When only one eye is watery, prop it open and take a look inside. There may be a bit of dirt or grass that is causing irritation. "Try to snag it with the edge of a clean tissue, but don't use tweezers or any other instrument in your pet's eye," says Dr. Willerton.
If you can't see anything, try flooding the eye with saline solution or plain water. If the eye continues tearing for 48 hours, you will want to call your vet. Occasionally, grit gets trapped out of sight, and you will need help from your vet to get it out, says Dr. Willerton.
If you suspect that your pet's eyes are simply sun- or windburned, bathe them with saline solution or warm water, Dr. Willerton suggests. Then keep him out of the sun and wind for a few days.
Hay fever isn't all that difficult to recognize, but it can be very tricky to prevent. About all you can do on your own is try to keep your pet away from whatever is making his eyes water. This might mean staying indoors during the early morning and evening hours, when pollen counts tend to be highest. You will also want to keep him off freshly mowed lawns since mowing spews clouds of allergy-causing molds into the air.
Most minor eye problems will clear up within a few days. But if the eye is still watering after two days, play it safe and take your pet to the vet. "You won't want to wait even that long if your pet seems to be in a lot of pain, or if an off-colored discharge develops in the injured eye," says Dr. Willerton.
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