After a good night's sleep, it is not uncommon to see a slight discharge or crust in the corner of a dog's eyes. Also, some dog breeds have normal drainage that shows up as a brown stain around the eyes. Excessive mucus in a dog's eyes is most often caused by eye infections, contact allergies or injury in or around the eye.
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Allergies
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Mucus can be a result of seasonal or contact allergies. A dog with contact or seasonal allergies may get mucus or discharge around the eyes while the allergy is active. The mucus may be white, yellow or green in color, and is most often worse first thing in the morning or when the dog is exposed to the allergen for long periods of time. Allergies may also cause the dog to rub its face and eyes on carpets or the ground. Dogs also tend to scratch at the eyes to relieve any discomfort. Consult your veterinarian to determine the allergen and proper course of treatment.
Injury
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Check the areas in and around your dog's eyes for injury if you notice mucus. Mucus can form if an injury has occurred near or to the eye. Foreign objects in the eye, ingrown or matted hair near the eyes, inverted third eyelids, close encounters with sticks or leaves causing scratched corneas, insect bites near the eye, and scratches near the eye from rough play are all common causes of upset to a dog's eyes. Since many of these are obvious, care can be given prior to the formation of mucus.
Infection
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Know your dog's eyes well and mention any change to your veterinarian. Unless your dog is genetically predisposed to runny eyes, any mucus should be examined by a veterinarian to determine if an eye infection is the cause. An infection will not resolve without use of proper pharmaceuticals. Some can spread to other animals if left unchecked. Common infections of the eye include conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as pink eye, inflammation, plus bacterial and viral infections. All can produce mucus which normally increases when left untreated, and which can cause further damage to the eye.
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