Excessive Tearing and Eye Drainage in Dogs

Excessive Tearing and Eye Drainage in Dogs

Hey all, it’s Joshua Van founder and senior editor at Diggity Dog, where I’ve been chatting about pet woes and wins for what feels like forever. If you’re dealing with Excessive Tearing and Eye Drainage in Dogs, trust me, it’s more common than you think, and it can drive you nuts seeing your pup look all weepy. Take my old boy Buster, for instance he’d get these constant drips down his cheeks, making him seem like he was always bummed out. But hey, it wasn’t the end of the world; we figured it out, and now I’m sharing the real deal from fresh vet advice as of early 2026 to help you nip it in the bud. We’ll cover what sparks it, how to spot trouble, and simple fixes to get those eyes sparkling again.

From all the stories folks share with me at Diggity Dog, this eye stuff sneaks up, but handling it quick keeps things from getting messy. I’ve pulled from my fixes with Buster and up-to-date tips from reliable places like VCA and PetMD to make this your handy fix-it guide. Alright, let’s sort through this together.

Key Takeaways

• Catch it soon: Damp fur below the eyes, rusty marks, or a weird whiff might mean excessive tearing brush it off, and infections could creep in.
• Breed plays a role: Squish-faced types like Pugs or Bulldogs deal with it more from their build, though dust or sniffles can bug any dog.
• See the doc: If wiping at home doesn’t help, head in it could be clogged pipes or pink eye that needs drops.
• Wipe every day: Saline or pet wipes clear the crud and stop buildup; it’s an easy routine that makes a huge difference.
• Head off issues: Cut down on dust, trim fur, and tweak food some chow sets off the waterworks.
• Don’t wait if it’s bad: Red eyes, blinking a ton, or face-rubbing? Get to the vet pronto to dodge worse problems.

What’s Causing Those Runny Eyes? Getting the Lowdown

You know how your dog sometimes looks like they’ve been crying buckets? Eye drainage in dogs isn’t just for show it’s often their way of saying something’s irritating them. With my dogs, it starts small but builds if I don’t pay attention. From what vets are saying in 2026 via the American Kennel Club and fresh posts, this overflow fancy term epiphora happens when tears don’t flow out right or eyes pump out extra to fight junk.

The Tear Overflow Explained

Tears wash and moisten eyes, normally draining through a duct to the nose. But if that’s plugged or eyes are annoyed, they spill over hello, excessive tearing. Buster had a little clog once, and a quick vet rinse fixed him right up. Experts figure it hits about one in five dogs sometime.

Top Reasons: Pinning Down the Triggers

Sorting the cause is key I’ve run into a bunch with my crew, and they’re all over the map like breeds are. Based on 2025 wrap-ups from Petfolk and Central Kentucky Vet, here’s the usual suspects.

Shape and Breed Quirks

Some pups are wired for it those with flat snouts, like Pugs, Shih Tzus, or Bulldogs. Their eye setup makes draining a hassle. Lids rolling in (entropion) poke hairs at the eye, causing tears and ouch. Or lids droop out (ectropion), letting in dirt. If your dog’s got that vibe, keep an eye on regular.

Stuff That Irritates or Allergies

Pollen, smoke, even house dust regular things can kick off dog eye discharge. Allergies ramp up in spring, making eyes itchy and wet. Food quirks? They sneak in too. I changed Buster’s grub to low-allergy stuff, and bam, no more leaks. 2026 vet chats push checking for triggers if it won’t quit.

Bugs and Bumps

Pink eye conjunctivitis shows up with red and goopy eyes, from germs or viruses. Scratches leading to ulcers? Hurts like heck, with floods of tears. Or a stray seed stuck in there stirring trouble. Glaucoma’s another buildup inside that’s a rush job.

Hidden Troublemakers

Congenital blocks or swelling in ducts. Dry eye syndrome sounds backward but causes sticky gunk and soreness. Cherry eye, that bulging gland, needs sorting fast to avoid dry patches later.

Picking Up on Problems: What to Look Out For

It doesn’t scream at you right away. For Buster, those brownish streaks on his light coat tipped me off tears iron turns rusty with air. Other clues? Wet patches, rashy skin under eyes, stinky smell, or your dog scratching at their mug. Cloudy, puffy eyes or lots of blinking? Vet time, no delay. Long-term, it can scar eyes or invite infections, so stay on it.

Beyond Basic Tears

Extra winking, hating light, or colored goo (yellow or green screams infection). They might grind their face on rugs. One eye? Maybe a poke; both? Could be allergies or body-wide.

Vet Trip: What They’ll Do and Check

No point guessing I’ve tried, and it backfires. Docs kick off with a close look, maybe dye to find scrapes. Tests gauge tear flow, and they could rinse ducts if needed, sometimes with a nap. 2026 brings more fancy scans like sound waves for tough spots.

Ruling Out Big Deals

Pressure checks for glaucoma, or peeks for lumps uncommon, but peace of mind. Blood draws might spot things like gland issues.

Sorting It Out: Ways That Actually Help

Most fix up fine with the right steps. Germs get antibiotic goop or drops. Allergies? Pills or new eats. Clogs often clear with a wash, or surgery if stubborn.

Easy Home Tricks

Dab eyes daily with warm salt water soft touch, no scrub. Stain removers or wipes work wonders. I do this now as habit with my dogs. Dry eye calls for ongoing lubes or tear boosters.

When Surgery’s Needed

Lid fixes for rolling or cherry eye. After, watch close cone hats and rest to mend proper.

Stopping It Before It Starts: Smart Moves

Better to dodge than deal, right? Clip face fur short, especially near eyes. Keep your pad dust-free. Allergy dogs love clean air machines. Yearly vet pops catch early signs Buster’s checkups have spared us drama.

Food and Daily Tweaks

Fish oils cut swelling. Skip junky treats with colors that stain worse. Walks outside are great, but skip peak pollen hours.

FAQs

Normal for pups to tear up a lot?

Yeah, sometimes from teething or growing. But if it hangs on, check for blocks or bugs.

Human drops for dogs?

Heck no they might make it worse. Grab pet ones from the vet.

Those brown marks why?

Tears plus germs and yeast stain pale fur. Wipe often and fix the source.

How much cleaning?

Every day for easy-tear breeds, or when you see gunk. Warm water on a cloth does it.

Emergency signs?

Quick swell, hurting (rubbing or shutting eyes), or can’t see vet ASAP, might be pressure or scrape.

Any natural fixes?

Mild ones like herb rinses for light cases. But doc first to play safe.

References

Pulled from trusty folks like VCA Animal Hospitals, PetMD, and Chewy’s latest for 2026 accuracy. Check their pages for more. Glad you stopped by tell me your eye tales below! Follow Diggity Dog for extra pet tips.