Runny Eyes

[KRISDEE]

Hey All!

My baby (7 yrs old) has had runny eyes for weeks now that only seem to run after she's been walked in the evening.

The mucous is very thick and seems to only appear in one eye. Could this be caused from a change in her food? I changed her food about three weeks ago before we went on vacation to Blue Buffalo's wet food which has never been a problem in the past but I noticed lots of itching and the runny eyes afterwards.

The itching has stopped but the mucus has not. Could this be from the food change? She was around other dogs when went on vacation, could that have sparked something?

BTW, she's also on a grain free diet.

[MandiesMom]

If the changes happened with a food change, that would be my very first suspicion. Why did you change food? Can you change back? (Keep in mind that changing food, if it is the cause, will take a few weeks to show up - for the effects of the allergic cause to get out of her system).

You say it only happens after your evening walks? This also may mean that it's something in the air right now. Maybe google what's blooming or putting pollen in your air right now.

If it were me, I would quit that new food first and foremost. If, after about 3 weeks, I don't see any improvement, I'd take her to the vet for an allergy test.

[mimimomo]

Maybe environmental allergies? Momo has very runny eyes when the pollen count is med-high. I have to keep the hair around his eyes & bridge of his nose cut real short to keep it from bothering him bc he has a very short snout. Gerber Baby Water (for mixing formulas) works very well, keeps the eye boogers away. I buy it @ Walmart in the baby section where they sell the infant formula & bottles.
If his eye goober is an off color, like yellow or green, it can be a sign of infection & will need a vet visit.

[lovespandp]

Does the discharge smell at all? I would honestly take her in to get her eye checked out- it could be an infection. The fact that you say it is "thick" makes me think it is something more.. If it has been going on for that long, too risky.

[Britster]

Jackson will get normal amounts of eye boogies every now and then, esp. when pollen is bad. And yes certain foods will give us more, but this is typically brown and easy to get out. But one day his eye began getting way more goop than normal (almost reminded me of pink eye). Very goopy, and began being yellow-greenish color. After 3 days of no improvement, I took him into vet, problem was solved with antibiotic eye drops. It was some kind of infection. Eyes are nothing to mess with! So if you think it's out of ordinary, bring her in.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Britster

Jackson will get normal amounts of eye boogies every now and then, esp. when pollen is bad. And yes certain foods will give us more, but this is typically brown and easy to get out. But one day his eye began getting way more goop than normal (almost reminded me of pink eye). Very goopy, and began being yellow-greenish color. After 3 days of no improvement, I took him into vet, problem was solved with antibiotic eye drops. It was some kind of infection. Eyes are nothing to mess with! So if you think it's out of ordinary, bring her in.

When Jackson had that infection- did the goop smell? I heard when they have an infection like the the goop can have a bad smell.

[MandiesMom]

So, none of you think it is linked to the food change since it all happened at the same time?

Also, if it's an infection, why would it only run after the evening walk?

[ladyjane]

The fact that it is increased in one eye makes me think there may be some other issue going on. I suggest you take her to a vet to be checked out.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

Does the discharge smell at all? I would honestly take her in to get her eye checked out- it could be an infection. The fact that you say it is "thick" makes me think it is something more.. If it has been going on for that long, too risky.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Britster

Jackson will get normal amounts of eye boogies every now and then, esp. when pollen is bad. And yes certain foods will give us more, but this is typically brown and easy to get out. But one day his eye began getting way more goop than normal (almost reminded me of pink eye). Very goopy, and began being yellow-greenish color. After 3 days of no improvement, I took him into vet, problem was solved with antibiotic eye drops. It was some kind of infection. Eyes are nothing to mess with! So if you think it's out of ordinary, bring her in.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

When Jackson had that infection- did the goop smell? I heard when they have an infection like the the goop can have a bad smell.

I wouldn't rely on smell. If the eye discharge is yellow or green, time for a vet. Max's eye discharge did not smell.

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

So, none of you think it is linked to the food change since it all happened at the same time?

Also, if it's an infection, why would it only run after the evening walk?

Warm or humid weather can aggravate things like an eye scratch, which would cause more discharge. When Max had an ulcer, I took him walking when it was still too warm and humid. His third eyelid popped out and the discharge increased dramatically.

Could be allergies, but I would want to make sure. A vet exam for eyes is relatively inexpensive.

[lovespandp]

[QUOTE=Maximo;4314511]I wouldn't rely on smell. If the eye discharge is yellow or green, time for a vet. Max's eye discharge did not smell.


Oh I know that. I do know some infections like that do have an odd smell. Even if the discharge was clear, but lasted that long I would still get a Vet check. The OP did say it is “ mucous is very thick” so that alone would concern me. Like Brit says, “the eyes are nothing to mess with”!!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I wouldn't rely on smell. If the eye discharge is yellow or green, time for a vet. Max's eye discharge did not smell.

Warm or humid weather can aggravate things like an eye scratch, which would cause more discharge. When Max had an ulcer, I took him walking when it was still too warm and humid. His third eyelid popped out and the discharge increased dramatically.

Could be allergies, but I would want to make sure. A vet exam for eyes is relatively inexpensive.

They usually are, plus they will do the eye stain to make sure the eye has no scratches..

[Britster]

[quote=lovespandp;4314513]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I wouldn't rely on smell. If the eye discharge is yellow or green, time for a vet. Max's eye discharge did not smell.


Oh I know that. I do know some infections like that do have an odd smell. Even if the discharge was clear, but lasted that long I would still get a Vet check. The OP did say it is “ mucous is very thick” so that alone would concern me. Like Brit says, “the eyes are nothing to mess with”!!

Jackson's did not smell either and it was primarily in one eye!

[KRISDEE]

Thanks everyone!

I made an appt for her. It's really bothering me that it only happens at a certain time and that she has been scratching a lot.