Vein Popping Out

(Kinston, North Carolina)

Reader Question on Vein Issue Followed by Suggestion From Out Vet

I just bought a puppy from a breeder about 3 weeks ago. But after I a week, I started noticing my 2-month-old puppy's eye problems. The veins in her right eye pop out and seem very red compared to her other eye. I also found some green goo below her eye where she has tear stains. Are these symptoms of an eye disease or eye infection?

Suggestion From Our Veterinarian on Vein Issue

Hello,

The symptoms you describe could be associated with many different eye diseases including infection, foreign material in the eye, a wound to the surface of the eye, anatomic abnormalities, and more. Your best bet is to make an appointment with your veterinarian as quickly as possible. The doctor should be able to identify what is going on with a physical and ophthalmological exam and a few simple tests like a corneal stain to look for any scratches or ulcers on the eyes, a Schirmer tear test to determine if your dog is producing a normal amount of tears, and a check of eye pressure to rule out glaucoma and/or infections within the eye.

If your veterinarian finds something that potentially was present at birth, your breeder should be open to either having you return your puppy for a refund or exchange or to discounting her purchase price.

Best of luck,
Jennifer Coates, DVM