Category: Tear Stains

What Are Tear Stains?

Tear stains occur when tears spill from the eye onto the surrounding hairs. The damp hairs and skin soon become an ideal place for bacterial and yeast organisms to grow, and this quickly leads to staining of the affected area. Typically the fur becomes red-brown discolored because one of the most common yeasts involved is the Red Yeast.

Many small breed dogs (such as Maltese terriers, bichon frises, and poodles) have small hairs on the inner margin of their eyelids that allow tears to wick along them, to accumulate on the skin and hair below. So it is very common for breeds like this to develop tear stains. And although any dog can potentially develop them, they tend to be more noticeable in white dogs. In dogs with darker hair, however, the stains are typically camouflaged.

Four Causes Of Tear Stains:

1. Blocked Tear Ducts: In some cases, the tear staining can be a result of overflow of tears due to blocked tear ducts. This can involve a simple temporary blockage that can be resolved by irrigation, although the ducts may block again in time.

1. Genetic Abnormalities: A small percentage of affected dogs have abnormal tear ducts as a result of their genetics – this problem can cause the ducts to be defective and blocked.

1. Allergies: Especially in the summer months, many dogs can suffer from allergies, much like we do, and this can cause watery eyes and associated staining.

1. Tooth Problems: Tooth root infections, or just the natural cutting of new teeth, can impinge upon the tear ducts in the region of the sinuses, causing blockage and tear overflow.

Two Reasons Why Tear Stains Can Be A Problem:

1. Cosmetic Problems: Thankfully, in most cases, tear stains are simply a cosmetic annoyance. This can be troublesome in itself though, in particular for owners who show their dogs and therefore need to keep the fur looking pristine.

1. Infections: If the tears stains go untreated, skin infections can develop in the region due to the bacterial or yeast overgrowth that can arise there.

Five Tips For Treatment:

1. Trim away long hairs around the eyes: This can reduce the wicking effect. Be sure to take care though, when trimming in this sensitive region – use very blunt-ended scissors and point them away from the direction of the eyes. Someone can help hold your dog very still if necessary.
2. Bathe eyes with saline: Clean around the eyes daily using cotton pads moistened with sterile saline.
3. Use eye cleaner: After using saline around the eyes, try the HappyTails pre-moistened, hypoallergenic eye pads to gently clean the discolored fur.
4. Check tear ducts: If tear staining is excessive, a visit to your veterinarian may be necessary to evaluate the ducts. If these are blocked, often a relatively simple flushing can help resolve the problem at least temporarily. If, however, your dog has a genetic abnormality of the tear ducts that keep them physically blocked, surgery might be necessary to correct the problem.
5. Clear infections: In cases that either progress to secondary infection, or in cases that result from tooth infections, a veterinary visit may be needed so that the problem can be diagnosed and appropriately treated with the antibiotics or other necessary treatments.

Although some cases of tear staining can be problematic, most cases are easily managed by regular maintenance on your part in keeping the skin around the eyes clean, with occasional veterinary help to flush out the ducts.

Are White Dogs and Tear Stains Inseparable?

Maltese, Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus… all adorable and all prone to brown tear stains around their eyes. The staining is by no means limited to these breeds of dogs; it can occur in many light colored dogs, but particularly the smaller breeds. The good news is that there are things you can do to leave your pampered pet stain-free.

Causes

As is often the case, the best way to treat the problem is to first determine the cause. The five most common causes of tear staining are:

1. Ear infections. If you notice a lot of tear stains that coincide with ear infections, the two are probably linked.

2. Red yeast. Excess tearing turns the wet fur around the eyes into a breeding ground for bacteria, of which the most common is red yeast, hence the brownish tinge to the stains.

3. Blocked tear ducts. Some breeds of small dog are prone to blocked tear ducts which can cause excessive tearing.

4. Allergies. Cigarette smoke, certain shampoos, and chemicals are just some the irritants that can make the eyes water. Alternatively, an allergy to something internal, ie. food, can also cause tearing.

5. Water. It sounds so simple but drinking water is also the easiest cause of tear staining to overlook. Depending upon the mineral content in your local water supply, staining around the face may occur.

Treatments

Although there are various antibiotics, steroids, and other medications that can be prescribed to treat tear staining, since it can be on ongoing problem, it is better to treat the source of the problem with natural products . A natural remedy may take a little longer to show results but it will be better for your dog in the long run.

First, if you think your pet’s drinking water may be the source of the problem, switch to using distilled water. Also be sure to avoid allergens where possible.

Some pet owners have found that using supplements to change the pH value of the actual tears can help by creating a hostile environment for yeast. Antacids or any other calcium carbonate tablets may help, as may a teaspoon of white cider vinegar in your pet’s drinking water. Be warned that vinegared drinking water will definitely take some time to get used to, so if you choose to try this method, introduce the vinegar slowly, gradually increasing the amount.

Be sure to keep your dog’s ears clean to prevent infections which can lead to staining.

One of the most effective treatment methods is to take a two-pronged approach – using wipes to clean the face and a nutritional supplement to build up the body’s defenses from within. The Eyepack from Happytails Canine Spa Line includes a pack of Eyepads , containing colloidal silver, golden seal and eyebright, to wipe away tear stains without harsh chemicals. Also included is the Eyemunity nutritional supplement, a blend of enzymes, herbs and epicor to add to your dog’s food to strengthen their immune system. Using both together has been shown to have great results and returns your pet’s face to its natural gleaming white condition.

 

A beautiful white maltese with beard and tear stains

If you’ve ever seen a dog with red or brown marks in the areas around and just under the eyes, you’ve seen a dog that is suffering from tear staining . The staining can matte around the dog’s eyes and leave a gooey, thick mess that is hard to clean. Most people assume that the stains are caused by excessive moisture from the dog’s eyes and that they’re just a fact of life. In fact though, tear stains have many different causes, and figuring out the root of the problem could end up saving you some work and also improve your dog’s life.

1.) Ear Infections

Tear staining can be linked back to ear infections, so it’s important to keep your dog’s ears as clean and dry as possible. If you notice that your dog is getting a lot of ear infections which also coincide with excessive tearing, the two are probably related. Use a good cleansing product to make sure the ears are clean and your dog’s tear stains might be reduced as a result.

2.) Allergies

Dogs can experience reactions to thing just like humans, and tear staining can often be a reaction to allergens or irritants. In fact, some dogs will suffer reactions to their food which will change the pH level in your dog’s system which in turn can cause excessive tearing. If you notice that your dog’s tear stains get worse in certain situations than it might be an environmental factor that is adding to the problem.

3.) Blocked Tear Ducts

Some dogs are born with tear ducts that are closed which need to be surgically opened by a vet, but this isn’t the only way a duct can be blocked. At times, a dog can develop clogged tear ducts which can add to excessive tearing, and unfortunately, a trip to the vet will be needed to irrigate the ducts. Luckily, this isn’t a very common problem, but if you suspect clogged tear ducts, it should be taken care of, lest your dog suffer unnecessarily.

4.) Red Yeast

One of the biggest causes of tear staining is from a dog having an excessive amount of tears. This high level of moisture can keep the hair around the face wet, which then becomes an area where bacteria can breed. One of the most common forms of this bacteria is called Red Yeast, which causes a yeast infection around the eyes and leads to the brownish-red stains that you sometimes see on dogs.

5.) Water

Some waters contain a high mineral content, which can cause staining on a dog’s entire face and beard. A lot of moisture can remain on the face trapped in the hairs after a dog drinks, which can be moved to eye level by the dog trying to lick his face clean. And, if the mineral content is high, it will increase the level of red-brown staining on a dog’s face. If you notice both tear stains and a discolored beard, try switching your dog’s water to combat the problem.

Red or brown tear stains are not attractive to look at, and they can be a symptom of a larger problem. If your dog has excessive staining around they eyes and on its face, it might be worth looking into what the cause of the staining is.

There is not a full proof solution out there. You can try Angel Eye’s Soft Chews. There are also wipes, supplements and facial cleansers for this problem.