Pomeranian Eye Boogers and Tear Stains (What's Normal, What's Not)

If you've ever looked at your Pomeranian first thing in the morning and thought what is all that stuff in their eyes — welcome to Pom ownership. Eye discharge is one of those things nobody really warns you about, and it can range from totally harmless to "okay, we need to see the vet." Here's how to tell the difference, and how to keep those little eyes clean and comfortable.

Why Poms Get More Eye Gunk Than Other Breeds

Pomeranians have large, round, forward-facing eyes set in relatively shallow eye sockets. That structure is part of what makes them so cute — but it also means their eyes are more exposed to the environment than, say, a Labrador's. Dust, pollen, and wind all make direct contact more easily.

Add to that the fur. Poms have dense, fluffy coats that grow close to the face, and stray hairs can brush against the eye surface throughout the day. The eye responds the way any eye would — by producing discharge to flush out the irritant. So even in perfectly healthy Poms, you'll often see some crustiness building up, especially overnight.

This is normal. It doesn't mean something's wrong. It just means you need to make eye cleaning part of your daily routine.

Normal Discharge vs. "Time to Call the Vet" Discharge

Not all eye gunk is created equal. Here's what I look for:

Normal: A small amount of brownish or clear crust in the inner corners of the eye, especially in the morning. Wipes away easily. The eye itself looks clear and bright. Your Pom isn't pawing at their face or squinting.

Worth monitoring: A bit more discharge than usual after a windy walk or a dusty day. Usually clears up within 24 hours.

Call the vet: Yellow or green discharge. That color change typically means infection — bacterial or viral — and it won't clear up on its own. Same goes for discharge that's thick and goopy, or if your Pom is squinting, rubbing their face frequently, or their eye looks red or swollen. Any cloudiness in the eye itself is an immediate vet trip.

The rule I use: clear or brown = monitor and clean. Yellow or green = vet, don't wait.

The Daily Cleaning Routine

For normal daily discharge, all you need is a damp cotton pad or a soft cloth. I keep a little pack of unscented cotton rounds near the spot where I do morning wake-ups with my Pom — it takes about 20 seconds.

Dampen the cotton pad with warm (not hot) water or a dog-safe eye wash. Then gently wipe from the inner corner of the eye outward — always moving away from the eye, never toward it. Use a fresh pad for each eye so you're not transferring anything from one eye to the other.

What NOT to use: Baby wipes (they often have fragrances and preservatives that irritate dog eyes), hydrogen peroxide, anything with tea tree oil, or any human eye drops unless your vet specifically prescribes them. The eye area is sensitive, and what's gentle for humans isn't always safe for dogs.

If the crust is dried and stuck, don't pull. Dampen it first and let it soften for a few seconds before gently wiping. Forcing it off can pull skin or cause discomfort.

What Causes Tear Stains?

Tear stains are different from eye discharge — they're the reddish-brown streaks you sometimes see running down from the inner corner of the eye along the muzzle. They're caused by a pigment called porphyrin, which is present in tears (and saliva, which is why you also sometimes see it on Poms' paws if they lick themselves a lot).

Porphyrin turns that rust color when it's exposed to air and light. In white or light-colored Poms, staining is really obvious. In darker Poms, you might not notice it as much.

Several things can make tear staining worse:

Blocked or narrow tear ducts. Some Poms are just born with ducts that don't drain as efficiently, so excess tears spill down the face instead.

Diet and water. Hard water with high mineral content and certain food dyes or fillers have been linked to worse staining in some dogs. Switching to filtered water and a cleaner diet sometimes helps.

Genetics. Some Pom lines are just more prone to it. If both parents stain, there's a decent chance your Pom will too.

Teething. Puppies often get temporary staining during the teething phase (around 3–6 months) as their facial structure is changing. It usually settles down.

Eye irritation. Anything causing the eye to water more than usual — allergies, hair irritating the eye, a blocked duct — will make staining worse.

Removing Tear Stains

For mild staining, consistent daily wiping is often enough to prevent buildup from getting worse, even if it doesn't fully erase existing stains.

For more stubborn staining, enzyme-based tear stain removers work well for a lot of Pom owners. Look for products specifically marketed for dogs that use natural enzymes to break down the porphyrin. Apply according to the directions — most require you to work the product into the fur below the eye, not into the eye itself, and rinse after.

A word of caution: avoid products that contain Tylosin or any antibiotics unless prescribed by your vet. There are some whitening products marketed for dogs that contain harsh bleaching agents or chemical compounds that aren't appropriate for use near the eyes. If you wouldn't be comfortable with it near your own eye, skip it.

Some owners have success with a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse on the fur (not near the eye itself) or adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar to drinking water. These are more of a folk remedy than a proven treatment, but they're generally harmless if used cautiously. Always check with your vet first.

When to See the Vet About Eye Issues

Beyond the yellow/green discharge I mentioned earlier, here's when to make an appointment:

• Sudden increase in discharge out of nowhere
• Your Pom is pawing at their eye or face
• Visible redness in or around the eye
• Any cloudiness or change in the eye's appearance
• You notice the eye looks smaller than the other one (this can indicate pain)
• Staining that suddenly gets much worse without an obvious cause

Eye issues can progress quickly in dogs, especially small breeds. Don't adopt a "wait and see" approach if something looks off — a vet visit early is always better than waiting until it's serious.

Clean eyes are one of those small daily habits that add up to a much more comfortable, healthy dog over time. A 20-second morning wipe is all it usually takes.