Hello all,

At a bit of a dead end re one of our dogs. He has runny eyes but not all the time. All the obvious things have been eliminated, no "mechanical" problems entropion, third eyelid problems etc. I suspect it is some form of allergy but as I say they do not run all the time although seem to more at home. It does not seem to bother him but wondered if anybody had any suggestions, either of what to give to decrease it or a possible cause. Have him lined up for some tests in the New Year.

Thanks,

Jeff.  

Jeff I wonder if his tear ducts are just maybe narrower than they would normally be?  

If you think it may be something like storage or house dust mites, or something out when you are walking, you could try wiping his with a damp cloth incase he is inhaling something thats causing his eyes to run.

Hi Justine,

Thanks for your reply. I will give it a try.

Jeff.

I use Euphrasia, diluted into cooled boiled water, three drops to around 1/2 a cup into a sterilised container - keeps for a couple of days. Wipe eyes 2-3 times a day. I've also heard that tea bags are just as good (no milk) but can't use as our dog is white around the eyes - they're certainly less expensive.

You can get the euphrasia as teabags.  I wonder if it could be the Central heating, makes my eyes very dry.

Thank you, will try that.
Barbara, not central heating, we haven't got any! :-)

Jeff.

Hi Lacy,

Could you tell where you get your Euphrasia please?

Thanks,

jeff.

Dorwest Herbs do Euphrasia pillules which work from the inside out, just drop straight into the dogs mouth as they are very tiny!

Many thanks!

How old is the dog?

I had a  dachsie which I got at 6 months old with one runny eye, I was assured by her breeder that there wasn't anything mechanically wrong, when I took her to the vets for a check up and to be microchipped I asked about the eye, the vet put drops in both eyes and had a look with ophthalmiscope and let me have a look too,she  said both eyes were normal and no signs of any ulceration caused by ingrowing lashes so no need for surgery, she felt she would probably grow out of it as her head matured and stopped changing shape, by 8 months old the area around her eye dried up and when the hair in that area grew out you wouldn't know there had ever been a problem, the only litter earlier this year had 1 stillborn that I couldn't revive (she had been alive earlier in the labour) the other 2 pups were partially absorbed so I couldn't say if she would have passed this on to her offspring, she won't be bred from again. 

So hopefully if still young out grows it. Trying to find out what he is allergic to is going to be nightmare when you think of all the things they are in contact with every day.

He is nearly two, so past the loose skin stage.
Jeff.

Ooh, thanks, might try that! I know I don't intend to show Hetty much, but the tear staining is very annoying for me to see, and none of the various Eye Envy / Angel Eyes etc etc etc have really done the trick. She's 18 months, so again coming out of the 'face changing with maturity' stage.

Local Helath food shop for the teabags.

Jeff. The Euphrasia tincture I get from our vet but produced by Ainsworths, so more than likely available off the internet & less expensive. Didn't realise you could get them as a tea bag as suggested but I've always been informed that everyday tea bags have the same effect soothing & gently antiseptic. Good luck.

> You can get the euphrasia as teabags. 

What a good idea, will have a look.

I am glad to read that you have tests planned. Just one thought I have as it is something close to my heart is Glaucoma and this should be one of the tests you ask to be carried out, A rise in pressure can cause tearing, although I would suggest less likely if both eyes are affected. Glaucoma tends to affect eyes one at a time. It was certainely one of the symptoms I remember affecting Scarlet before diagnosis.

The vet we have been seeing is an eye specialist as, apart from this, he is in rude health. His eyes do not bother him and we have gone through the routine stuff hence my post.
Jeff.

We lived in a mouldy house and me and one of the dogs really reacted to it(OH and 2 other dogs not so much)
The one that reacted has slightly loose eyelids so has always collected stuff in them and has weepy eyes ever now and again...
but moving out of the house improved her eyes to no end (and my health)... Could it be mould or dust mites he is reacting to?

It could be but I don't think it likely, although if we go down the allergies root I will add it to the list! :-)
Jeff.