Really bad eye goop in the mornings!
 

I know there's been threads on this before...

Jackson has had REALLY bad eye GOOP (they're not crusty... they're, like, wet and gooey... kind of yellow-ish tint to them) in the mornings. Do you think it's allergies?

He never has had eye goop problems before until maybe 2-3 weeks ago, and then back months and months ago when he was eating Wellness, he had bad eye goop. Once I switched him to Nature's Variety Instinct, the goop stopped. Now for his last 2 bags of food, he's been eating Fromm Surf and Turf (also grain-free) and it almost seems like a little bit after starting new food is when the goop started? But I don't know how common it is for food to actually cause this.

I still have a lot of Fromm left so I didn't particularly wanna go out and buy a whole new bag of NV Instinct just to try. I had been sort of rotating between the two foods, but got a coupon for Fromm so did Fromm two bags in a row.

I did put some apple cider vinegar in his water for a week and it didn't do anything?

Another thing I thought of- Jackson HATES anything potato. He will never touch a potato chip, a french fry, a baked potato, anything! Well, potatoes are the third ingredient in Fromm, whereas NV doesn't have potato. Maybe he knows potato bothers him? Ha! I have nooo idea. But I know he loves eating his Fromm so I'd feel terrible taking him off of it.

Sorry this is so long- it just baffles me. He's going to the vet on Monday anyways so I'll probably mention it but was just curious if any of you had this issue.

Brit, make sure your vet does a Schirmer Tear Test on Jackson. Unfortunately, KCS or "dry" is genetic in Yorkies. Some Yorkies are born with a too small lacrimal (tear producing) gland.

A gooey yellow discharge, especially in the morning, is the classic symptom.

KCS (Dry Eye)

We have seen a number of cases here recently.

I switched Joey to Blue Wilderness, and he experienced terrible brown goopy eyes within 24 hours. I didn't relate it to the food switch at first, but I decided to stop it, after several days and within 24 hours his eyes got much better, some discharge, but not copious amounts. I mean his mustache was even wet. It took at least 10 days to completely clear up, and when they had been clear for a while I tried it again and the same thing happened. I'm doing experimental testing on Joey! So I'm convinced something about the food didn't agree with him. Since then, I've read of others having the problem with Wellness, so I think there may be some connection. He's doing great on his old food, "Look ma, no more tears!" :D

Wow, thanks for the info! Now I'm all nervous that it could be something more serious than I thought :(

Pollen has also been really bad here lately.

I remember you saying that about Blue Wilderness before. Sooo interesting.

Maybe I will go and get a bag of the Instinct (since that's when he had no eye goop) tomorrow and just see if anything improves over the next few days? Vet visit is Monday, so I'd be interested to see.

I hope it's nothing, and pollen could be the culprit especially if it was yellow.

If its changed from what is normal, its always good to get it checked out.
Hopefully your vet will confirm that its nothing too serious.

Lola had the yellow eye goop a month or two ago...I think it was the weather and/or pollen...it finally cleared up a week later

Hope its only his food or allergies...Keep us posted :)

Alright, so yesterday morning I went out and bought a bag of NV Instinct again... this morning... AMAZING... eye goop nearly gone. Still a bit, but it's significantly better than all the other mornings, and it was only one eye... not both like it usually is. So I'm *hoping* it's something in the food that just wasn't agreeing with him, but I am still going to talk to the vet about it, esp. if it continues. But we'll see after day 2 of NV.

Brit, will you let us know what you find out? I started feeding EVO Herring & Salmon a few weeks ago and a couple of my babies suddenly have a lot more eye gunk than they've ever had. They don't have any on the NV.

Bonny

I feed Lola Innova and she always has eye gunk (not yellow) I'm starting to wonder if its the food?? I know Innova and Evo are the same company...

I really hate to switch because she loves it...but I may have no chose..

I know what you mean. It's been so hard to find just the right food for them.

How much protein does NV have??

Yeah, definitely. I will let you know. :D

The Rabbit & the Turkey/Duck formulas are 35%. The Chicken (which I can't feed) is 42%. That's for the Instinct line. I'm not sure what %'s the Prairie line contains.

Great news!

I'd still be sure and mention it to your vet and have a tear test done to be on the safe side. They are quick and easy and only about $15-$20. The vet just tucks a tiny test strip under the eyelid.

Thanks Bonny :)

I fed Lady NV's Prairie for years, up until I had to start homecooking for Lady. It's 26% protein which I am a little more comfortable with personally.

Me, too. It's so hard to find a grain-free food with lower protein, though. And Alex does so much better on grain-free that I really don't want to switch. This one was just recommended to me, and I like the looks of it. I'm going to pick up a bag to try next week. http://www.petcurean.com/index.php?page_id=179

Okay, I definitely still am gonna talk to her about it!

That one does look good. The fat content is only 17%, too. So many of the high protein foods are also really high in fat. Evo, for example, is 22%. I know quite a few toy breed dogs who have developed high cholesterol from those diets.

I feel the same...I want a food thats lower in protein and grain free..

I really thought I'd found the one with TOTW's Pacific Stream (25% protein) but the whole ethoxyquin issue makes me too uncomfortable to keep feeding it. :(

Nv Instinct seems like the food that's just worked best for Jackson. We tried Innova, Before Grain, TOTW and maybe a couple more before finding NV. He's so picky too and it was the only food he would eat at the time. I started getting him the Fromm because I heard such GREAT things about it and his picky self loved it! But if it causes him eye boogers... I'll have to stop :( He's a pretty active dog too so the high protein works for him.

Have you looked into Acana? The have 3 grain free formulas that are about 33 percent protien. Im not comfortable feeding my little ones a super high protien food either, but my dogs have had a few issues in the past with grains so Ive had better luck with grain free. They are doing well, high energy levels, good coats, bright eyes, 2 small poos a day. The only thing we havent been able to conquer with any food they have been on is the red eye staining :(.. it is less than it has been in the past but it just wont go away..:cool:

Im sorry that the Fromms was causing his eye problem. Its good that he enjoys the NV so you always have that to fall back on..:)

Alright, so day 3 of eating NV (I think?) and he woke up this morning with just a tiny bit of eye goop in the right eye, but nothing like what he WAS waking up with.

Something else interesting I read on dogfoodanalysis.com,

The major carbohydrate source is tapioca, which may be particularly useful for dogs with sensitivities to potatoes or who suffer arthritis.

Remember I mentioned how he just WON'T eat anything potato? Not even french fries? I wonder if he has a sensitivity to potatoes.

Yeah, I THINK it was the food, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm going to give your coupons to my dad for his 2 dogs :)

I had the darnest time finding new food bc we can't have any chicken, pototo, & it has to be grain free. I finally decided on Acana Grasslands & we're gradually switching, started yesterday. They love it.
White Potato is an inflammatory food. Foods w/ potato fiber, or protein are fillers.
Sweet potato, Russet potato are good, anti-inflammatory.

Have you tried adding Apple Cider Vinegar in his water? (Sorry if it was mentioned before.) I only add a tiny bit (1 tsp to 22 oz water), bc I don't want them not drinking, but their eye goop has dramatically lessened.

Hey! I did do the apple cider vinegar for a week and it didn't seem to do anything? Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance.

Jackson has never ever had eye goop problems at all so this is new to me! LOL.

You know, it could be allergies too...:p I haven't been consistent w/the ACV to know if it's fully effective.