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My dog's sticky eye discharge keeps returning. What can I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Australian Terrier | Male | neutered | 15.4 lbs

My 13 year old silky Australian Terrier has a thick sticky yellow/green puss like film, that covers his left eye. Can get very red & will get crusty, he itches & occasionally this affects the right eye too. I notice both eyes appears slightly cloudy. I took him to the vet & was told it was conjunctivitis, also he was slightly blind. I was given pain medication + eye drops. His eye cleared up for 2/3 weeks, but this is still happening. Could it be more serious? What can I do to help him?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 7th, 2018

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach.

My guess is that Oscar could have keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) which is basically "dry eye". This is not necessarily serious, per se, but needs to have long-term medication to manage/control it. It is easy to test for this - a simple tear test that your vet can do in the office in just a few minutes. I would test for this.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1326

Just take Oscar back to have the test done and then go from there. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Poor guy. There is a good chance he has a dry eye condition called KCS hat initially caused his conjunctivitis. Other possible, less common, causes of this are eye: distichia (in grown eyelid lashes), a foreign body underneath the lid, allergies, ectropion, etc. KCS causes redness of the white part of the eyes, it affects both eyes simultaneously, and can cause secondary infections (green or yellow discharge). This can also cause discomfort for the pet because the eye becomes vet dry and itchy.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1326

I would go back to your vet to get a simple test done called a Schirmer tear test to confirm this suspicion and get him on another round of antibiotics to clear up the infection and separate eye medicine to treat for the dry eye. In the meantime you can purchase some eye moisturizing saline drops from your local pet store to possibly help with some of the irritation. Best wishes and take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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