Getting Rid of Tear Stains

Epiphora is a term used to describe excessive tear production in dogs. The excessive tear production may result in tear stains just beneath the eyes and down the sides of the dog’s nose. A dog’s tears will normally drain through the dog’s eyelids and into an area known as the nasolacrimal duct.

These tear stains may be dark brown or reddish and may or may not be accompanied by discharge. If your dog has white or lighter colored fur, you may notice it more easily.

This is a common occurrence and should not be a cause for concern, but it does affect the appearance of your furry friend.

How to get rid of tear stains on dogs

You may wonder about treating tear stains on dogs and what you should do. Here are a few tips and a step-by-step guide on how to rid your pet of tear stains.

1. Cleansing

Before you start finding the underlying reason for the tear stains, you may want to start by cleaning out the existing problem. Start by giving your pooch a good wash. You may want to consider taking your dog to a dog parlor or bathing station for a proper cleaning.

The next step, depending on the breed of the dog, may be to trim the hair just under the eyes. Some breeds of dogs have long facial hair that may irritate the eyes and cause excessive tearing. Trim the hair and maintain a routine where the hair is trimmed. This may help prevent future excessive tearing and stains. Ideally, it may be best to take your dog to a professional to get this done.

The final step in this process is to develop a healthy cleaning regiment. This may involve regular baths and a daily routine of applying a safe saline flush when your pet’s eyes seem very dry or wet in the mornings. Or, use a pet-safe wipe to remove any excess discharge from the animal’s eyes.

2. Check the dog food

Cleansing and keeping a regular bathing schedule may not be enough. There may be an underlying reason that your dog is producing excessive tears which results in tear stains. Some inferior quality dog food uses corn, what, and meals in their dog food as fillers. The animal may be allergic to these fillers and, as a result, may produce excessive tears.

Try to stick to high-quality dog food that does not contain any fillers. Speak to your veterinarian about good quality dog food that is suited to your breed of dog.

3. Check the water

Be cognizant that certain types of water may cause your pet to produce excessive tearing. It’s best advised to stick with purified, reverse osmosis, or distilled water. Also, whenever switching up your dog’s water supply, monitor your pet to see if there are any changes as a result of the change.

4. Try to keep your dog’s face and mouth dry

You want to prevent those stains from forming. Try to keep your pet’s mouth and eyes dry, especially after the animal has had some water to drink. This may help to prevent stains from forming. Especially if/when the dog’s eyes start to produce tears.

Categorised in: Tear Stains

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