Why Do Goldendoodles Get Eye Boogers?
The longer your Goldendoodle is a part of your family, the more likely it is that you will notice little health problems or other concerns that will show up.
Some of these are serious and others, like the eye boogers that sometimes form at the edges of the eyes, are not as big of a deal.
But you may be curious as to why your Goldendoodle does get eye boogers in the first place.
Why Do Goldendoodles Get Eye Boogers?
These may be because of allergies, irritants, dryness, or an infection. Usually, simply wiping them clean is sufficient maintenance but if they persist or get worse, you should take your Goldendoodle to the vet to make sure their eye boogers are not a symptom of something more serious.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the different reasons why your Goldendoodle is getting these eye boogers and some of the different steps that you can take to help prevent these and protect the eyesight of your dog.
Dogs are going to get eye discharge because of a variety of different reasons.
Some will get them from allergies.
When the seasons start to change, your dog can get irritated in the eyes, just like a lot of humans do.
If this becomes a big issue, you may want to see if there are some allergy options out there for the dog with your vet.
Your Goldendoodle can also get eye discharge because their eyes are dry.
This is often a temporary solution and one that is going to clear up all on its own.
If the dog is sick, then your vet may prescribe some eye drops to help and keep the eyes moisturized before they get injured from being dry.
In some cases, if dry eyes seem to be a more common problem, then you can see if a permanent prescription is the right option for you.
Irritation from the environment could cause the eyes to dry out and this eye discharge to happen.
If you have changed up some of the cleaning supplies you use around the home, have candles lit, or the outside weather is different, then this can all affect your Goldendoodle as well.
Always pay attention to the environment that is around your dog.
Some dog breeds tend to be more prone to this kind of issue compared to others.
And even individual dogs can run into more problems than others.
Sometimes the eye discharge is going to come from the natural fluids in the body of the dog and it is just something you will need to deal with.
Frequent cleaning of the eyes will make a big difference on this one.
When your dog gets sick and catches an infection, you are more likely to see eye boogers show up around the eyes.
These will need to be cleaned out often to make sure that the infection does not get worse.
Your vet will need to provide some kind of medication to help protect the eyes and make sure that it doesn’t spread either.
Be diligent with this to help keep your dog safe.
One of the most common causes for eye discharge and these eye boogers is an overactive tear duct.
When the tear duct is overactive, it is naturally going to have a lot of discharge.
Keeping the area clean can be the best way to help the eyes and make sure that it does not develop into an infection.
How Do I Clean Goldendoodle Eye Boogers?
If your Goldendoodle has eye discharge, it is important to make sure the area around the eyes is as clean as possible.
Cleaning this area will help make sure that an infection is not going to happen and that the eyes can stay healthy.
Keeping your Goldendoodle’s face clean should already be a part of your regular hygiene routine.
There are a few different methods that you can use to do this, but the important part is to do it frequently enough to prevent infections and to keep the eyes clean.
One method is to use some warm water on a cotton ball (either with some soap or not), and wipe it away gently.
If your dog is sensitive to having something near their eyes, you can use the end of a Q-tip dipped into some cleaning solution and do the same thing.
A dog-friendly eye wipe can be a good option as well.
Be careful how you remove this eye booger!
It is common for many pet owners to wait for the eye booger to dry and then they will use their nails to help tease it away from the hair.
This can cause some harm to the dog and it has the tendency to knot into the hair and make it discolored along the way.
This can increase the risk of bacteria lurking behind and giving your dog an infection.
Steps to Help Clean Out the Eye Boogers
The sooner you are able to clean out the eyes for your dog, the easier it is to get the mess removed without causing damage to the eyes or having to worry about your dog getting an eye infection.
Some of the simple steps that you can use to help clean out the eye gunk for your dog include:
- Take a cloth and add warm water to it. You can use just the plain water if you are in a hurry or go with a soap or shampoo that is pet friendly to help clean the area.
- If you do use a dog formula eye wash soap, it is likely to help break down some of the other debris and dirt near the eye. This can keep the eyes cleaner and will reduce the smell and the staining.
- When ready, slowly wipe away anything that is near the area of the eye for the dog to help get it out of the fur. While you do not want to press down so hard that it harms the dog, try to get all the booger that is down in the fur.
- You can also use a cotton ball to get a bit closer to the eye if the eye booger seems to be stuck close to it.
- Rinse out whatever was used on the face often. This helps to make sure that the gunk and the bacteria are not getting put back into the eyes. You will want to rinse out the shampoo or the soap later to help protect your dog as well.
- Gently dry off all the area around the eye, give your Goldendoodle a big hug, and let them go and play.
This is a process that needs to be done every week or so, or anytime that you notice there is an eye booger that is running to the eye.
Make sure that you do not use paper towels or tissue to clean out the eyes for your dog.
These are going to be too rough on the eyes or they will disintegrate into the fur and can cause more issues than before.
When Should I Worry About Dog Eye Boogers?
For the most part, these dog eye boogers are not going to be a big deal.
Your dog is going to get them on occasion and that is not a big deal for them or for you.
However, if they show up often and cleaning does not seem to matter all that much, this is a sign that you may need to take a look with your vet to see if there is anything there that is aggravating the eyes or not.
If you notice that your dog seems to be in pain or discomfort while handling the eye boogers, this could be a sign that there is an infection and you need to take care of the issue as soon as possible.
If the discharge looks like a strange color too, then this is a sign that you will need to visit the vet with your dog.
Dealing with Eye Boogers for Your Goldendoodle
Eye boogers are not a big deal for most dogs.
They can be set in the eye from a small irritation and after a quick cleaning of the eyes, your dog will be better and will stop with the problem.
Sometimes the issue is caused by an infection or dry eyes, but your vet will be able to work with you to help come up with the right method to handle these and within a few weeks, the eyes will be as good as new.
With a little bit of cleaning of the eyes and being careful when you see the eye boogers, you are sure to find the perfect way to keep those eyes clean and help your Goldendoodle be as happy as possible.