Pet Tear Stains Causes & DIY Home Remedies

08.02.2010 | Author: Joanne Gallagher | Posted in Our Pets

Everything shows up on white! Excessive tears, caused by too many tears or insufficient tear drainage can stain a dog’s face. The reddish brown stain typically appears on the Poodle, Maltese, Bichon, Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu breeds. Other breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles experience staining, however it isn’t always as obvious.

Tear stains are apparent on white and light hair dogs. Brown, black and dogs with darker hair and fur experience tear staining also; it just is not that noticeable because it is camouflaged by their coloring. Light or dark coated, not all dogs experience tear staining.

Some dogs have a genetic predisposition when it comes to tear staining. Researching the direct lineage of your pup will help to determine if your pup will experience tearing and staining. If mom and pop have clean eyes, most likely the same will be true for their pups.

A food allergy can be the culprit of tear stains. Some dogs have sensitivity to food coloring and preservatives. Switching your dog to a diet of all natural dog food and treats can make a difference with the staining.

Wet face hair caused by excessive tearing is a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Red Yeast is a common eye infection and causes a deep reddish-brown stain. Bacterial infections in the tear ducts are also common and may cause excess tearing and staining. A veterinarian can diagnose these types of infections. An examination will determine the actual cause of the staining.

A Veterinarian can help diagnose the cause of excessive eye tearing and staining. Vets can determine if your dog has clogged tear ducts, ear infections or irritating eye lashes that are causing your dog’s eye to tear. Treating an ear infection or unclogging an eye duct via eye irrigation can be medically necessary. If there is a severe eye condition a Veterinary Opthalmologist might be required to treat your dog’s condition.

There are solutions you can purchase in a pet store to aid in eliminating eye staining. Some popular products include: Angels’ Eyes(R) helps to eliminate staining around the mouth and a dog coat due to licking. Just sprinkle Angels’ Eyes daily on regular food. Eye Envy is a tear stain removal system that is applied externally to remove unsightly stains and inhibits dark staining production. Eye Envy does not contain any bleach, peroxide or steroids. Grooming shampoos like SPA Lavish Your Pet Collection Fresh Pet Facial Scrub effectively removes dirt and tear stains.

The eye area is extremely sensitive. Use caution when applying any chemical near your pets’ eyes. Don’t rub anything into the eye and be careful that nothing splashes into the eye. Discussing the tear staining solutions with your Veterinarian and Groomer will ensure an effective and safe outcome.

There are many reasons why a dog has tear stains. It is tricky to determine the cause of the problem in your dog. Joanne Gallagher is an expert in caring for your dog and recommends browsing to Jake’s Dog House for different solutions for tear stain removal.