Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.

Call a local animal shelter and ask if they have a low-cost pet clinic that works with people with limited incomes or call a college of veterinary medicine in your area and ask about a low- or no-cost veterinary care program.

GiveForward and Youcaring.com are crowd funding websites that help you raise money to help take care of your pets

Harley’s Hope Foundation is an organization that ensures low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise.

Many breed rescues and groups have specials funds available for owners who need financial assistance, such as the Special Needs Dobermans, Labrador Lifeline, and Pitbull Rescue Central.

Banfield Pet Hospital has its own programs for owners that can’t afford their pet’s care.

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.

Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay.

Some groups help with specific disease, such as Canine Cancer Awareness, The Magic Bullet Fund, Helping Harley Fund, and Muffin Diabetes Fund.

The Pet Fund and Redrover.org are great sources for help to care for your pet.

The Humane Society website has many links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Conjunctivitis often involves both eyes, but only one eye may be affected in certain conditions. Conjunctivitis may occur with other clinical signs such as nasal discharge, sneezing, or coughing.
One popular method is using a warm, damp cloth to gently clean and soothe the eye area. Another option is using a saline solution to flush out any irritants.
Your dog may have simply received a face full of pollen or dust, and the increased tear production is working to solve the problem. But if their eyes continue to be watery or your dog develops red, painful eyes or other types of eye discharge, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Another remedy is saline solution, which is a mix of salt and sterile water. This solution can be used as an eye wash to clear away discharge and cleanse the affected area. Lastly, apple cider vinegar, a go-to household ingredient, with antibacterial and antifungal properties can help combat the infection.
If your dog has clear eye discharge, chances are good it`s caused by allergies or something physical, like dust in the eye or wind blowing in the face.
Clear to whitish-grey eye boogers with a watery consistency are normal in most dogs. You may notice some dust in them as well. Be aware that discharge can change in appearance. If your dog`s eye gunk looks more pus-like, with a tendency to crust, this could be a sign of a bigger problem.
Rinse your dog`s eye and eye area with simple saline solution, which can be purchased from a veterinarian or pharmacy, or made with a teaspoon of salt water in a cup of warm water. Carefully instill into the corner of your dog`s eye and dip a cotton ball in the solution and wipe away discharge from around the eye.
Whether you`ve got a dog or a cat, avoid using eye drops meant for humans to clear their eyes. If your pet gets something in her eye, it`s safe to use plain saline solution to rinse the eye out, but avoid any contact lens solution labeled as enzymatic or cleaning solution.
If a bacterial infection is found to be causing your dog`s eye infection, antibiotics and eye drops will typically be prescribed.
Contact your vet as soon as you notice a problem with your dog`s eyes. Leaving your dog without treatment could lead to much more serious problems developing and even loss of vision/blindness.
Salt water, or saline, is one of the most effective home remedies for eye infections. Saline is similar to teardrops, which is your eye`s way of naturally cleansing itself. Salt also has antimicrobial properties. Because of this, it only stands to reason that saline can treat eye infections effectively.
With appropriate treatment, bacterial conjunctivitis is usually fully resolved within 5 to 7 days. Viral conjunctivitis can take up to 3 to 4 weeks for full resolution. Allergic conjunctivitis will persist until the underlying allergen is discovered and eliminated.
When food allergies occur, you may notice a dog`s eyes become more watery. You can see water pool up underneath their eyes. You may notice dry and crusted tear marks near the corners of the eyes as well. Use a warm wash cloth to gently wipe away the dried tear areas.
Reasons For Eye Discharge In Dogs

The primary cause of such a symptom is wind, dust, dirt, and pollen allergies. Mold spores and mites are also responsible. A few dogs could develop several benign tumors on eyelids that rub the eye`s surface. The result is discomfort accompanied by discharge for the dog.

Avoid using irritating soaps or sprays near your pet`s eyes. Gently wipe discharge or mucus out of your pet`s eyes using a clean, damp cotton ball (use a different cotton ball for each eye). You can also use a damp cloth with warm water. If you have a dog with long hair, keep it trimmed around their eyes.
The medically correct term for dog eye gunk is discharge. Clear to whitish-grey eye gunk with a watery consistency is normal in most dogs. You may notice some dust in them as well.
Many eye infections, such as styes, can go away on their own or with at-home treatment such as warm compresses. It is important to see a medical professional, however, for a proper diagnosis. Some infections require prescription eye drops or ointments for treatment and can get worse if left alone.
The infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up. A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to treat more serious forms of conjunctivitis.
Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins, which are thought to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions on the body. While not fully proven, these molecules have the potential to aid in mild cases of canine and feline conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye).
If you don`t have access to an eye wash, you might be wondering if you could use a salt water solution instead. Our tears are naturally saline, so this can be an effective way of cleaning and soothing them. Salt is also naturally antimicrobial, which makes it effective against eye infections.
If you believe your dog or cat may have some eye irritation, try using a homemade saline solution made from 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of lukewarm water. Drip the saline solution into your pet`s eye using a cotton ball or eye dropper 3 or 4 times a day.
Both Jones and Holt stress that using medication meant for people or other pets is not a good idea when treating cat eye infections. “Do not use any over-the-counter eye drops for your cat, unless it`s artificial tears,” Jones says. “Anything medicated can have a negative effect.”
The drug kills bacteria by disrupting the formation of their cell walls and is often prescribed by veterinarians to combat bacterial infections in pets. “In my experience, amoxicillin is a safe antibiotic when appropriately prescribed by a veterinarian and used by the pet owner,” says Dr.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. Eye discharge, occasional sneezing. Need over the counter solution. Cannot afford vet. Roughly 3 months old, 3lb
ANSWER : A. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.

Call a local animal shelter and ask if they have a low-cost pet clinic that works with people with limited incomes or call a college of veterinary medicine in your area and ask about a low- or no-cost veterinary care program.

GiveForward and Youcaring.com are crowd funding websites that help you raise money to help take care of your pets

Harley’s Hope Foundation is an organization that ensures low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise.

Many breed rescues and groups have specials funds available for owners who need financial assistance, such as the Special Needs Dobermans, Labrador Lifeline, and Pitbull Rescue Central.

Banfield Pet Hospital has its own programs for owners that can’t afford their pet’s care.

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.

Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay.

Some groups help with specific disease, such as Canine Cancer Awareness, The Magic Bullet Fund, Helping Harley Fund, and Muffin Diabetes Fund.

The Pet Fund and Redrover.org are great sources for help to care for your pet.

The Humane Society website has many links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses.

Read Full Q/A … : Vetinfo

Q. Weak, discharge from eyes, swelling on right eye, does not want to open eyes. What is wrong?
ANSWER : A. If the discharge from the eye is green or yellow in color, it can indicate a secondary infection. Swollen eyes can be caused by a number of things ranging from allergies to infections, to injury to the eye itself or surrounding areas.

It is best to have your pet’s eye examined by your local vet. They will most likely wish to place a stain in the eye that can check for damage such as cuts or scratches. An ointment can then be given to help reduce inflammation, pain and take care of infection.

Until you can get to the vet, be sure to not let your pet scratch or paw at their eye as this can make things worse. You can also use a warm wet washcloth to gently remove any debris and allow the eye to open some, providing relief. However, if symptoms worsen, or the swelling travels to the face, head or neck, it may indicate a serious allergic reaction which should be treated immediately.

Q. My dog got into a fight with a cat. I think the cat scratch her eye. I clean it out with water. I have gentak can I put that in there?
ANSWER : A. It is best NOT to place anything in the eye unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet as it can cause more damage to the eye. As cat scratches and bites can easily become infected and the eye is a very sensitive area, it is best to schedule a veterinary appointment as soon as possible to have the eye examined. Your vet can place a fluorescent stain in the eye to check the extent of the damage and can then give you a pet-safe medication to place in it as needed to help it heal. Until you can get to the vet, it is best to keep the eye clean of debris and discharge with a warm wet washcloth, and to prevent your dog from scratching or clawing at the eye with the use of an Elizabethan (cone) collar.

Q. One eye is more red than the other. Last night he was pawing at it,today, he isn’t. Should I bring him to the vet?
ANSWER : A. Sounds possible that he had some irritation to the eye that is at least not itchy anymore. You can do either, having it checked now to confirm mild irritation, potentially due to debris or a topical irritant to the eye; or you can flush the eye with sterile saline eye wash (over the counter) using care not to poke or prod the eye and see if the irritation goes away on its own within the next 24 hrs. It has shown improvement already it appears, however if it is not cleared up and your pet seems irritated by it AT ALL, then it should be looked at by a vet and tested for a possible corneal scratch or ulcer. These can cause redness of the eye, eye discharge and pawing at the face. They are usually treated by prescription only topical eye antibiotic ointment and generally do very well after treatment.

Read Full Q/A … : Eye Problems in Cats

Q. My pet is suffering eyes discharge, what should I do?
ANSWER : A. Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the lining of your dog’s eye.

There is a wide range of causes for conjunctivitis, from allergies, injury, birth defects, and tear duct problems, to foreign bodies, dry eye syndrome, infections or even tumors.

Other signs of conjunctivitis include excessive blinking or keeping the eye closed, squinting and pawing at the eyes.

Treatment of this condition depends on the underlying cause. In most of the cases cleaning, soothing the eye and applying antibiotics eye drops suffice but is some instances further investigation is required to establish the cause of the excessive eye discharge, and this should be performed by a veterinarian.

Q. My cat has wheezy breathing, his third eyelid is almost half closed, lots of the time his eyes look tearfilled, phlegm in back of throut he coughs up
ANSWER : A. Wheezing, hacking, and eye tearing in cats is often the result of a viral upper respiratory infection. Symptoms may include sneezing, eye or nasal discharge, nasal congestion, eye squinting, lethargy, and inappetence. Common causative agents include herpesvirus and calicivirus. An exam with your veterinarian is recommended to make sure that his vital signs are normal, including a normal temperature. If he’ll let you check his temperature at home, you can. I suggest lubricating a thermometer and checking his temperature rectally. A normal body temperature for cats will range between 100.5 to 102.5. If his temperature is 103 or higher you should consider bringing him in to your vet. Additionally, if you see yellow/green discharge from the eyes or nose, increased frequency of sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, or open-mouth breathing I suggest bringing him to your vet right away. Viral infections, just like in people, can weaken the immune system allowing bacterial infections to occur, which requires veterinary prescribed antibiotics. If there are any other cats in the house, I recommend temporarily isolating them from your sick cat until his signs resolve. Minimizing environmental stress is also recommended for his recovery. If you have any other concerns or are interested in additional information I’m happy to follow-up with an online consultation.

Q. My kitten has a very bloated stomach. Do I need to see a vet or do I buy a dewormer? we just found this kitten on the side of the road.
ANSWER : A. If it is a stray then you need to see your vet as soon as possible for a full examination. Yes you need a wormer but you need a good quality one from your vet, the over the counter ones are not as effective. You also need to treat for fleas and get vaccines. Your vet will be able to do all this and check that there aren’t any other medical problems that need attention.

Q. I just adopted my cat, about 7 months old, and he has discharged, a greenish color, coming from his eyes. Was told it was stress but what else?
ANSWER : A. I would call the rescue and explain your concerns. I wouldn’t think green mucus coming from eyes means stress and maybe whoever told you that was trying to just brush off the symptoms has nothing to worry about. Rescues normally guarantee the health of their animals and should cover the cost of medical bills if you need to take the cat into the vet. Green color can mean infection. Is the cat sneezing? Could it be an upper respiratory infection? Try to explain to the rescue they need to take the animal into the vet. If they aren’t interested in helping please take the cat to the vet as soon as you can. Make sure to bring all records you have on the cat incase the doctor’s office see’s any mistakes or missing fecal tests/vaccinations they would like to do at a later date with the cat (If the cat is sick they would never give vaccinations the same day).

Read Full Q/A … : Eye Problems in Cats