We hear our dog “cry” when he asks us for food, when he does not want to stay home alone… and in general, when he wants to attract attention. However, although it is capable of producing tears, these do not reflect feelings such as sadness or pain, but rather serve the function of protecting the eyes or are a symptom of a medical problem.
This does not mean that dogs do not have feelings, but rather that they express them in different ways. Let us know what is the meaning of the tears of the dogs.
Types of dog tears
Scientists differentiate three types of tears: basal (they lubricate and protect the cornea), you reflex (caused by pollution, allergies, irritations, etc.) and emotional (They are related to feelings such as fear, grief, joy ...).
Dogs have only the first two, which unlike the emotional ones, do not contain proteins or hormones associated with stress. The truth is the main function of tears in dogs is to keep their eyes moist, something essential for good eye health.
In this way they clean, lubricate and protect their structure in a natural way, just as it happens in human beings. On the other hand, these tears can also be due to external factors such as contamination or contact with some chemical substance.
If this tearing occurs too abundantly, it may reflect a problem in the corneasuch as a scratch, bump, or infection. If so, we must quickly go to a veterinarian to determine the origin of this abundance of tears. The treatments in these cases are usually simple and very effective.
As we can see, the tears of dogs have nothing to do with their emotions. They feel sadness, joy and pain like human beings, but they transmit it through their body language. Their expressiveness is greater than we often think, and although they do not cry in the same way that we do, they are capable of showing their feelings with just a glance.
Causes of dog tears
The function of tears in dogs is keep them moist, since a good part of eye health goes into it, they have the ability to keep the eyes clean and at the same time provide protection to the structure naturally.
It is the same that occurs in the human eye, even when there is more excessive tearing as a result of environmental pollution (smoke, strong odors, gases), also due to contact with irritating chemical substances.
Now, if the presence of tears becomes very abundant and continuous, you have to pay a little more attention, since the dog may have been hit, have problems with the cornea, an infection or a scratch. The recommended thing to do before any indication that something is not right, is to take it quickly to the vet.
Diseases that have to do with the lacrimation of the dog
Conjunctivitis in dogs
This sickness appears due to specific and also sporadic problems, which come from excessive dryness of the eye, from irritating agents present in the environment or from some eye malformations, especially the eyelids.
It also usually manifests itself when the dog presents delicate pathologies, such as hepatitis or distemper, in this sense the opinion of the expert is always necessary.
Allergies in dogs
When there is an allergic picture in it, you can see how the eyes are affected, as they become inflamed and the eyeball turns redIn addition, there will be the presence of legañas that will even make it difficult for the pet to open its eyes.
Other symptoms that can accompany this picture are continuous coughing and sneezing.
Infections
When there is any infection, in addition to the profuse legañas and lacrimation, yellowish secretions can be observed or I greenish in abundance too. Irritation of the inner edge of the eye and the eyeball are also indicative of an infection.
Ways to remove tear stains in dogs
These spots arise as a result of the oxidation of the hairs located under the dog's eyes, which are more evident in those breeds with white fur. To avoid or remove them we are going to leave you several tips:
Start by preventing the hairs around your dog's eye from bothering himTake measures such as cutting them very carefully or pick them up with the help of a rubber band when they are very long and you do not want to cut them.
Proceed to clean that area very carefully, for this apply a little lukewarm water with salt or some special product for this with the help of a clean cloth. The secret is that you do it at least twice a day daily, until you achieve the goal.
Try to make this area stay as dry as possibleTo do this, be aware of cleaning the tears and blemishes from your pet's eye.
You can also choose to change the PH of the dog's tears, adding a touch of apple cider vinegar to the drinking water (1 tablespoon of coffee per 2 liters of water). This minimizes the oxidation of the hairs under the eye and their staining.
Take care of your dog's diet by avoiding cereals, since they do not contribute anything, better foods rich in proteins that are high-end or a natural diet supervised by the veterinarian.
Do dogs cry with tears?
As we have seen so far, dogs do indeed are capable of producing tears and this is because they have the tear ducts that allow it; however, these tears are to protect the ocular structure, this being their main function.
Another very different thing is the cry of a dog which is their way of expressing that they have pain, anxiety, fear, frustration, etc., but dog crying does not generate tears like humans Rather, they act as a mechanism that allows them to mitigate stress and express their needs, in short, one more way of communicating with their human relatives.
In the dog they are sensations that simply they respond to a very basic need in them, such as food, company, daily walk, etc., which they also learn from a very young age to use together with barking, only that in the present case they evidence vulnerability with what they know that when they cry they will receive with all security support from his master, attentions, affection, food, company and a lot of other things.
My dog's eyes cry and he has gore
Dogs cry, that's quite normal, and tears They are usually more abundant when the eyes are affected by the presence of dust, dirt, particles among other things, which can also produce legañas as part of the cleaning.
Legañas even occur while the dog sleeps, as they help protect the eyes. These can vary in consistency and color, which says a lot about whether they are to keep the eye clean, in which case they are whitish and more liquid.
Light colored legañas should not worry us, but when they are yellow or green the dog may have some conjunctivitis or a bacterial infection, before this you already know that you should run to the vet.
My dog's eye cries and itches
If you notice that the dog's eye is crying in an unusual way and it scratches insistently, It is a situation that needs your attention, since for example it is caused by the entry of a foreign body of so many that it can bring the air, and that somehow adhere to the surface or lodge behind the eyelid.
This type of event requires the intervention of the specialist, since the dog will certainly not let you even touch the eye, therefore it is vital that you go with him quickly to the veterinary office since certain particles can cause a lot of damage in his eye.
We hope it has served you.