Why is my dog pawing at its eye with discharge? | arlo.® Atlas
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Overview
If your dog is pawing at its eye and there’s discharge, the eye is usually uncomfortable or irritated. Common causes include something small in the eye, a scratch, an infection, an allergy flare-up, or a blocked tear duct. You can often check a few simple things at home, but eye signs do need caution because they can worsen quickly.
Things To Check
1. See which eye is affected and whether your dog is rubbing one side only or both.
2. Look for the colour and thickness of the discharge. Clear watery discharge can mean irritation, while yellow, green or sticky discharge is more concerning.
3. Check for redness, swelling, squinting, blinking more than usual, or sensitivity to light.
4. Look closely for grass seeds, dust, hair, a scratch, or anything sitting on the surface of the eye.
5. Notice whether the eye looks cloudy, more closed than usual, or different in size from the other eye.
6. Think about recent triggers such as walks in long grass, grooming, wind, dusty rooms, or play with other dogs.
7. Check for other signs such as sneezing, face rubbing, ear irritation, or general itchiness that could point towards an allergy or wider irritation.
Common Causes
The most common reason is simple irritation, such as dust, wind, hair, or a small bit of debris making the eye water and itch.
Another common cause is a minor scratch to the eye surface, which can make a dog paw at the eye and produce discharge.
Allergies can also cause watery eyes, soreness and rubbing, especially if your dog has other itchy or irritated areas too.
Less commonly, the discharge may be linked to infection, a blocked tear duct, dry eye, or another eye condition that needs veterinary assessment.
What To Do
Stop your dog rubbing the eye if you can, because pawing can make irritation worse.
Gently inspect the eye in good light, but don’t try to pull at anything stuck to the eye or use human eye drops unless a vet has told you to.
If the discharge is light and your dog otherwise seems comfortable, you can keep the area clean by carefully wiping away discharge with clean damp cotton wool or gauze, using a fresh piece each time.
Keep your dog away from dusty areas, long grass, and anything that seems to make the eye worse.
Monitor whether the eye is improving over a few hours or whether the discharge, redness, or pawing is increasing.
If the eye looks painful, cloudy, swollen, or your dog keeps pawing at it, arrange veterinary advice promptly.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet the same day if your dog is squinting, seems painful, has a cloudy eye, yellow or green discharge, swelling around the eye, or keeps rubbing it. Eye problems can worsen quickly, especially if there’s a scratch, a foreign body, or infection.
Seek urgent advice sooner if the eye looks suddenly much worse, your dog can’t keep it open, or you suspect a cut, puncture, or something stuck in the eye.
Products That May Help
If your dog’s eye area needs regular gentle cleaning as part of everyday care, this collection may help support a simple grooming routine at home.
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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.