Eye discharge, or what we pet parents like to call "dog eye boogers", happens often for a common reason: your dog’s eyes & tears are flushing out dust after a long night of sleep. This eye gunk can differ in texture, fluidity, and color depending on the dog or scenario. For example, you may notice your dog’s eye boogers range from a little crusty to mucus-y and can appear green, yellow, or clear. Some of these signs, however, can indicate an underlying eye infection.
If you noticed gunk or eye discharge in your dog's eye and found yourself Googling, "My dog's eye is goopy" you're not alone.
At some point, pet parents are likely to deal with an eye infection. While a dog eye infection doesn’t always indicate something serious is going on, it’s important to always take them seriously. Eye infections can spread to both eyes and potentially lead to blindness if left untreated. They can also be painful, so if your dog has one, there’s a good chance they’re uncomfortable. But how can you tell if your dog needs to see a vet, or if this is just normal?
In this article, we will break down the signs of concern and signs of when you can tackle your dog’s eye boogers at home.
Warning: If you’re reading while eating, we are about to get into some icky and unpleasant details about the main causes of eye discharge. Read on for more information, plus additional care tips you may need.
What Should Normal Dog Eye "Gunk" Look Like?
The correct medical term for the substance around a dog's eyes is "discharge." Clear to whitish-grey discharge with a watery texture is common in most dogs and may contain small amounts of dust.
This material is made out of dried tears, oil, mucus, dead cells, dust, etc., and is typically clear or slightly reddish-brown in color. It's most evident in the morning and is often perfectly normal. The amount of eye goop a dog produces each night (or after long naps) should stay relatively constant.
However, keep in mind that the appearance of the discharge can change. If it becomes thicker, more pus-like, or tends to form crusts, it may indicate a more serious issue.
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A Little Goop or Crust
Tears play an essential role in maintaining the health of a dog’s eyes. Tears provide oxygen and nourishment to the cornea (the clear layer of tissue at the front of the eye) and help remove debris from the eye’s surface.
Tears are normally drained through ducts located at the inner corner of each eye, but sometimes a little bit of goop or crust will accumulate there. This material is made from dried tears, oil, mucus, dead cells, dust, etc., and is typically clear or a slightly reddish-brown color.
These “eye boogers” are usually most evident in the morning and are often perfectly normal. The amount of eye goop a dog produces each night (or after long naps) should stay relatively constant.
The goop or crust should be easy to remove with a warm, damp cloth. Your dog’s eyes shouldn’t be red, and they shouldn’t show any signs of eye discomfort, such as rubbing, squinting, blinking, or sensitivity to light.
If at any point you notice an increase in your dog’s eye boogers or other worrisome symptoms, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
The Four Causes of Dog Eye Discharge
Dogs can get eye discharge for a variety of reasons, ranging from normal to signs of an underlying health issue. Some common causes include the following.
*If you’re unsure about the cause of your dog’s unusually runny or sometimes crusty eyes, always consult with your vet for a professional opinion.
1. Conjunctivitis
Or, as we humans commonly call it: "pink eye."
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the outer surface of the eye and the inner lining of the eyelid. This eye condition is commonly accompanied by:
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dog eye boogers that appears as a yellow-green pus
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yellow eye discharge that crusts overnight
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bloodshot or pink eyes
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excessive blinking or itching
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pawing at the eyes
Conjunctivitis can have various causes, including viral or bacterial infections, allergies, and even eye tumors. The important thing is to visit the vet as soon as symptoms appear to identify the cause and ensure proper treatment. Common treatments often involve antibiotics and soothing eye washes to prevent any serious complications.
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2. Watery Eyes (a.k.a. Epiphora)
Some dogs—and even humans—can have persistently watery eyes. However, with epiphora, or excessive tearing, the eyes are unusually wet.
This occurs when the tear ducts fail to drain properly, a condition often seen in flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs and Boston Terriers. In some cases, the constant flow of tears can lead to noticeable tear stains, which darken the fur around the eyes, especially in light-colored dogs. Additionally, excessive tearing can cause the surrounding skin to become irritated, leading to infections and unpleasant odors.
Causes of excessive tear PRODUCTION AND EXCESSIVELY WATERY EYES really run the gamut, from:
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conjunctivitis
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allergies
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dust
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a tear duct problem
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an eyelash growing where it shouldn’t in a dog's eyes
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glaucoma
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birth defects
Always talk to your veterinarian to figure out what’s causing the dog eye discharge, then treat accordingly—in some cases, relief from epiphora will require tear ducts surgery.
Our tip for cleaning eye stains: Use PRIDE+GROOM THE SWIPE gently under the eyes and around the face on a daily basis. This reduces tear staining.
3. KCS (a.k.a. Dry Eye)
The opposite of constant watery, teary eyes? Dry eye. The official term? Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS for short. Most canine patients develop dry eye due an immune-mediated (auto-immune) inflammatory attack on the tear glands.
Uncomfortable, itchy, dried out eyes lack lubrication and therefore the ability to flush away irritants or infections. That could actually cause some serious harm to your dog and their eyes. Without tears, in an effort to protect the eye, the whites of the eyes turn brown and yellow-green discharge appears.
Common causes for dry dog eye include:
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eye infection
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tear duct issue
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side effects of anesthesia or antibiotics
Blindness can occur if untreated, so make sure to visit your vet if these symptoms crop up.
4. Eye Injury
Dogs love to play and explore, but their curiosity and occasional clumsiness can sometimes lead to eye injuries. Whether from running through bushes, roughhousing with other dogs, or getting dirt and debris in their eyes, these injuries can range from mild to serious.
Exposure to chemicals can also affect your dog's eye discharge. Any changes in their eye health should be taken seriously.
Signs of an eye injury, aside from changes in discharge, may include a visible foreign object, excessive pawing or scratching at the face, or a bloody or bloodshot eye. Eye injuries can lead to serious complications, so it's important to see a vet immediately if you suspect your dog has injured their eye.
If you notice something lodged in your dog's eye, do not attempt to remove it yourself—always seek help from your vet.
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Important to Note: Some dogs are born with malformations of their heads and eyes that can result in eye boogers. If these abnormalities cause more serious issues, like corneal ulcers, they may need surgical intervention. The eye boogers should go away if the abnormality associated with the eyes is corrected.
When You Should Call the Vet
If your dog's eye is goopy you should also be thinking "Should I contact my veterinarian?". Is this completely normal? In general, if your dog has watery, clear eye discharge for a day or two but their eyes look otherwise normal and they are not scratching the eye and are keeping their eyelids open, it is likely nothing to be worried about.
Reach out to your vet if your dog has watery eye discharge that lasts more than a few days or if you notice any of the following:
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Swollen eye(s)
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Excessive rubbing of the eye(s)
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Blocked tear ducts or tear duct problems
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Squinting or excessive blinking
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Head shy behavior
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Colored eye discharge
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Excessive tear staining
Tips for Preventing Future Eye Problems
Remember to always give your vet a call if you notice any of the symptoms listed above. To prevent future eye problems, tear stains, and eye discharge in dogs, while maintaining good eye health, the Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recommends the following:
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Avoid using irritating soaps or sprays near your pet’s eyes
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Gently wipe discharge or mucus out of your pet’s eyes using a clean, damp cotton ball (use a different cotton ball for each eye). You can also use a damp cloth with warm water.
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If you have a dog with long hair, keep it trimmed around their eyes
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Make sure they have access to natural light
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If your pet is outdoors a lot, make sure they have access to shelter and shade at all times
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A balanced diet that includes antioxidants that support eye health
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Sometimes a vet will prescribe eye drops or pain medication
Don’t forget to ask for routine eye exams during your dog’s annual checkups. Most eye boogers are harmless and can simply be wiped away without worry. If a dog has an underlying eye issue, such as corneal ulcers or corneal wounds, then the prognosis will depend on the cause of the ocular discharge.
Eye health is an important factor for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. The eye's surface is extremely delicate, as is your dog's eye health. With the right precautions and care, your dog’s eyes will be a vision to behold!
Another important prevention method of note is to not let your dog stick its head out of the window during car rides. The wind can dry eyes out, leading to irritation. Debris and insects may also fly into their eyes, causing pain and injury.
Eye infections and more serious eye conditions that sometimes produce eye boogers, such as dry eye, will require and eye examination and treatment from your vet, or preferably a veterinary eye specialist.
However, if you’re just looking to treat or prevent common eye boogers when your dog wakes up in the morning, there’s not a ton you can do to prevent this. Since they're caused by tears, and tears are a natural way that the eye keeps itself healthy, you don’t really want to interfere with this process too much.
Getting rid of dog eye boogers is simple, the best thing to do is clean your dog’s eyes briefly when you both wake up in the morning. You can do this with a damp washcloth or cotton balls. Sometimes eye drops can also help.
Keeping your dog well groomed and the hair around the dog's head and eyes regularly trimmed can prevent irritants like dust from accumulating. Keeping potential allergens and irritants away from the eyes will also help keep their eyes healthy. Aside from that, monitor your dog to make sure they are not displaying any eye illness symptoms, like redness, discomfort, or bloody discharge.
Dog Eye Discharge FAQs
Should I be concerned about my dog’s eye boogers?
If your pet has green or yellow discharge, seems bothered by their eyes (rubbing, pawing) or you notice redness or pain, you should see the veterinarian to have your pet’s eyes examined.
How do I get rid of my dog’s eye discharge?
Determining the underlying cause of the discharge is crucial for determining how to help it improve. Ask your veterinarian how best to help your specific pet with their eye discharge.
Can I treat my dog’s eye infection without going to the vet?
Eye infections should be treated by a veterinarian. The type of medication may depend on the underlying cause of the eye infection, such as foreign material, inflammation, or an ulcer. The veterinarian may perform eye tests to check for dry eye or ulcer and then determine the best medication for your pet.
WHO IS PRIDE+GROOM?
PRIDE+GROOM was born because a group of New York City dog lovers wanted the same level of grooming products for their dogs that they themselves enjoyed. They looked (hard) but nothing was up to snuff. Or sniff. Like so many, we love our families and take pride in our homes, and we consider our pets to be integral parts of those entities. That said, we could not find an effective way to coif them that was on par with the way we tended to our children, our homes, or ourselves. These beloved pets are allowed on the furniture and in our beds, and yet even when fresh from the groomer, we knew they did not smell or feel as good as they could.
With the development of our coat-specific shampoos, conditioner and deodorizing spray, we think we found just the way to say thanks for being the best and the sweetest MVP of the house.
PRIDE+GROOM is the first dog grooming brand launched under a beauty platform, with formulas made in a clean beauty and scent lab. We know beauty is not only skin deep. We did a ton of research to create the entire line. Each product is formulated with its own unique blend of essential oils sourced from around the world.
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