Keeping your pooch safe from infections and diseases is a lot easier when you are informed! Your pooch will greatly appreciate it too! If your pup has eye boogers, it might be a sign that your dog has a more serious ailment. Read on to find out what they are!

Most dogs experience eye discharge because of dirt or dust getting into their eye, which is normal. What isn’t normal is when yellowish discharge starts to form or you notice physical changes to the eye itself – whether it’s starting to cloud, bulge or push itself back into the skull.

1. Allergies

Dogs can be allergic to numerous things. Anything from grass and pollen to the material their Kong is made out of. Some common symptoms that your dog is experiencing allergies are:

Itchy, runny eyes (eye discharge)
Red or irritated skin
Sneezing
Excessive scratching
Paw chewing/ Swollen paws

2. Conjunctivitis (aka pink eye)

If you notice your dog has clear or pus-like eye boogers or excessive redness in and around the eye, get it checked out by your vet – it could be conjunctivitis. Watch for red eyes, inflammation, pawing at the eyes, squinting or crusty eyes.

3. Epiphora

Be on the lookout for excessively teary eyes, which is known as epiphora. Epiphora means the eyes overflow with tears, according to VCA Hospitals . A few signs of epiphora are excess wetness around the eyes, brown staining underneath the eyes, a smelly odor, or skin irritation.

4. Keratoconjunctivits Sicca (KCS)

Next up on the eye discharge list is keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) also known as dry eye – the inability to produce enough tears.  Dry eye happens when the tear gland has gotten infected or has experienced trauma.

5. Glaucoma

There are two types of glaucoma in dogs – primary and secondary. Primary glaucoma is when the eye is unable to drain, causing fluid to get backed up in the eye. Secondary glaucoma is when some sort of trauma has occurred to the eye, such as inflammation or cancer of the eye, which physically blocks drainage. Get your pup to the vet as soon as possible and have the ocular pressures checked to determine further treatment.

To help your canine companion with drainage, keep the hair around their eyes trimmed. Use caution with things that could irritate your dogs eyes like shampoo, flea medication and dust. After the dog park, dampen a towel to clear any type of debris that might be there.

Now that you know what to look out for, taking care of your canine is a lot easier. Your doggies eye boogers can tell you a lot about his health. In case you think he might be suffering from a more serious health condition, take him to the vet.

For more information on doggy eye boogers, visit BarkPost.