puffy, sticky, or uncomfortable. Squinting, pawing at the face, or keeping the eyes partly closed can mean the eyes are sore.

3. See whether the discharge is happening all the time or only after walks, grooming, windy weather, or time in dusty places.

4. Gently check for anything obvious around the eyes, such as a stray hair, debris, mud, dried discharge, or grooming residue.

5. Notice whether your dog has any other signs, such as sneezing, a runny nose, rubbing the face, or general itchiness.

6. Think about whether this is a new change or something that has been coming and going for a while.

7. Check whether one eye is actually worse than the other, even if both are affected.

8. Keep an eye on your dog’s energy, appetite, and behaviour so you can spot whether this is just a local eye issue or part of a wider problem.

Common Causes

The most common cause is mild irritation from dust, wind, pollen, grooming products, or debris around the eyes. This often affects both eyes and may come and go.

Allergies can also cause watery eyes, especially if your dog is itchy, sneezing, or rubbing their face. Some dogs get seasonal flare-ups, while others react to things in the home or garden.

Conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the eye, is another common reason. This can happen with or without infection and may make the eyes look red or sticky.

Blocked or narrow tear ducts can sometimes lead to ongoing discharge, especially in certain breeds or dogs with flatter faces.

Less commonly, both eyes may discharge because of a more general health issue, but that’s not usually the first explanation if your dog otherwise seems well.

What To Do

Wipe away discharge gently with clean cotton wool or gauze dampened with cooled boiled water or sterile saline. Use a fresh piece for each eye so you don’t spread irritation from one side to the other.

Keep the fur around the eyes clean and dry, and avoid using human eye drops or random household products. If grooming seems to trigger the problem, think about whether a different shampoo, shorter face hair, or a more careful rinse could help reduce irritation.

Try to note when the discharge happens, what it looks like, and whether anything seems to set it off. That information can be very helpful if you do need veterinary advice.

If your dog seems well and the discharge is mild, it may be reasonable to monitor it briefly while keeping the area clean and watching for change. If it becomes thicker, redder, more uncomfortable, or keeps returning, it’s a good idea to get it checked.

When To Contact A Vet

Contact your vet promptly if the discharge is thick, yellow or green, if the eyes are very red or swollen, if your dog is squinting or seems painful, or if the problem is not improving. You should also get advice sooner if one eye suddenly becomes much worse, your dog seems unwell, or the discharge follows an injury.

Products That May Help

If your dog needs a bit of extra help keeping the eye area clean during everyday care, gentle grooming and hygiene products can support that routine. The Pet Care collection may be useful alongside regular face cleaning and coat maintenance.

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