What could be causing my dog’s watery eyes?
Original Question: Thank you for answering my first question and it is fine that it took awhile; I'm sure you are extremely busy. I do have another question. I recently got a small mixed breed dog that needs re-housing. We live in Newfoundland and it is very cold and windy here so I keep my pets indoors. I have noticed that the new dog (Meeka) has runny eyes. It is clear, and watery and I just wonder if this is normal, due to environment, due to heating or possibly for another reason." - Marilyn
Mar 5, 2018
Hi Marilyn,
Runny eyes may or may not be a sign of a more serious problem. Oftentimes, I find pets in a new home getting exposed to new things so the potential for some allergies always enters my mind. A simpler explanation might be that as they explore they could get small dust particles in their eyes from reaching those difficult to clean places. When it comes to a warm environment or a heated one, I tend to find the lack of humidity and dryness lead to a natural drying of the mucous membranes, which can include the conjunctiva of the eyes and the lower airways. Medically speaking though, other possibilities could include a clogged nasolacrimal tear duct, conjunctivitis, or even an ingrown hair repeatedly making contact with the cornea. For those reasons, and because they only get 2 eyes, I would recommend getting it looked at by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Ryan Llera
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