How to clean your dog's eye discharge and when it's a warning sign

Key points

• A little clear or brownish discharge in the inner corner of the eye in the morning is normal.
• Clean with sterile saline from single-use vials and a separate gauze pad for each eye, wiping from the inside out.
• Homemade chamomile tea isn't sterile and leaves particles behind; human eye drops can make an ulcer worse.
• Yellow or green discharge, a red eye, squinting or new tearing are reasons to see the vet.
• An eye that suddenly closes, turns cloudy or is injured by a knock or a grass awn is an emergency.

Cleaning your dog's eye discharge takes a minute and needs nothing special: sterile saline and a gauze pad. A small amount of clear, gray or reddish-brown gunk in the inner corner of the eye in the morning is normal; it's how the eye flushes out dust and debris.

What matters is telling that everyday eye gunk apart from discharge that signals a problem: yellow or green, abundant, with a red eye or a dog that's squinting. Here's how to clean it properly, what not to use (chamomile and human eye drops, even though they're often the first thing we think of) and which signs mean a vet visit, some of them the same day.

Normal eye discharge and discharge that isn't

What the discharge looks like	What it usually means	What to do
A little, clear or gray, in the morning	Normal	Clean it when needed
Reddish-brown, with stained fur under the eye	Normal tear pigments that stain light-colored fur; common in Poodles, Maltese, Bichons and Shih Tzus	Clean and dry daily; if there's a lot of tearing, mention it at the checkup
Grayish-white, thick and sticky, eye looks dull	Possible dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), common in Westies, Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih Tzus	Vet: it needs treatment, often lifelong
Yellow or green, abundant	Conjunctivitis or infection, sometimes due to dry eye or a foreign body	Vet within 24-48 hours, sooner if there's pain
Bloody, or after a knock	Injury	Emergency

What to use and what not to

Yes:

• Sterile saline in single-use vials (0.9 % sodium chloride). You'll find it at any pharmacy or drugstore. Once a vial is open, use it that day and throw away the rest.
• Sterile gauze pads rather than cotton balls, which shed fibers that end up in the eye.
• Unscented dog eye wipes, if you find them easier.
• A fine-toothed comb for the fur around the inner corner of the eye in long-haired dogs.

No:

• Chamomile: homemade chamomile tea isn't sterile, it leaves flower particles that irritate the eye, and some dogs are sensitive to that plant family. Saline does the same job without those risks.
• Human eye drops: drops for red eyes contain vasoconstrictors, and drops containing steroids can make a corneal ulcer worse, to the point of perforating the eye. Don't use leftovers of drops your dog was prescribed in the past, either.
• Hydrogen peroxide, bleach or whitening products for tear stains: nowhere near the eye.
• Tear stain products containing antibiotics without a prescription: they encourage resistance and don't treat the cause.

Dogs more prone to eye discharge

Flat-faced breeds (Pug, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Pekingese): their eyes are more exposed, and they often have a fold over the nose that rubs against the eye. Clean that fold too with a damp gauze pad and dry it well. In these breeds, a knock or a hard tug on the collar can even make the eye pop out of its socket: use a harness.

Dogs with long hair on the face: hairs that rub the eye cause tearing and discharge. Have a groomer trim them with blunt-tipped scissors, and detangle them daily.

Dogs that tear a lot: no home remedy removes brown tear stains, but cleaning and drying the area every day keeps the skin from getting irritated. If your dog tears excessively, the vet can look for the cause: a blocked tear duct, misplaced eyelashes or eyelids that roll inward.

When to see the vet

Book an appointment within a day or two if:

• The discharge is yellow or green, or comes back a few hours after cleaning.
• The eye is red or the eyelid is swollen.
• One eye suddenly starts tearing or your dog keeps rubbing their face.

It's an emergency, the same day, if:

• Your dog squints or keeps the eye closed: it's a sign of pain.
• The cornea looks cloudy, bluish or whitish, or the pupils are different sizes.
• The eye is swollen, bulging or has come out of its socket: cover it with gauze soaked in saline and go straight to the clinic.
• There's been a knock, there's blood, or you suspect a grass awn (a foxtail, in the US): after a walk through dry grass, your dog suddenly starts squinting and tearing. Don't try to pull it out with tweezers.
• A chemical has got into the eye: flush it with plenty of saline or tap water for 10-15 minutes and take your dog to the vet.

For other grooming routines, see how to clean their ears or our homemade grooming and care section.

What you need

• Sterile saline in single-use vials
• Sterile gauze pads
• A dry gauze pad or soft cloth
• A fine-toothed comb, if your dog has long hair on the face
• Small treats

Step by step

1. Get everything ready and wash your hands

   Find a well-lit spot. A small dog can sit on your lap; a large one can sit leaning against your legs. Open the saline vial and keep the gauze pads within reach.

2. Soften the crusts

   Soak a gauze pad in saline and hold it against the dried discharge for 20-30 seconds. Don't pull it off dry: it tugs at the fur and hurts.

3. Wipe from the inside out

   Wipe the gauze from the inner corner of the eye outward and downward, without touching the eye itself. If anything is left, use a clean part of the gauze.

4. Use one gauze pad per eye

   Switch to a fresh gauze pad for the other eye so you don't carry a possible infection from one eye to the other.

5. Dry the area

   Pat gently with a dry gauze pad. Constant moisture in the corner of the eye irritates the skin and encourages staining.

6. Detangle and reward

   In long-haired dogs, comb the hair around the inner corner of the eye with a fine comb. Finish with a treat. Repeat daily or whenever needed.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for my dog to have eye boogers every day?

Yes, if there's only a little, it's clear, gray or reddish-brown, and it shows up mostly when they wake up. It's the eye's normal way of flushing out dust and debris. It isn't normal for it to be yellow or green, abundant, to come back right away, or for the eye to be red or your dog to squint. In those cases, your vet should take a look.

Can I clean my dog's eyes with chamomile tea?

It's not a good idea. Homemade chamomile tea isn't sterile, it leaves flower particles that irritate the eye, and some dogs are sensitive to that plant family. To clean eye discharge, sterile saline from single-use vials and a sterile gauze pad is safer, just as cheap and available at any pharmacy or drugstore.

Why does my dog have green eye discharge?

Green or yellow discharge usually points to an infection or conjunctivitis, but the cause behind it can be dry eye, a grass awn, an ulcer or eyelashes rubbing the eye. That's why antibiotic drops you have at home aren't enough: your vet should examine the eye, sometimes with a dye to check the cornea, and treat the cause.

How do I get rid of my dog's tear stains?

No home remedy will erase them, but cleaning and drying the area daily keeps them from getting darker and stops the skin from getting irritated. Never use hydrogen peroxide or whitening products near the eye. If your dog tears a lot, the vet can look for the cause, such as a blocked tear duct or hairs and eyelashes rubbing the eye.