No More Tear Stains, Healthier Dog These unsightly stains are almost always indicative of an infection, an imbalance, or excess iron intake. If your dog is exposed to irritants or has structural eyes issues, tear stains will be more pronounced but still usually indicate a deeper issue.
Seasonal allergies like hay fever, allergic responses to new food or even a reaction to cleaning fluids used to wash out food and water bowls can all lead to tear staining.
Consider Protein Sources. The protein source in your pet's food can contribute to tear staining. Red meats, which are high in iron, can intensify tear stains in some pets. If your pet is prone to tear stains, consider eliminating red meats from their diet to see if it helps.
A damp washcloth applied to the corners of eyes or regular wiping of excess moisture are often vital tasks to preventing tear stains on your dog and eliminates excess moisture.
Daily eye- and mouth-hair hygiene
A quick daily “face grooming” will go a long way in keeping those stains at bay. Some tips: Flush eyes with an appropriate canine eye-wash, such as saline eye-wash solutions or Terra Septic eye drops.
It's more obvious on lighter-colored dogs, but all dogs get teary-eyed and some – such as poodles, pugs, and Maltese – are even more prone to the condition. Blueberry facials for dogs help to minimize the hue of the stains, soften skin, and brighten the coat.
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.
If your dog's tear stains are relatively new, you may be able to get rid of them with a few home remedies. However, if they seem excessive or if your pet frequently deals with irritated eyes and mucus buildup in his tears, it is best to leave the task of removing tear stains to your local groomer.
Consider applying a bit of petroleum jelly to the hair below her eyes so her tears slide off. Probiotics sometimes help prevent tear staining. Try an oral veterinary probiotic such as FortiFlora, Prostora Max or Proviable.
- Fillers: To bulk out their products, many low-quality dog foods use corn and wheat as fillers. These products can cause allergic reactions which can lead to excessive tearing, i.e. epiphora.
A normal, healthy puppy's eyes are going tear for the first month or two that you take them home, it is the sign of a healthy eye, flushing and doing it's job. As your puppy grows, this will almost always just go away.
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.
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.
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 steps to preventing dog tear stains at home are:
STEP 2: Throw away your plastic food bowls. Use stainless steel, porcelain, or glass. Plastic food bowls often develop tiny cracks that harbor bacteria and cause facial irritation.
Tip #3: Use filtered water in your dog's water bowls rather than from the tap. This will reduce the high mineral content present in tap water, which could help reduce staining. Tip #4: In some cases, oral medication can be used to help prevent overproduction of tears.
Vaseline- Once your pet's tears have been cleaned, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the area just under the eye to prevent the tears from sitting in the same area and staining.
One of our favorite homemade dog tear stain removers consists of one part hydrogen peroxide with ten parts water. Stir the solution and apply it under your dog's eyes using a cotton ball.
The natural anti-biotic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory agents in coconut oil not only help eliminate tear stains, coconut oil is completely safe to use around or in your pet's eyes.
Dogs are emotional creatures, but they don't shed actual tears when they cry. They do, however, get runny eyes sometimes. Allergies, infections and other issues can cause your dog's eyes to water, but regardless of the reason, it can cause tear stains.
The best anti inflammatory foods for dogs include bone broth, fatty fish, berries, ginger and omega-3s.
The fluorescence spectra measured in the present experiment suggest that turkey thighs and pork semimembranosus muscle in addition to protoporphyrin also have a natural content of Zn protoporphyrin. The porphyrin content was higher in pork meat than in turkey meat.