Why do Chihuahuas eyes water?
If you are reading this, your Chi probably has tear stains. Chihuahuas are generally known for their large watery eyes and that can cause their eyes to develop unsightly tear stains.
Moreover, constant eye water can also lead to eye boogers or discharge.
In severe cases, constant eye watering or tearing could indicate a health problem, an allergy, or even an eye infection.
In this guide, we will cover in detail the reasons ‘why do Chihuahuas eyes water?’ and more importantly, when to see a vet. We will also talk about ways to reduce tear stains in your Chihuahua.
Why Do Chihuahuas Eyes Water?
Tears perform numerous roles in dogs and humans: they keep the eyes lubricated and remove dirt or dislodged eyelashes from the eyes.
Eye tearing is very important to prevent dry eyes and also help keep your pet’s eyes healthy.
There are several factors that can helps us answer the question: ‘why do Chihuahuas eyes water?’
1. Reflex tearing
Reflex tearing is a natural response to certain triggers and helps keep our eyes healthy.
Eye allergies, infections, irritants in the eyes, pollutants, eyelash, dirt, debris, etc. could trigger this type of tearing in your Chihuahua.
The increased tear production flushes the eyes out and helps keep them clear and clean.
2. Epiphora
If your Chihuahua’s eyes are looking teary, more than normal, then it could be due to epiphora.
Epiphora is characterized by other symptoms such as tear stain formation, smelly fur, excessive eye discharge, etc.
Many factors can cause epiphora in canines include eye tumors, allergies, eyelashes, inflammation of the eyes, cataract, and corneal ulcer.
3. Dry eyes or keratoconjuctivitis sicca
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eyes in Chihuahuas can also result in excess tearing as well. The symptoms of KCS include excess blinking, cloudy eyes, prominent third eyelid, swollen conjunctivitis blood vessels, and mucous or pus-like discharge from the eyes.
4. Scratched cornea
If your Chihuahua’s eyes are tearing up tremendously, it could also indicate a scratched cornea. Symptoms of the scratched cornea include runny eyes, squinting, redness, and swollen tissues around the eyes, constant pawing, whimpering and crying, keeping the affected eye closed, and discomfort.
5. Cherry eye
Excessive tearing can also indicate one of the dog eye problems like cherry eye. Cherry eye, in turn, leads to epiphora which causes excess tearing. Cherry eye also has a distinct oval red swelling protruding from the bottom of the eye along with bloodshot eyes.
6. Conjunctivitis
An eye infection such as conjunctivitis can also cause Chihuahua eyes watering. However, conjunctivitis has a distinct yellow-green pus oozing out of the corners of the eyes although some dogs tend to have a watery discharge too.
Your pet might also have crusty eyes, eye blinking, pawing of the eye, or keeping the eyes closed.
7. Glaucoma
In dogs glaucoma also causes a watery discharge due to the increased eye pressure. There are other symptoms too such as bulging eyes, eye pain, pawing of the eye, etc. Your pet will need medicines to reduce the eye pressure although, in severe cases, surgery may be the only option.
8. Genetic issues
Not all cases of Chihuahua eye watering are linked to allergies, infections, or dog eye problems. Sometimes, teary or watery eyes simply be genetic.
In general, dogs with short noses and flat faces tend to have watery eyes because their facial structures cause the eyes to protrude out.
9. Some other serious conditions
Many serious health issues like brain or nerve injuries can also cause excessive eye watering. If your Chihuahua is constantly suffering from excess eye tearing or discharge, please see your vet to rule out these serious health problems.
10. Trauma, stress, anxiety, emotions, pain
Some Chihuahuas actually ‘cry’ tears when they are left alone or when they are stressed or frightened. Many Chihuahuas are known to produce ‘real tears’ when their owners have come back after spending a long time apart. These emotional tears, though rare, are also quite possible.
Please check out our detailed guide on ‘why do Chihuahuas cry’ to know more.
What are Symptoms of Chihuahua Eye Watering?
Dogs with chronic teary eyes often have stained eyes or tear stains on the fur under the eyes.
They might also produce more dog eye boogers than usual. The skin under the eyes can become irritated and remain moist permanently and, in white coated dogs, the tears produce distinct brown or reddish-brown stains. Other symptoms of Chihuahua eye-watering include:
- Excess blinking
- Eye pawing
- Irritation
- Pain or discomfort
- Keeping affected eye closed.
How Is Chihuahua Watering Eyes Diagnosed?
If your Chihuahua’s eyes are watering more than usual, please see your vet right away because early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the problem from escalating.
Your vet will examine your pet’s eyes to see if the tear duct is blocked or if there is an infection, allergy, or any of the above conditions causing the tears.
In case of a blocked tear duct, your vet will direct the treatment to remove the obstruction. In any case, your Chihuahua needs a complete eye examination to determine exactly why do Chihuahuas eyes water.
Your vet might even recommend fluorescein dye to find out the exact cause of the watering eyes.
How to stop Chihuahuas Eyes from Watering?
For excess or abnormal eye tearing and watering, please do not use home remedies. Instead, see your vet and start the right treatment.
For normal or milder cases of eye watering in Chihuahuas, the following steps can help:
A. Use a pet eye wash
A gentle pet eye wash can prevent irritation and clear away irritants from the eyes. It contains silver ions that eliminate eye clogging, clear away tear stains, and reduce eye puffiness and eyelid irritation.
To use:
- Moisten a sterile cotton pad with the solution
- Starting from the inner eye corner, gently wipe the eye.
- Repeat one more time for effectiveness.
- Treat the other eye in a similar manner using a new cotton pad.
Use the eye wash 1-2 times a week to keep your pet’s eyes clear and healthy.
B. Avoid using your fingers to clean your Chi’s eye boogers
Excess eye tearing can sometimes worsen when you touch your pet’s eyes constantly to remove eye boogers.
Never use your fingers for the task, always use pet wipes or eye cleansing pads. Your fingers can carry millions of germs which could lead to severe eye infections and worsen the tears.
C. Bathe your pet
Often, simply bathing your pet can also clear away excess eye boogers, eye tearing, and eye discharge. The warm bath water cleans your pet’s eyes and takes care of allergens as well. You can use any vet-approved shampoo or check out the best shampoo for Chihuahua.
Now that we know how to eliminate eye tears in Chihuahua, let us look at some home remedies to get rid of tear stains.
How Do You Get Rid Of Tear Stains in Chihuahuas
If excess eye watering is causing ugly tear stains in your Chi, then the following steps can help:
1. Change your Chihuahua’s diet
Tear stains often indicate an underlying deficiency or inadequacy. Your pet’s dog food might not be fulfilling its nourishment needs and a change in diet could help clear that.
Many commercial dog foods contain harmful fillers like corn, wheat, etc. which could be responsible for tear stain in dogs.
You can try switching to a grain-free dog food specially made for reducing and preventing tear stains. Here is one brand .
Also Read: Best dog food for tear stains.
2. Change your pet’s drinking water
Many dogs are experiencing tear stains due to the heavy minerals found in tap water.
Switching to RO/reverse-osmosis filtered drinking water or mineral or spring water can control staining.
3. Maintain hygiene
Simple steps like maintaining your dog’s facial and eye hygiene can also prevent excess tearing and staining of fur.
- Bathe your furry friend once or twice a month.
- Use pet eye wipes daily to remove dog eye boogers. Eye wipes also keep the external eye area clean.
- Use an eye cleanser like Opti-Clear or No products found. .
- Clean your pet’s muzzle with dry shampoo or water-less shampoo.
4. Groom it regularly
Trim the excess fur around your Chihuahua’s eyes – especially in the longhaired Chihuahua breed.
You can also use a tear stain comb to clean the stained fur and eliminate hardened boogers.
Take your pet for professional grooming since groomers use special tools and products to combat tear stains.
5. Use cornstarch
Cornstarch is a natural remedy for eliminating tear stains in dogs. Make a paste of cornstarch with a bit of hydrogen peroxide. Gently apply the thick paste to the stained area and keep it on for as long as you can.
Just make sure it does not get inside your pet’s eyes. Wipe off after a few hours. Repeat once or twice a week to see results.
6. Use herbs like chamomile
Herbal remedies like chamomile tea can also whiten or lighten your Chihuahua’s stained fur.
- Make a tea with chamomile leaves and flowers and cool it. Soak a clean cotton ball in the tea and press it gently on the stained areas.
- Repeat for both eyes.
- Use the remedy once or twice a week to see results.
If you don’t have chamomile, you can make a diluted tea using a few drops of lemon juice and use it in the similar manner. Just don’t let the lemon juice get inside your pet’s eyes.
7. Use hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent and it can whiten and brighten your dog’s tear stained fur.
- Soak sterile cotton ball or eye pad in diluted hydrogen peroxide (3%). (Dilute by using 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 10 parts water).
- Use the cotton to gently wipe the stained fur around your Chihuahua’s eyes.
- Repeat a couple of times a week to see positive results.
8. Feed your dog apple cider vinegar
Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your Chihuahua’s drinking water. ACV can reduce tear stains and also make your Chihuahua more immune to yeast, bacteria, fungi, and other infections.
9. Feed it special tear-stain supplements
Natural tear stains soft chew supplements can prevent tear stains, eye watering, and keep your pet’s eyes clear and healthy.
10. Treat underlying health issues
If none of the above remedies work or the tear stains worsen, please see your vet. As stated earlier, treating the eye issue can help prevent staining too. In some cases, adrenal gland problems or liver issue could also be the cause of tear stains.
FAQs on Why Do Chihuahuas Eyes Water?
1. What can I give my dog for watering eyes?
In addition to using gentle eye wipes, you could give your dog some mild anti-histamine medication to stop eyes from watering.
If the problem continues, please see your vet right away.
2. Can I put coconut oil on my dog’s eyes?
A few drops of organic, cold-pressed coconut oil might not do much harm however it could cause blurry vision and most dogs would not like it.
Instead, apply some fresh aloe vera gel straight out of an Aloe leaf. You can take the gel on an eye pad and apply it around your pet’s eyes. This can reduce discharge and eye watering, and also make your Chihuahua’s eyes clearer by eliminating redness.
3. Does coconut oil remove dog’s tear stains?
Some pet parents have experienced success in removing dog’s tear stains with coconut oil. However, make sure you use raw, organic, and cold-pressed oil only. Also, you need to apply it consistently to see results.
Conclusion
Why do Chihuahuas eyes water?
Many factors can cause Chihuahua’s eyes to water excessively. Mostly, it is the body’s natural reaction to foreign particles, blocked tear duct, allergens, or eye issues.
Furthermore, dog eye problems like trauma, injuries, entropion, scratched cornea, or conjunctivitis can also cause eye-watering.
Please see a veterinary ophthalmologist to rule out serious eye problems in your Chihuahua.
