Dog Eye Problem - Third Eyelid Inflammation

by Antonio
(Tamaqua, PA, USA)

the pink part of the eye

My dog woke up today with lots of "eye boogers" coming out of his eye. The bottom part of the eye sometimes comes up and is pink. Does my dog have pink eye or an inflamation?

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The pink part of his eye in the picture only shows sometimes. What can I do to make him feel more comfortable?

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Dog Eye Problem - Third Eyelid Inflammation

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My Online Vet Response to Dog Eye Problem
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Antonio,
From the photo you sent, it looks like your Golden Retriever may have a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid.
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The third eyelid provides protection for the cornea in dogs and cats. Reptiles and birds also have a third eyelid which is transparent, so they can see when underwater or flying through the air. In dogs and cats, the gland of the third eyelid also produces tears for the eye to help the tear gland lubricate the cornea.

If the gland becomes swollen, it will bulge up and over the top margin of the third eyelid. When exposed like this, it will become irritated and produce the thick yellow mucous that you noticed.

A veterinarian can check his eye to confirm that this is the problem. Sometimes a conventional veterinarian will suggest a surgery to remove this gland. It would be healthier to find a holistic doctor to recommend treatment to reduce the swelling of this gland and return it back to normal. In the column on the left, look under Health/Wellness and click on Alternative Care, and scroll down to locate a veterinarian in your area.

If he had conjunctivitis, or infection/inflammation of the conjunctiva, it usually occurs in both eyes at the same time.

I would also want to make sure he does not have a foreign body in his eye, such as a piece of plant material, or something such as gravel that might scratch the cornea.

Until you can locate a veterinarian, use Saline solution to rinse his eye, 2-3 times daily. You can then put in 2-3 drops of Olive Oil into his eye, as needed, to help provide some lubrication for the third eyelid and the cornea. This may help decrease the redness and irritation of the third eyelid. And possibly rinse out any foreign matter that may be lodged under the lid.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the 'click here to add your own comments' link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

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Submitted by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

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 <span style="clear:both;"> <div class="AdSenseBoxMid" id="mid_add">  <script type='text/javascript'> GA_googleFillSlot("OPD-sbi-c2-template-CONTENT-midleft-300x250-wrap"); </script> </div> </span> Hi Antonio, From the photo you sent, it looks like your Golden Retriever may have a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid.  </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </span> --> The third eyelid provides protection for the cornea in dogs and cats. Reptiles and birds also have a third eyelid which is transparent, so they can see when underwater or flying through the air. In dogs and cats, the gland of the third eyelid also produces tears for the eye to help the tear gland lubricate the cornea. If the gland becomes swollen, it will bulge up and over the top margin of the third eyelid. When exposed like this, it will become irritated and produce the thick yellow mucous that you noticed. A veterinarian can check his eye to confirm that this is the problem. Sometimes a conventional veterinarian will suggest a surgery to remove this gland. It would be healthier to find a holistic doctor to recommend treatment to reduce the swelling of this gland and return it back to normal. In the column on the left, look under Health/Wellness and click on Alternative Care, and scroll down to <a href="http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/animal-care-dog-holistic.html#Locate">locate a veterinarian in your area</a>. If he had conjunctivitis, or infection/inflammation of the conjunctiva, it usually occurs in both eyes at the same time. I would also want to make sure he does not have a foreign body in his eye, such as a piece of plant material, or something such as gravel that might scratch the cornea. Until you can locate a veterinarian, use Saline solution to rinse his eye, 2-3 times daily. You can then put in 2-3 drops of Olive Oil into his eye, as needed, to help provide some lubrication for the third eyelid and the cornea. This may help decrease the redness and irritation of the third eyelid. And possibly rinse out any foreign matter that may be lodged under the lid. Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the 'click here to add your own comments' link below. Take care, Dr. Carol Jean Tillman DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

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He is good now!
by: Anonymous

My dog is good, the next day the other eye had the same problem so i took him to the vet and he said he had pink eye. Thanks!

Online Response to Dog Eye Problem
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Antonio,
A diagnosis of 'pink eye', or conjunctivitis is better than a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid.

Hope your dog recovers quickly,
Dr. Tillman

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