Just like us humans, our furry friends have unique protective components in their eyes to help keep them safe and healthy. If you spot that your dog’s eyes aren’t clean, it could be a sign of a problem. Knowing more about this topic will help you decide if you must take your dog to their veterinarian.
In this article, we’ll briefly explain why dogs can have eye boogers and answer the following questions:
- Is it normal for dogs to have eye boogers?
- Why does my dog have eye boogers every morning?
- When should I be concerned about my dog’s eye discharge?
- How do I get rid of my dog’s eye boogers?
- Will dog eye infection go away on its own?
- Can dogs cry when they’re sad?
- How do you get rid of dog eye boogers naturally?
Disclaimer: Please refer to the information in this article as a guide only. Contact your veterinarian if you want specific information tailored to your pet’s condition.
Why does my dog have eye boogers every morning, and are eye boogers normal?
If you notice that your dog occasionally has eye boogers, then it’s probably not a cause for concern. Just like us humans, a dog has various protective mechanisms to help keep their eyes healthy, and the tear-like substance is just one of them.
However, if your dog is regularly having eye boogers, then it’s best to get them checked by a veterinarian.
We’ve listed some reasons why dogs can have eye boogers below:
- Allergies – read more about allergies in dogs in our articles Tips for Managing Dog Allergies in the Home and Sensitive Skin Solutions – Caring for Dogs with Allergies.
- Infections from bacteria or viruses.
- Bad hygiene.
- Injuries.
- Systemic conditions.
You can read more about how to keep your dog healthy in our articles How to Manage Your Dog’s pH for Optimal Health and How to Take Care of a Dog for Their Good Health: A Comprehensive Guide.
When should I be concerned about my dog’s eye discharge?
We’ve listed some circumstances below in which you should be concerned about your pet’s discharge:
- Your dog has eye discharge eye day.
- It’s dark or red in color and thick.
- It’s irritating your dog.
- The color or consistency of the discharge changes.
- There is foreign material, such as a seed or something sharp inside.
- Your dog has other symptoms as well as the discharge.
If you notice the above changes or are worried about your pet’s eye discharge for any reason, then it’s best to take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination. It’s better to take them earlier rather than later, and a diagnosis early on often increases the chances of your pet making a thorough recovery.
How do I get rid of my dog’s eye boogers?
If your dog has one-time eye boogers, you can gently wipe them away using sterile saline and cotton gauze. It’s important to wash your hands before and after and to direct the wiping gently outwards.
It’s best not to apply any medicated treatment, such as drops, to your dog’s eyes unless you’re following advice from a veterinarian.
Your dog probably won’t enjoy you touching near their eyes, so don’t forget to reward them when you’re finished to help make it easier the next time.
However, if your dog has frequent eye boogers, it’s best to take them to a veterinarian for a proper examination. This will enable you to find the exact cause and treat it appropriately.
Will dog eye infection go away on its own?
It’s unlikely that a dog’s eye infection will resolve itself. As we mentioned, taking your pet to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis as soon as possible is best. Seeking veterinary attention early on increases the chances of a thorough recovery and can be much cheaper than leaving it too late.
Your veterinarian will give your dog a full examination to help get to the bottom of why they have eye discharge and will most likely perform special diagnostics on the eye. Following their diagnosis, they may then prescribe medication or eye drops. It’s important to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations closely to ensure your dog makes a thorough recovery.
If you don’t get a dog’s eye infection properly treated, then it may progress to something more serious and painful for your pet.
Can dogs cry when they’re sad?
Although, like us in many ways, dogs aren’t known to cry when they are sad. A dog’s mechanism of producing tears is usually to help protect their eyes by washing away contaminants or potentially harmful microorganisms.
Tears also help keep the eye lubricated and protect it from drying out.
How do you get rid of dog eye boogers naturally?
Keeping your dog in tip-top condition generally can help keep their eyes clean and free of problems. You can read more about this topic in our article How Can I Keep My Dog’s Eyes Healthy?
If your dog is prone to problems with their eyes, then you can try some of the following:
- In the case of allergies, we are reducing exposure to the allergen, for example, walking your dog when pollen is low, such as early in the morning (pollen allergies), or regularly vacuuming your home and washing your dog’s bedding (dust mite allergies).
- Keeping their eyes clean by carefully cutting their hair.
- Not letting them stick their head out of the car when it’s moving.
- Regular ophthalmological check-ups with a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist.
However, sometimes, dogs can have problems with their eyes, which are out of our control as pet parents. In this case, we recommend following your veterinarian’s advice regarding your dog’s care and medication.
If you try to treat the problem at home without getting a proper diagnosis, you may make the situation worse or even harm your pet.
Conclusion
We hope that after reading this article, you have more information about eye conditions in dogs and when you need to get your dog’s eyes checked. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions often increase the chances of your pet making a thorough recovery.
Charlotte qualified as a veterinarian in 2023 and has been working as a writer for several years helping pet parents understand how to help their pets live happy healthy lives whilst pursuing her interests in wildlife conservation.
She enjoys traveling and has undertaken positions in Belgium, Spain, Austria, Germany, and the Galapagos and has a 15-year-old rescue dog called Chiki.
