How do you get rid of brown discharge from a dog’s eye? Tips and Tricks

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If you noticed gunk in your dogs eye and found yourself Googling, “My dogs eye is goopy” youre not alone. Dog eye discharge is a common problem in our canine companions, especially in small dog breeds. The causes of a dogs goopy eye range from mild, transient issues like allergies to serious conditions like glaucoma that can cause blindness. Heres what to do about eye gunk and when to be concerned. Dogs with short faces and bulging eyes are at risk for eye diseases and/or trauma to their eyes so evaluation by your veterinarian may be an important next step if your dog has signficant eye discharge.

Tears keep eyes healthy; they provide nourishment, oxygen and hydration to the eyes outer layers and remove debris from the eyes surface. In a normal eye, tears are made by tear glands and wash over the eye to clean and hydrate it, and then drain out through tear ducts located at the inner corner of the eye.

Sometimes, debris will accumulate in the corner of the eye, commonly called eye gunk, goop, boogers or crusts. A small amount of light brown crusts is normal and usually seen in the morning, right after a dog wakes up. Your dog should have about the same amount of this eye crust every day, and their eyes should be clear, open and free of discharge the rest of the day. If you notice a change in your dogs eye discharge or if you notice swollen, red eyes or squinting, call your veterinarian.

What the Color of Your Dog’s Eye Discharge Means

Yellow or green dog eye discharge: Boogies with a mucus-y color likely indicate an eye infection and should be examined by your veterinarian.

White or cloudy dog eye discharge: Dogs with cloudy or white eye discharge likely are experiencing eye inflammation rather than infection—a common culprit is allergies. Eyes might also appear inflamed due to corneal ulcers, dry eye, or a foreign object irritating the eye.

Red or bloody dog eye discharge: Bloody discharge is never normal and requires immediate veterinary attention. Causes include injury, extreme inflammation, glaucoma, or a tumor, Dimock says.

Of course, when humans think of eye infection, we think pink eye. So, can dogs get pink eye? Typically no—not in the traditional human sense, anyway, Dimock says. Dogs with pink eyes are most likely experiencing another cause of inflammation not linked to the same infection spread between humans, and pink eye is not something typically spread from pup to owner, or vice versa.

Common Factors That Cause Eye Discharge

Here are some common causes of dog eye discharge to be aware of:

Foreign Bodies in the Eye

If your dog has a mucusy or watery discharge in one eye only, there may be a foreign body or particle in that eye or an eyelash growing in the wrong directions (in toward the eye rather than out).

Allergies

Dogs often have allergic reactions to allergens, including mold or pollen that can irritate the eyes and cause a clear discharge.

Windy Weather

Again, just like us, dogs’ eyes may tear or have a watery discharge if the wind is blowing into their eyes.

Eye Injury

An injury, such as a stick poked in the dog’s eye, can cause eye discharge. This may also lead to an eye infection if left untreated. If your dog sustains this type of injury, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Eye Problems

There are many eye problems that can cause dog eye discharge that are more concerning than the issue above and may need more attention and, ultimately, a trip to the vet.

Eye infections — Dogs can suffer from fungal and bacterial eye infections that can cause eye discharge.

Conjunctivitis — Also called dog pink eye, this condition happens when the lining of the eye has inflammation triggered by tear duct issues, allergies, injury, and birth defects. The discharge may be watery, mucusy, and in severe cases, the discharge can be a yellowish-greenish color. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include red eyes, excess blinking, crusty eyes, and your dog pawing at their eyes.

Canine Dry Eye — With canine dry eye, the dog cannot produce enough tears to lubricate and cleanse their eyes. It can be caused by issues such as a head injury, canine distemper, and when the dog’s immune system attacks a tear gland. Canine dry eye often causes inflammation of the eye tissues and a persistent, sticky mucus discharge from the eye.

Breed Predilection

There are some breeds that are naturally prone to dog eye discharge and other related problems. For instance, dog breeds that have flat faces and more prominent eyes, known as brachycephalic breeds, are likely to have eye issues.

Brachycephalic breeds include:

Because these breeds have bulging eyes and shallower eye sockets, their eyes are prone to gathering foreign particles more easily than other breeds. They are more likely to have eye discharge, eye injuries, other eye issues, and various ophthalmic problems.

There is a chance that their eyelids may not cover their eyes completely, which can leave the eyeball exposed. This condition usually requires surgery. They also often have tear drainage problems. In addition, these breeds are prone to entropion, a condition where the eyelids roll inward, often causing the eyelashes to irritate the eye. All these factors indicate a high risk of eye discharge in these dog breeds.

In addition, dogs breeds with loose facial skin, such as cocker spaniels, Saint-Bernards, bloodhounds, beagles, and some terriers, are more prone to ectropion, a condition where the eyelids roll outward. They may also be prone to cherry eye, a condition when the dog’s third eyelid pops out and resembles a cherry, hence the name. Treatment for cherry eye involves antibiotics, steroids, and in many cases, surgery.

How to fix dog eye discharge

Whether you call it eye gook, gunk, boogers, crust, or tears, dog eye discharge can be unsightly at best and concerning at worst. Just like we often wake up with crust called “sleep” in our eyes, so do dogs often have eye discharge that may concern many pet parents.