Help! My poodle has eye gunk!

My vet told me to buy Children's Benadryl, which is a 12.5mg, and cut it in half. The pill itself is chewable, although I did have to put it in something so he would take it. Since it is just half a pill it is not a big portion. My dog weighs 7 lbs., so that might give you a guideline on how much vs. dog's weight if you decide to get benadryl.

I use for my dogs mild solution to wipe every day. It helps. You can buy it at pet store. I use mild cleaning solution called eye wash from local pharmacy.

It's the nature of the breed I'm afraid. Maltese terriers get it as well. My Pixie used to get horrid clumps of stuff like pus under her eyes and it would dry hard and be impossible to remove unless I cut it. It was traumatic and dangerous to be cutting a squirming dog's hair, that close to the eye. I believe if you have a dab of vaseline smeared there for a while. it helps to wipe it off. Why not give that groomer a call and ask for suggestions. Pixie always came back from the groomers lovely and clean under the eye area.

When our part Shitsu part Poodle Jessie got eye gunk, we cleaned it with a damp cloth, but here are some other links with ideas that might help. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070812112400AAbLIkg http://www.ohio.edu/ohiotoday/fieldnotes/costea.cfm http://en.allexperts.com/q/Poodles-2529/Runny-eyes.htm I hope this helps.

I would just use a warm, wet washcloth to wipe it away. Then I would talk to the vet and see what he/she recommends. It is Christmas time. It is possible the poodle is having a reaction to the Christmas tree or dust on the tree or dust on the ornaments. What I am trying to say is, take a look and see if there is anything that has recently been introduced into the living environment that would explain this development.

I wouldn't give the dog people medicine.It could make the dog sick.Some breeds of dogs eyes just get that way and you have to wipe them every couple of days or so.

I like the advice to check with vet if it is an allergy or eye infection - for the gunk... I have read that the red staining from the eyes is caused by irritation from fleas.

If this is pretty constant, then you need to check to make sure there is not some underlying problem: allergies, cherry eye, conjunctivitis, entropian, other eye infection, or something else. The vet will need to clear him of any of those concerns, and then if it is nothing requiring treatment, you can get eye cleaners for dogs that have runny eyes, to help prevent the staining. Or you could probably try eye drops, likr Tears or something IF the vet says OK. I have seen dogs go for years with leaky, itchy eyes, and people did not understand it was a real, fixable problem, and the dog ended up blind, so please do go to the vet before you do anything else.