As dog owners, we are concerned about every little thing related to the dog’s health. This includes the problem with their eyes and eyesight. Some vision problems in dogs, which are quite common include cataract and eye boogers. Some types of breeds are more susceptible to these problems compared to the others. Boxers are classified as the breed which is prone to eye problems, including blocked tear duct and eye boogers.

Why are boxers prone to eye boogers?

There are some dog breeds which are susceptible to eye problems, including discharge and eye boogers, such as the Shih-Tzu, Pekingese, pug, bulldog, and boxers. These breeds are also prone to blocked tear duct, which make tear drainage a problem. Their flat face with shallow eye sockets and excessive hair growth around the skin folds around their eyes are possible risk factors of eye booger problem.

What are the symptoms of eye boogers in boxers?

Although physiological reasons are the risk factors for the flat-faced dog breeds to suffer from eye discharge—or boogers in more severe condition, some other things make the eye problem more common to experience. Some most common causes of eye discharge include:

• Allergies

Some boxers are sensitive to pollen, dust, winds, and some other allergens. With allergies, the discharge will be clear, runny, but does not smell. This discharge will eventually vanish as soon as the dog is kept away from potential allergens.

• Eyelash or facial hair

Eyelash or facial hair can possibly trigger a watery discharge in flat-faced dogs, including boxers.

• Infection

Some eye discharge is triggered by infection, which is signed by a yellow-green discharge that is smelly and itchy.

• Conjunctivitis

This happens when the lining of the boxers’ eyes is inflamed from injury, allergy, or tear duct problem. This will cause red eyes and crusty discharge which is left on the eyelash and around the eyelids.

• Dry eye

Dry eye triggers sticky discharge in boxers. This leads to infection and painful red eyes.

When is eye boogers harmful?

With boxers, eye boogers are common, especially because they have got large eyes with goopy lower lids, which enable foreign objects to get in there very easily. Some tiny foreign objects which are not flushed out by the tear remain inside the lids, causing goopy eyes and lead to eye boogers. Normal eye discharge is shown by couples of signs including:

• The White or clear discharge which is not accompanied by itching shown by dog’s attempt on scratching the eyes.
• Bloodshot does not occur in the eyes. The boxer’s lid is not inflamed and get reddened, as well.
• The discharge is accumulated only on the corner of the eyes, instead of affecting the whole lower eyelid.

On the contrary, you need to get your boxer puppy observed by the vet if some signs of severely infected eye discharge are seen, such as:

• The color is dark green or yellow. Sometimes, it might be brown, as affected by external debris or dust.
• The discharge is not odorless. Infected eye discharge is signed in fact by strong odor and thick structure.
• Some discharge develops into a crust which is found around the lids, especially after overnight sleep. This crusty discharge is able to disrupt the boxer’s eye activities. Hence, the eyelids might not be fully opened. The lower lid is also boogie.
• Accompanied by nose discharge, because the problem is possibly accompanied by blocked tear duct.

Boxers’ eye boogers can possibly be more severe in the winter since this problem is often triggered by pollens and other allergens occurring during winter. Hence, the problem can also be worse when the boxer puppy is outside and the lawn is mowed. It is important to see the signs of the eye problems to determine its degree of severity. Once you are sure that the eyes are infected, go to the vet for a proper treatment. Some precautions include wiping the eyelids with baby wipes to remove the discharge. Warm saline water may also be helpful since it is a natural anti-bacterial solution. Also, make sure your boxer puppy’s facial hair does not get into the eyes, triggering irritation and worse discharge.