The things we humans will put up with in the name of love; man’s best friend’s eye boogers being one of them. While your dog’s eye discharge might not be the most enthralling topic of conversation, it is important to understand.
Why?
Being able to understand what type of eye discharge your Goldendoodle has is imperative to maintaining their overall eye health.
There’s no shortage of things that can cause eye boogers in dogs. From dry eyes, irritants, and infection to allergies, it’s not always clear what causes a dog’s eye boogers – at least, initially.
This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the main reasons for dog eye discharge, as well as the steps you can take to prevent these from reoccurring while protecting your dog’s eyesight.
As always, however, if you are in any doubt as to whether your dog is unwell, you should contact your veterinary professional immediately.
With that said, let’s look in more detail at why your dog may be developing eye boogers.
Table of Contents
The Reasons Your Goldendoodle Gets Eye Boogers
Some dog breeds are more susceptible to eye problems than others. Thankfully, Goldendoodles aren’t considered to be a dog breed that has a lot of trouble with these, but it does happen. Yet, despite their breed, some dogs are just unlucky that they will develop more boogers over the course of their life.
Let’s look at the most common reasons why a dog’s eye can develop eye boogers before moving on to precisely what you can do about it.
Allergies
When the weather changes and the seasons start to change, your dog can begin to display symptoms of itchiness in and around the eyes, similar to many humans with allergies. The reason why your Goldendoodle may develop eye boogers is the same.
A dog’s eyes may also become itchy because their eyes are dry. However, this is usually a temporary symptom and one that should get better after a day or two.
Illness
Illness can lead to a dog’s eye developing boogers or even excessive tearing, which can then lead to boogers.
If you suspect illness, your vet will be able to advise on the best course of action, possibly prescribing eye drops to help keep the eyes free from the risk of infection as well as keeping them well lubricated.
Cleaning products
Be careful what cleaning products you use throughout your home – some can cause an upset in pets, especially dogs, who may be susceptible to the harshness of many chemicals we don’t otherwise think about when doing the weekly chores.
It’s not just cleaning products, however. Everything from lit candles to incense can have an impact.
Natural fluids
Sometimes, a dog will just have excessive tearing naturally, leading to an increase in eye boogers. If this is the case, and it doesn’t cause your dog any distress, it’s just going to be one of those things that both you and doggo will have to live with.
You can help limit the ‘problem’, however, by ensuring that you keep your dog’s eyes clean.
Overactive tear ducts
Overactive tear ducts are one of the most common reasons behind dog eye boogers. When a tear duct is overactive, there’s going to be lots more fluid passing out of the eye.
Eye infections
Lastly, infections can be the reason behind a dog’s eye boogers. Depending on the severity, this can be extremely painful and unpleasant for your dog. Even if the infection doesn’t seem to cause your pupper any distress, your vet will need to see your dog in order to medically evaluate him/her.
How Do I Clean Eye Boogers?
In the event of eye discharge, it’s important that the area around the eyes is cleaned regularly and kept as clean as possible. Maintaining good eye hygiene will also go a long way to eliminating the risk of eye infections and unsightly watery discharge.
In fact, keeping your Goldendoodle’s entire face clean should be a key priority to maintain their hygiene. After all, just about any Goldendoodle dog owner knows how messy these dogs can get so quickly!
Free Your Dog’s Eyes of Boogers & Other Eye Discharge
Thankfully, it isn’t difficult to get rid of those unsightly dog eye boogers. But, they should always be dealt with as soon as possible. Allowing them to dry can cause issues with the residue becoming stuck in your dog’s hair, potentially leading to problems.
Below is a simple step-by-step guide to getting rid of your dog’s eye boogers:
- Using a cloth or cotton ball, place it in lukewarm water. You can, if you wish, use dog-friendly soap or shampoo if the eye is particularly messy. However, never use any substance made exclusively for human use – this can be dangerous for your dog’s eyes.
- Carefully wipe around the area, being careful not to drag any of the boogers back into the eye. Wiping away from the eye is generally the best way to prevent this.
- Check for any of the residues that have become trapped in the nearby fur and continue wiping as needed.
- Rinse around the eye and the face with lukewarm water.
- Gently dry the face and reward your pup with lots of cuddles and praise.
When to Worry About Eye Boogers
You don’t have to be overly concerned about the presence of dog eye boogers. However, if you notice any behavioral changes or signs of discomfort, then you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
The following symptoms can sometimes be indicative of more serious and/or painful eye problems, in which case you need to contact your vet.
- Very watery eyes
- Excessively dry eyes
- An increase in eye discharge or changes to its color or consistency
- Cloudy eyes
- Rubbing or pawing at the eyes
- Blinking excessively
- Bloody eyes
- A foreign object in the eye
Preventing Dog Eye Boogers
One of the best ways to limit eye boogers is to keep your dog’s head well-trimmed, particularly around the eye area. Unless you have experience trimming around a dog’s eye, it’s not recommended that you perform the cut yourself. A professional dog groomer will quickly and easily be able to take care of the job for you.
Another way to prevent eye booger build-up is to ensure you don’t get soap or shampoo in or around the eyes.
FAQs
What causes excessive eye boogers in dogs?
While watery eyes and eye boogers may be nothing to worry about in the majority of cases and are the result of long hair or dirt getting into the eye, they can also be the result of allergies, intolerances or the symptom of a potentially painful eye infection.
Are eye boogers bothersome to dogs?
Usually no. However, there may be instances where a perfectly natural (if unpleasant to look at) eye booger may, in fact, be something that needs to be remedied by a veterinary professional. Keep an eye on your dog to look for any changes to the condition of the eye.
When should I speak to a vet?
If you notice that your dog seems to be in any pain or discomfort, begins to tilt its head or attempts to stretch at its eye, it’s definitely time for a trip to the vet. However, you should do your best to stop the problem in its tracks before it gets to the stage where it appears to be uncomfortable with your dog.
Remember, for any sudden changes in your dog’s health or behavior, professional help should be sought.
Can I use human eye drops on a Goldendoodle?
No, you should never attempt to apply human-grade eye drops to any dog, including Groodles. This is because many of these contain chemicals that, while perfectly helpful for us humans, can cause more harm than good.
Is it normal for Goldendoodles to have eye boogers?
Yes, particularly when their eyelashes cover their eyes. They can also get eye boogers if there is a wind blowing into their face or dust in their eyes.
Should I remove dog eye boogers?
Usually, there’s no need as they will eventually fall out of the ducts themselves. If they are causing discomfort, get a clean, damp cloth and gently wipe them out.
Do Goldendoodles have eye problems?
Like many dog breeds, Goldies are known to sometimes develop cataracts. Depending on the severity of cataracts, corrective surgery may be required.
Final Thoughts On Dealing With Eye Boogers For Your Goldendoodle
Thankfully, eye boogers aren’t signs of something serious for most Doodles.
If you do notice them, gently wipe the eye with a wet cotton ball or cloth, being careful not to apply too much pressure in case there is a foreign body in the eye. If cleaning the eye as such does the trick, it’s likely it was little more than a small irritation.
If there is an infection, you may see some yellow or green discharge or pus-like eye discharge. If this happens, the team at BarksInThePark recommends taking your dog to the vet, who may issue a course of antibiotics. With the correct medical course of action, your dog’s eyes should be looking and feeling as good as new in no time.
Remember, if you are concerned about your dog’s eyes and/or your dog appears to be in discomfort or pain, it’s important to seek the advice of a vet as soon as possible.