Unsightly Dog Tear Stains: Causes and a Helpful Remedy
Website design By BotEap.comThere are different causes for dog tear stains and various remedies depending on the cause. It is important to note that tear stains can be the result of a more serious problem, and in many cases simply removing the tear stain will not prevent future stains from occurring without ongoing treatment. The following are the 5 most common causes:
Website design By BotEap.comExcess tearing
Website design By BotEap.comExcessive tearing (or epiphora) is usually a response to an environmental irritant and may be a sign that your dog has allergies. The discoloration is actually caused by the growth of bacteria and yeast.
Website design By BotEap.comblocked tear ducts
Website design By BotEap.comThis is going to sound strange, but a dog’s tears normally trickle down the nose. When the tear ducts are blocked, the tears overflow, resulting in the same discoloration.
Website design By BotEap.comDentition
Website design By BotEap.comHere’s another cause most pet owners don’t realize. Teething is an uncomfortable process for dogs and all of the changes that occur in the mouth put pressure on the tear ducts and cause them to overflow, as in number two, which brings us back to the discoloration described in number one.
Website design By BotEap.comparasites
Website design By BotEap.comFleas use a dog’s tears as a watering hole. If the fleas are not treated, the feces left by the fleas will accumulate around the dog’s eyes and block the tear ducts, leading to overflow and discoloration. Make sure this is not what is causing your dog’s tear stains.
Website design By BotEap.comGenetics
Website design By BotEap.comThe following is a list of dog breeds that are predisposed to tear staining from Vetinfo.com:
Website design By BotEap.com*akita
Website design By BotEap.com*American Bulldog
Website design By BotEap.com*American Eskimo Dog
Website design By BotEap.com* Bichon Frize
Website design By BotEap.com* Brussels Griffon
Website design By BotEap.com*Cairn Terrier
Website design By BotEap.com* chihuahuas
Website design By BotEap.com* Chinese Crested
Website design By BotEap.com* Cocker,
Website design By BotEap.com* corgi
Website design By BotEap.com*Dashshund
Website design By BotEap.com* English Toy Spaniel
Website design By BotEap.com*French Bulldog
Website design By BotEap.com* golden retriever
Website design By BotEap.com* havanese
Website design By BotEap.com*Japanese chin
Website design By BotEap.com* King Charles Cavalier Spaniel
Website design By BotEap.com* Lhasa Apso
Website design By BotEap.com* maltese
Website design By BotEap.com* maltipoos
Website design By BotEap.com* Miniature Schnauzer
Website design By BotEap.com* Butterfly
Website design By BotEap.com* pekingese
Website design By BotEap.com* Pomeranian
Website design By BotEap.com* Saint Bernard
Website design By BotEap.com*Sharpei
Website design By BotEap.com* Shih Tzu
Website design By BotEap.com*Western Highland White Terrier.
Website design By BotEap.comFortunately, there are some solutions for dog tear stains, including products that can help remove and/or prevent more. One of these products is Angel’s Eyes. Angel’s Eyes works to prevent further tear stains; You may start to see results in three to five weeks depending on your dog’s coat growth rate. You will need to continue to trim the spotted coat and a new, spot free coat will grow out. Angel’s Eyes will also help remove stains around the mouth from licking.
Website design By BotEap.comIf your dog is listed as the fifth cause (genetic), you may have to deal with tear stain removal throughout your dog’s life. Try a few different products and find out what works best for your dog. As always, it’s important to take your dog to your local vet for regular checkups. If tear stains are a problem, you’ll want to make sure your dog isn’t infested with fleas or ear mites, in which case another form of treatment would also be recommended.