Can Chicken Cause Tear Stains in Dogs? Yes, chicken can cause tear stains in dogs. This is because chicken meat contains a pigment called porphyrin, which can build up in the dog's tears and cause staining. Other foods that contain porphyrin include liver, beef, and pork.
Be attentive to additives/preservatives, red meat and excess carbs in your pet's food. These often tend to cause inflammation and irritation, resulting in tear stains. A fresh, well-balanced diet is best in pet's who suffer from tear staining!
The corn, wheat, and meals that are used as fillers in inferior-quality foods just don't ensure long-term good health and can cause allergic reactions, resulting in excess tearing and other problems.
Tear stains are usually caused by dye molecules called porphyrins. Porphyrins are iron-containing molecules, produced when the body breaks down red blood cells.
Often, tear stains are a sign that your dog has an infection in their eye, tear ducts, mouth, or other nearby location. Ulcers, conjunctivitis, untreated corneal abrasions and nasolacrimal obstructions are commonly associated with the sudden appearance of tear stains.
Tear stains are caused by a pigmented molecule that a dog's body excretes as a waste product. This waste product is known as porphyrins, the waste product of red blood cells. Porphyrins contain iron, which has a dark reddish-brownish color and carries oxygenated blood. This explains the reddish color of tear stains.
This is because chicken meat contains a pigment called porphyrin, which can build up in the dog's tears and cause staining. Other foods that contain porphyrin include liver, beef, and pork. If your dog is prone to tear stains, you may want to avoid feeding them, or reduce the amount you feed them these foods.
Runny eyes and tear stains can also be a symptom of a food intolerance. In that case, switching to a food such as Leader Sensitive or Go Native can solve the problem.
Stress and lifestyle, including diet, are well-known causes of epiphora. But tear stains on dogs can also be caused by an allergy to certain foods, or through the use of plastic bowls for feeding and drinking water.
Blueberry facials, or shampoos, are beneficial to a dog's health and wellbeing. Pup parents can add blueberry facials for dogs to their treatment plans. Blueberries help remove tear stains, clean the fur, and condition the skin. Itching, hotspots, and dandruff are temporarily relieved after a blueberry facial.
Probiotics sometimes help prevent tear staining. Try an oral veterinary probiotic such as FortiFlora, Prostora Max or Proviable. Don't give Cosette tylosin, tetracycline or any other antibiotic for her tear staining.
Mix a tablespoon of peroxide with an 8 ounce glass of water and dip a cotton ball into the solution for a homemade daily removal concoction, then dab solution on the fur around the eyes before rinsing it off with warm water. Be careful not to get any in your dog's eyes!
Believe it or not, certain materials contained in water and food bowls may cause irritation to your dog's eyes. Stick to stainless steel when possible, and be sure to clean them regularly. Similarly, corn- and wheat-based foods may be inciting an allergic reaction that leads to epiphora and staining.
Preventing Dog Tear Stains
But we can prevent staining through regular face cleaning. To prevent tear stains from developing, keep the hair around your pet's eyes trimmed short. Using a slightly damp washcloth or cotton ball, clean the area around the eyes at least twice every day.
Don't worry, tear staining, isn't a sign that your dog is unhappy. The most common cause is the fact that selective breeding has altered the physical structure of many dog breeds, especially smaller animals. As a result, tear ducts can be crooked, spilling their contents onto your animal's face.
If your dog is prone to excessive tearing, daily washing and gentle drying of the area around its eyes can help prevent problems with irritation. Over-the-counter optical-grade eye irrigation solutions are generally safe to use to keep the eye area clean and odor-free.
When food allergies occur, you may notice a dog's eyes become more watery. You can see water pool up underneath their eyes. You may notice dry and crusted tear marks near the corners of the eyes as well. Use a warm wash cloth to gently wipe away the dried tear areas.
Good pet care involves cleaning the stains from around your dog's eyes with pre-moistened wipes on a daily basis to get rid of the dust, dirt and gunk that contribute to the brown stains around their eyes in the first place.
In some cases, giving your dog only filtered or bottled water can cut down on tear staining, so this may be worth a try, too. The good news is that in most cases, tear staining is only cosmetic, so you don't have to do anything about it as long as your pup is healthy.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Soak a cotton pad in a water-diluted hydrogen peroxide mixture (one part hydrogen peroxide with 10 parts water) and apply carefully to clean the stained area.
Teething – when puppies are teething, they produce more tears and tear stains may become apparent. It is a good idea to have your vet check that there are no other issues causing the tears but, once they have finished teething, the problem often goes away.
They're typically more visible on dogs who have white or lightly-colored fur. Epiphora, a condition that comes from excessive tear production or the inability to properly drain tears, is usually the source of the stains.
In most cases, dog tear stains are common and manageable. However, some instances may be linked to other health issues. For example, tear stains that are more brownish than red-colored and have a foul odor could indicate a yeast infection.