Dog Eye Discharge After Boarding: Treatment and Prevention

Dog eye discharge after boarding can be a stressful and concerning issue for pet owners.

If your dog has experienced eye discharge after boarding, it's essential to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Eye discharge in dogs can be caused by a range of factors, including allergies, infections, and irritants in the environment.

A common cause of eye discharge in dogs is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergens.

If your dog has significant eye discharge after boarding, it's essential to identify the underlying cause. The most common causes of dog eye discharge include conjunctivitis, eye infections, allergies, and corneal ulcers or other corneal injuries.

A cloudy cornea, squinting in light, or keeping the eye closed can be signs of an underlying issue. These symptoms can be accompanied by watery tearing eyes, a red mass appearing from under the eyelid, or a red spot on the white of the eye.

You should contact your veterinarian if your dog has more than small eye boogers or crust, especially if it lasts more than a few days. Left untreated, eye problems can quickly become serious.

Some specific eye problems that can lead to discharge include conjunctivitis, eye infections, allergies, corneal ulcers, dry eye (KCS), glaucoma, entropion, ectropion, distichia, cherry eye, or a foreign object in the eye.

If your dog has been boarding and now has eye discharge, it's essential to recognize the symptoms. Mild to moderate tearing may be normal, but excessive tearing could mean the eye is irritated.

Poodles, droopy-eyed dogs, and brachycephalic breeds like shih tzus and pugs may be more susceptible to watery eyes and tear staining, also known as epiphora. This is because their facial structures can lead to eye irritation.

Some common signs of dog eye discharge include pawing at or rubbing the eye on the floor, squinting in light, and keeping the eye closed. These behaviors can be an indication that your dog is experiencing discomfort or pain.

A cloudy cornea, watery tearing eyes, and a red mass appearing from under the eyelid are all potential signs of eye discharge. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's crucial to have your dog seen right away.

Here are some common symptoms of dog eye discharge:

If your dog is showing signs of red eye, it's essential to visit your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. The most common causes are conjunctivitis, allergies, or irritants, but more serious possibilities exist.

Your veterinarian will take a detailed history of your pet's condition, including when the redness began and any behaviors indicating pain or irritation. A full ophthalmologic exam will also be conducted to evaluate the various structures of the eye.

A Schirmer tear test may be performed to examine your pet's tear production and rule out KCS or dry-eye syndrome. This test involves placing a small paper test strip between the eyelid and the eye to measure tear production.

Topical medications, such as antibiotics, steroids, and artificial tears, may be prescribed to treat the underlying condition. In some cases, oral antibiotics or anti-inflammatories may be necessary, especially if an infection or trauma is present.

If your dog requires surgery, it may be to address issues like cherry-eye, entropion, or an untreatable problem that requires enucleation surgery.

If you notice redness in one or both of your dog's eyes, it's essential to visit your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. They will take a history of your pet to discover when the redness began, the progression of the redness, and any behaviors your dog is demonstrating that indicate pain or irritation.

A full ophthalmologic exam will be conducted to evaluate the various structures of the eye, including the conjunctiva, cornea, tear ducts, retina, and eyelids.

The veterinarian may perform a Schirmer tear test to examine your dog's tear production and rule out KCS or dry-eye syndrome. This test involves placing a small paper test strip in between the eyelid and the eye.

The test strip measures tear production, and the tears are absorbed into the paper strips, which have a scale to measure the level of tear production.

If your dog is showing signs of red eye, such as pawing at or rubbing their eye on the floor, squinting in light, or keeping their eye closed, it's crucial to have them seen by a veterinarian right away.

Some common signs of red eye in dogs include:

A yellow-green dye may be dropped onto the eye surface to indicate scratches and corneal ulcers. This dye will light up (fluoresce) when a black light is shone onto the eye.

Red dog treatment can be a bit of a process, but it's worth it to get your furry friend feeling better. Treatment of red eye in dogs may involve topical medications, which can be applied up to three times daily for a week or two.

These medications come in ointments or drops and can include antibiotics, steroids, pain relievers, dilators, and artificial tears. Some dogs may need oral antibiotics or anti-inflammatories if the cause of the redness is an infection or trauma to the eye.

Surgery may be required to address certain causes of red eye, such as cherry-eye or entropion problems. In some cases, the gland may need to be manually reset with medications, but if it reappears, surgery is often used to permanently repair the issue.

To achieve proper healing, it's essential to correctly apply drops or ointment and administer oral medications as prescribed. Your dog may also need to wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent rubbing the eye.

A different take: Buy Tacrolimus Eye Drops

Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are crucial to prevent and catch eye infections early. They can provide personalized advice on keeping your dog's eyes clean and dry.

To prevent eye infections, check your dog's eyes daily for unusual symptoms, and keep the eye area as clean and dry as possible. If you notice any unusual symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

Consider reading: Types of Dog Eye Infections

Using a tear-stain comb can be an effective way to gently remove debris from fine hair near the eye. These combs have narrower teeth than regular flea combs and can be a gentle yet effective tool for grooming.

Some tear-stain products contain traditional herbal eye treatments like eyebright, bilberry, dandelion, and German chamomile. These ingredients can be found in various forms, including drops, powders, and ointments.

Contact lens solution can be used to clean around the eyes, but not applied directly to them. Its boric acid oxidizes the iron in porphyrins, lightening the color of tear stains.

Dog eye discharge after boarding can be caused by a number of common issues and conditions. Genes, common eye injuries, allergies, and infections and inflammation are all potential culprits.

Some of these conditions can be caused by injuries, such as a cut or scratch to the eye, which can lead to infection. If your dog's eye discharge is green or yellow and no cuts are present, it's likely due to an inflammatory response.

Common symptoms of red eye in dogs include pawing at or rubbing the eye, squinting in light, keeping the eye closed, and cloudy cornea. If you notice any of these signs, it's essential to have your dog seen by a veterinarian right away.

Here are some potential causes of cloudy or white eye discharge in dogs:

In some cases, dog eye discharge may be caused by conjunctivitis, a bacterial infection that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. If you suspect your dog has conjunctivitis, try a topical solution like Vetericyn's antimicrobial ophthalmic gel to provide gentle relief.

Dogs can get injured in various ways, and these injuries can cause eye discharge. If your dog is a woodlands explorer, a roughhouser, or even just plain antsy, injuries may come up sneakily and repeatedly.

Some common discharge-causing injuries include cornea scratches, eyelid scratches, and trauma wounds that lead to blocked or damaged eye ducts and nerves.

Injuries can lead to infection, which can result in permanent eye damage if left untreated. If the cut is small and there's a little bit of mucus, consider a safe, non-irritating eye care solution to help soothe and disinfect the wound.

Even without an injury, eyes can become infected and produce discharge. The most common discharge-causing injuries include:

If the eye discharge is clear, you are most likely "in the clear." Normal topical care, coverage, and rest will lead to healing. But if you start to see swirls of yellow and green, that's a red flag for bacterial infection. Contact your vet for extra guidance.

Take a look at this: Clear Eyes Solution for Dogs

Weather conditions can greatly affect your dog's eye health. Excessive eye wetness and dryness can lead to discharge changes in your pet's eyes.

If you notice atypical dog tear stains or eye itching in your pup, it could be related to weather conditions. You may see cloudy film, clear discharge, or even blindness if your dog is suffering from glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a serious condition that occurs when excessive pressure is placed on the optical nerves, cutting off tear drainage. This can cause cloudy film and clear discharge in your dog's eyes.

Tear duct obstruction is another common issue that can be caused by weather conditions. If your dog's tear ducts become clogged, you may notice extra tear stains, usually reddish-brown in color.

Here's a quick rundown of some common eye issues related to weather conditions:

Distichiasis can be a harmless condition, but it's essential to monitor your dog's eye health to catch any potential issues early.