Why is only one of my dog’s eyes discharging?
Share This Guide
Read time: 3 minutes
Overview
If only one of your dog’s eyes is discharging, it often points to something affecting that eye in particular rather than a whole-body issue. Common reasons include irritation, a bit of dust or grass, a mild infection, a blocked tear duct, or a scratch on the eye surface. It’s sensible to check the eye carefully and watch for any changes in your dog’s comfort or behaviour.
Things To Check
1. Check whether the discharge is clear, watery, sticky, yellow, green, or blood-stained.
2. Look for redness, swelling, squinting, blinking more than usual, or your dog pawing at the eye.
3. See if there’s a visible bit of grit, grass seed, hair, or another foreign body around the eye.
4. Notice whether the eye looks cloudy, the pupil seems different, or your dog is bumping into things.
5. Check whether the discharge started after a walk, grooming, playing in long grass, or rubbing their face.
6. Look at the skin around the eye for scabs, crusting, or signs of rubbing and irritation.
7. Compare it with the other eye to see if the issue is truly one-sided or just more noticeable on one side.
Common Causes
The most common causes are simple irritation from dust, pollen, or a small bit of debris, along with mild eye infections. A blocked or narrowed tear duct can also lead to discharge from just one eye.
Other possibilities include a scratch to the eye, an ingrowing eyelash, or a small eyelid problem that makes tears and mucus collect on one side. Less commonly, a more serious eye problem may be involved, especially if your dog is squinting, in pain, or the eye looks cloudy.
What To Do
Gently wipe away discharge with clean cotton wool or a soft pad dampened with cooled boiled water or sterile saline, using a separate pad for each wipe. Keep the area around the eye clean and dry, and stop your dog rubbing at it if you can.
It helps to note what the discharge looks like, how often it returns, and whether it’s getting better or worse. If your dog has been in long grass, windy conditions, or dusty places, a small bit of irritation may settle once the eye is kept clean and monitored.
Don’t use human eye drops unless your vet has told you to, and don’t try to remove anything stuck on the eye surface yourself.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet promptly if the eye is red, painful, cloudy, swollen, or your dog is squinting, keeping it closed, or rubbing at it. You should also seek advice if the discharge is thick, yellow-green, blood-stained, smells unusual, keeps coming back, or hasn’t improved within a day or two.
Eye problems can worsen quite quickly, so it’s best not to wait if your dog seems uncomfortable or the eye looks different from normal.
Products That May Help
Keeping your dog’s face, coat and eye area clean can be useful as part of a gentle home care routine, especially if discharge is caused by everyday dirt or minor irritation.
Related Questions
Why does my dog have gunk in one eye only?
When should I worry about my dog’s eye discharge?
Can allergies cause one eye to water more than the other?
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.