Weeping Eyes - Papillon

Question
We are fostering a beautiful 12 to 18 month old Papillon. He's a pure bred and seems to be in a lovely condition.

Not knowing much about dogs, I'm a bit concerned that the dog has weeping eyes. We've been using clean damp cotton wool just to clear it away - is this normal? Or does the dog need to be taken to the vet?

Answer
No, this is not normal for any dog. He needs to be seen by a veterinary ophthalmologist. He may have distichiasis, a hereditary condition which is extra eyelashes. These grow in that tiny bare area between the edge of the eyelids and the actual eyelashes, and often they rub on the eye itself causing irritation and excess tearing. It can be corrected by surgery.

Karen