Dear Teary-Eyed: Eyes can tear for a variety of reasons. It could be something as simple as a change in the temperature when he goes outside and its cold, causing his eyes to tear. Most of the time, excessive tear production or “epiphora” is caused by irritation to the eye or abnormal tear drainage.

Irritation can come in many forms. When the eye is irritated its natural response is to tear and flush away the irritant. Anything from dust to trauma or even an ulceration of the cornea (scratch to the eye surface) can cause tearing. Conjunctivitis, an infection, can also cause an eye to tear.   

Another form of irritation could come from eyelashes or hair that grows from the face back into the eye. If there is an obvious amount of hair near the eye, trimming it back might do the trick. Sometimes microscopic hairs grow on the inside of the eyelid and cause problems. Having your vet take a look might help eliminate irritants as the cause of the tearing.

Tackle Tear Ducts

Another problem might be a blocked, clogged or damaged tear ducts. Blocked ducts could be caused by eyelids turning inward, or old infections or injuries which cause scarring of the duct and impede tear flow. Some breeds, especially ones with protruding eyes, are prone to teary eyes simply because the eye socket is shallow and tears overflow more readily. Some dogs have small or missing tear ducts or they may be deformed. Another cause might be that long hair from the face acts as a wick and draws tears from the eyes directly onto the face.

Clogged tear ducts that don’t require surgery because of an abnormality may be cleaned out. A trip to your vet, or if he is unable to perform the procedure, a veterinarian ophthalmologist, can unclog the tear ducts with a saline flush.

On the cosmetic front, if the tearing is chronic it will stain the fur, especially white dogs. That reddish brown stain is caused by bacteria on the skin reacting with the tears. The longer the tears remain the higher the likelihood of staining. Wiping the tears off the face as soon as possible will help.

Some people use hydrogen peroxide to bleach the area. Be careful with this method as the peroxide can cause tissue damage to the nearby eye. There are pre-treated pads available through pet supply companies that can be used to keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Other pet owners treat their pet with low doses of antibiotics, either orally or mixed with their drinking water. Consult your vet on the best approach to treating clogged tear ducts.

Dear Lisa: I work as a cleaning lady for an owner of a Bassett Hound. Many times, the thermostat is set between 68-74 degrees making the dog uncomfortable and panting. Please give advice about a comfortable and healthy temperature setting for dogs. – Burning Up Bassett Hound   

Dear Burning Up: Dogs, like humans, do not tolerate significant variation of body temperature. On average, a dog’s normal body temperature is 101.5 degrees. Small dogs may have a slightly lower temperatures and large dogs slightly higher. Because of this inability to handle wide swings in their body temperatures, dogs have wonderful internal mechanisms that keep their body at the correct temperature at all times, regardless of the air temperature.

Dogs don’t use their skin to perspire, like humans, because of their insulating coat or fur. Their fur keeps them both cool in hot weather and warm in cool weather. Dogs do have sweat glands, located in the pads of their feet and in their ear canals, but sweating plays a minor role in regulating body temperature. The dog uses the panting mechanism to rid his body of excess heat. And like your observation of your client’s dog, when they are panting they are getting hot.

Panting Pooches

To put panting in simple terms, a dog breathes in air through his nose, where it picks up moisture from tissue (i.e. a wet nose). The moisture then captures the heat generated from the body and it is exhaled through the mouth. This rids the body of the excess heat, thereby, keeping the body at a normal temperature. The faster and more shallow the panting, the more heat the dog is trying to release from his body. In the reverse, if the dog wishes not to lose body heat, like in cold weather, he breathes in air through his nose and also exhales through his nose to hold the body heat in.

An ideal temperature doesn’t exist for all dogs, since their normal body temperature will vary according to size. Most dogs begin to show signs of overheating when the air temperature is between 81 and 85 degrees. But even if a dog is panting, it doesn’t mean his is uncomfortable, it just means his internal mechanism has kicked in to keep him cool. You may want to play with the thermostat and when you see that the dog is no longer panting, that may be the correct temperature for his optimum comfort.

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.