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My old dog's eye is blood red and teary. Should I see a vet now?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

My dog who is 14 years old seems to be having a somewhat teary eye and the white of the eye is blood red.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on November 5th, 2016

Redness and excessive tearing are signs of an eye infection or some type of injury, such as a corneal scratch or ulcer. You can try rinsing the eye with plain saline eye wash if you have some available, in case there is a hair or something else that might be causing irritation. If this doesn't help, Pete will need to be seen by a vet - he/she can use a special stain to check for any injury to the cornea, and will likely prescribe antibiotic eye drops to treat the problem.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    It sounds like Pete has an eye infection, which is an emergency. Any eye problem should be checked out right away, as leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take Pete into a vet now for an exam, and he will likely need an antibiotic eye ointment to treat it.

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