Eye discharge in cats and dogs
It is called so many things - eye boogers, “sleep”, ocular debris, mucus, crusties, eye goo, etc.
Eye discharge is the material that collects in the inside corner of the eyelids. For some patients discharge can build up over night and be present only in the morning. For other patients, it behaves like an eternal spring of yuck. It builds up again immediately after it is cleaned away and can form stinky, painful, matted, crusty material collected around the eye/s.
When discussing discharge from a patient’s eye, clients frequently say that their pet is not irritated by it. In the majority of cases, I disagree simply based on how I would feel if I had red, moist, inflamed skin under a bed of dried discharge matted onto my face. Really? Ouch. Rather than the cat or dog not being irritated, it is more likely that due to their inability to communicate the underlying cause and their inability to effectively remove the excess discharge, they are simply tolerating it…patiently...until their beloved person figures out how to help them.
The cause of the discharge varies by species (cat or dog) and breed of animal (Purebred Persian versus beautiful domestic short hair).
For example, the cause of eye discharge in a two-year-old cat, newly adopted and introduced into a multi-cat household, will be different than the cause of ocular discharge in a 17-year-old, Shih Tzu with dental disease who sleeps on the couch most of the day, or a 2-year-old, hunting dog, who just got back from flushing birds, in Nebraska.
The primary causes of discharge in cats include infectious disease, dental disease, anatomical problems such as underdeveloped eyelids or eyelids rolling in, eyelid growths, and immune-mediated conditions. In dogs, in addition to the conditions listed for cats, we add misdirected or misplaced eyelashes, foreign material (like a grass seed) and trauma, to the list.
There are various techniques to clean discharge from the eyelids. The appropriate technique depends on the amount of discharge and the individual patients tolerance of handling and be touched around their eyes.
- For a small amount of discharge, use a dry, clean wash cloth or a Kleenex to gently discharge away from the eyes. If a patient has the correct demeanor, a clean, dry, cotton tipped applicator can be used to “spaghetti rolled” the discharge away from the inside corner of the eye.
- For more persistent, thick, dried matted discharge, a clean, very wet dish cloth or clean, or a very wet paper towel work well. Tap water is appropriate for the majority of cases. Other choices besides tap water, include Eye Wash (pick up over-the-counter at a store) or distilled water. Note: Eye Wash is not the same thing as Saline Solution. Saline Solution is a product used by individuals with contact lenses that can be irritating to a patient’s eye after repeated use.
- A great, safe product that removes thick mats of discharge from the hair around the eye is I-Lid ’N Lash, by I Med Pharma. This is a veterinary product available through numerous on-line vendors. No prescription is needed to purchase I-Lid ’N Lash. I prefer I-Lid ’N Lash gel to I-Lid ’N Lash wipes - though both are safe around the eye. To use I-Lid ‘N Lash gel, start with a dime sized amount of gel placed on a soft, clean cloth, a cotton 4 by 4, or a soft paper towel. Apply liberal and massage gently into the hairs. This product is safe and well tolerated if it comes in contact with the surface of the eye. Massaging may take 1-2 minutes. Next, use a dry cloth, cotton tipped applicators, or a flea comb to slow tease the discharge off of the hair around the eye. Application of I-Lid ’N Lash gel can be repeated until all the discharge is gone. Excess gel should be wiped away. For most patients, I-Lid ’N Lash gel applied once daily for 7 days, and then once weekly, as needed, is appropriate.
If you see signs of concurrent skin infection (yellow or green discharge), skin irritation (marked redness of the tissue or squinting), or broken skin under the dried discharge (bleeding from the eyelids), please contact our team. We are here to help.
When a patient has excessive and/or recurrent discharge, it is important to determine the cause. A list of the leading causes of discharge in cats and dogs is included above.
Early diagnosis and treatment for ocular discharge will minimize the risk for developing secondary, painful complications, will often shorten the course of treatment to get to complete resolution, and, most importantly, will improve your pet’s comfort and quality of life.
If your pet’s eye appears red, cloudy, or painful, a visit to Drs. Gearhart, Michau, or Nuhsbaum (that’s me) at Apex Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialists (AVOS) can be the fasted way to get them feeling great again.
At Apex Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialists, our mission is to help people and pets live their best lives. This starts within our team and carries to every interaction we have in the exam room and the surgery suite.
Please contact us if you think we can help your pet.
Dr. Nuhsbaum is a board-certified, veterinary ophthalmologist. She works to improve the ocular comfort, vision, and quality of life of animals. Dr. Nuhsbaum is the owner of the ophthalmology practice and part of the team of experts at Apex Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialists.