Health

Your Guide to Cat and Dog Eye Boogers

By Michelson Found Animals

The occasional eye booger on your pet isn’t anything to freak out about. However, noticeable eye discharge can be a sign that something is wrong and you need to contact your veterinarian. Here’s your guide to cat and dog eye boogers!

Signs Something Is Wrong With Dog and Cat Eye Boogers

If you suspect something is wrong with your pet’s eyes, take a look at the cat or dog eye boogers. Its color and consistency can indicate what might be ailing your pet. These symptoms might mean that something is wrong:

Watery discharge
Yellow-green discharge
Discharge resulting in fur stains
Discharge resulting in smelly fur
Mucus
Red eyes
Blinking a lot
Inflammation
Crusty eyes
Squinting
Pawing at the eyes a lot
Keeping the eyes closed
Bulging eyes
Cloudy eyes
Ulcers
Fever
Diarrhea
Trouble breathing

These symptoms could mean that something as simple as an eyelash is stuck in your pet’s eye and is causing their troubles. However, it’s hard to know what the problem is without seeing a veterinarian first. Depending on which symptoms your pet is experiencing, they could also have conjunctivitis, birth defects, tumors, distemper, epiphora, dry eye, glaucoma, cherry eye, brain or nerve injury, feline upper respiratory infection, uveitis or allergies. A good rule of thumb is if you see any of the above symptoms with cat or dog eye boogers, call your veterinarian. They can put your mind at ease!

Treatments for Cat and Dog Eye Boogers

As previously stated, there’s a wide range of things that might be wrong with your pet. Clearing up whatever ails them might be as easy as removing an eyelash, or it might require more involved medical treatment. Here are some possible treatments for issues with cat and dog eye boogers:

Removing the foreign object
Pain medication
Antibiotics
Saline washes
Surgery
Antihistamines
Other medications

How to Keep Your Dog’s Eyes Healthy

The best way to treat eye problems is to keep your dog’s eyes healthy in the first place. Here are some tips for keeping those peepers in good shape:

Make sure your dog is up to date on their vaccinations
Eyes should be crust-free
Pupils should be the same size
Eyes need to be bright
There should be white around the iris
The eyes shouldn’t be tearing
Your dog shouldn’t be squinting
You shouldn’t be able to see any inner eyelid
If you gently tug downward on your dog’s lower lids, they should appear pink, not white or red
Watch out for discharge
There shouldn’t be any tear stains on your dog’s fur
Have a groomer trim long fur around your dog’s eyes
Keep your dog’s eyes away from irritating substances and allergens, such as soap and shampoo
Look out for changes in your dog’s behavior, like pawing or rubbing at their eyes

If you see anything out of the ordinary, it’s time to call your veterinarian.

Tips on Caring for Your Cat’s Eyes

Caring for your cat’s eyes is very similar to caring for a dog’s eyes. You should always keep your cat up to date on their vaccinations. Regularly check their eyes too. Be on the lookout for things like cloudiness, redness, cat eye boogers, sensitivity or any change in shape or color.