Dog Eye Discharge

by Sally
(Saginaw,MI)

Reader Question: Dog Eye Discharge

Our dog is a 12 year old cocker spaniel. For almost a month he has had eye discharge, gradually getting worse. He also has a runny nose which has gotten crusty on one side, and sneezes on occasion. Is this possibly an allergy problem? How can we treat it?

Vet Suggestion for Dog Eye Discharge

Hello, Sally

Allergies are a possibility, but so are some potentially more serious health concerns. Because the problem has been getting worse over the last month, it is definitely time to get your cocker in for an exam.

I suspect all of your dog’s symptoms are related since tears from the eye drain into the nose. Your veterinarian will probably want to run a Schirmer tear test to check for tear production, stain the eye to look for wounds or ulcers and to see if the stain drains normally into the nose, and check your dog’s eye pressure to rule out glaucoma and other problems.

Good luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM