My Cocker Spaniel has red, crusty eyes. Could it be dry eye?

It sounds like Lacey may have an eye infection. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any eye problem should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would have Lacey seen by a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose that she has an eye infection, and can treat her for it.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can’t say for sure from the pictures but it looks like there may be a defect on her cornea. I would stop the medication and get her back to the vet in the morning so they can stain the eye to look for a new problem. If it’s not a problem with the cornea, they need to check tear production (even if her eye is watering) and check the pressure of the globe. The vet should be able to check all of this in the morning. Good luck and kisses to Sophie!

I am concerned about the bleeding from the dewclaw. Unless it was clipped within the last 24 hours, there is no reason for it to be bleeding at this time. You can apply a soft, absorbent bandage, and leave it in place for several hours to see if it will clot. Though it may need to be treated by a vet as an emergency. Cocker Spaniels are notorious for getting ear infections. They are often related to allergies, but when they start to get bad, it will need prescription medications to clear it up. Then the vet can discuss routine management to prevent reoccurrence. An ear infection can get drastically worse, so I think this would be okay to take her in to the vet now. Weepy eyes are also common in Cockers, and often related to allergies. Use a wet washcloth to keep them clean.

It sounds like she may have injured the surface of the eye such as from a scratch - the cloudy blue is swelling in the cornea of clear part of the front of the eye. Please have her checked urgently to identify and treat the underlying cause and pain as well as to reduce the risk of long term scarring

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the eyes to check for any trauma and to see if she has adequate tear production. Dry eye can cause crusting and discomfort and could lead to serious corneal damage if not addressed early on. If there is an eye infection, the veterinarian can prescribe antibiotic eye drops to help treat this as well. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I can't say for sure without seeing it, but it could have been a cataract that the vet saw. These will cause spots in the lens and Cocker Spaniels are genetically predisposed to getting them. This breed is also predisposed to retinal defects, so that may also be a possibility. I hope that helps and all is well with Polly.

It sounds from your description that Frankie Bean is having increased tear production and staining on the hair near the inside of her eyes. Common causes for this include allergies (which can be seasonal), conjunctivitis, blocked tear duct, corneal ulcer or abrasion, chronic dry eye, etc. You can use a saline eye wash to gently flush her eyes to get out any debris, and an eye lubricant like Dechra Paralube is safe for eyes. As for the crusties on her hair, use a warm wet washcloth 1-2 times per day to gently clean this away. Occasionally dogs with excess tearing can develop secondary bacterial or yeast infections that may need prescription medications to clear up. You may discuss use of anti-histamines or changes in food to help with potential seasonal allergies. Your vet may also recommend bloodwork to find a cause for her weight loss and lethargy. Arthritis is a common cause for soreness in the morning or after prolonged periods of rest.