To naturally remove dog tear stains, gently wipe the area daily with solutions like cooled green tea, diluted hydrogen peroxide (1:10 with water), or coconut oil, using a cotton ball or soft cloth, always avoiding the eye itself; you can also use cornstarch paste to absorb moisture and brighten fur, but consistent cleaning and identifying dietary causes are key for prevention.
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. Once dry, wash and rinse it with warm water.
Quick Look – Best Dog Food for Tear Stains
When porphyrin-containing tears or saliva sits on white fur for any length of time, stains result. These iron-related stains intensify/darken in the presence of sunlight. All dogs produce porphyrin, but porphyrin staining is most noticeable in light-colored dogs.
There are many ways you can remove and prevent tear stains, including by focusing on thorough grooming and using commercially available tear-stain-removal products. Several underlying factors can cause tear stains, including the shape of a dog's face, allergies, ingrown eyelashes, and plugged tear ducts.
I use Bright Eyes Tear Stain Wipes for my patients, and we have great success with that product.
Iron-Rich Food: Iron is a vital nutrient for dogs, as it helps in maintaining their red blood cells. However, certain iron-rich foods, such as red meat and liver, can increase melanin production, which can result in pesky tear stains.
Nutritional Solutions for Bright, Clear Eyes
Berries like blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries contain antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. They also support a healthy immune system and improve circulation, which can help prevent excessive tear staining.
Bulldog, Boxer, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pugs, Bull Mastiff, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu, Maltese. Dog breeds with flat faces (or short distances between their eyes and nose) are particularly prone to tear staining because of the way their eyes have developed over time.
Using coconut oil for dog tear stains is as simple as gently massaging some of the oil into the fur and skin around your dog's eyes. You can use your hands or a cotton cloth … just avoid cotton balls because they can stick to the fur.
What is clear, however, is that giving dogs certain antibiotics eliminates excessive porphyrin production in some dogs, so yeast infection is not the only possible cause of tear stains. Tylosin, the antibiotic in Angels' Eyes, is often effective in these bacterial cases.
Mix a couple tablespoons of baking Soda with a couple of tablespoons of 3% peroxide and a couple drops of dish soap . Mix ingredients and apply this paste to the stain and then wash it out with water in a hour or so.
Top 7 Tear-Stain Removal Products
Regularly use eye wipes around your dog's eyes
You can use 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.
Regular grooming: Tear stains are caused by tears and debris. So, keeping your dog's eye-area clean and dry can help prevent stains from forming in the first place. Consider using Earth Rated's eye wipes to gently clean around your dog's face to keep those pesky stains under control.
Is vaseline good for dog tear stains? Used correctly on the hair under the inner corner, a tiny amount helps tears roll off instead of soaking in. Never place it on the eyelid margin or in the eye.
Tear stains occur for two reasons: either the the ducts that are supposed to allow the tears to drain into the sinuses are occluded, or the eyes water so much that the healthy ducts are overwhelmed. If the tear ducts are occluded, it's likely congenital, so there isn't much you can do about it.
The red/brown discoloration in the corner of a dog's eyes is called tear staining. This comes from porphyrin, iron-containing molecules produced when the body breaks down iron. All dogs have some porphyrin in their tears, but some have more and the staining is more noticeable.
Washing your dog's fur with dry or waterless shampoo cleans his or her muzzle and offers a remedy for dog tear stains by washing away discoloration and any associated smells. Refreshing your pet's system with clean water hydrates his or her body and presents a remedy for dog tear stains by clearing out impurities.
Healthy fruits for dogs
There's no single "number one" food, but chocolate, grapes/raisins, and foods containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are among the most dangerous and common toxic items, causing issues from vomiting and seizures to kidney failure or death; other major threats include onions/garlic, alcohol, and fatty/cooked bones that can splinter. Always contact your vet immediately if your dog eats anything suspicious.
Although yogurt isn't toxic, your dog might have trouble digesting it. Dogs' bodies aren't designed to digest lactose after puppyhood, and, therefore, a food high in lactose can cause gas, diarrhea, or vomiting. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, be sure to check in with your veterinarian.
The type of bowl doesn't directly cause tear stains, but hygiene plays a role in tear production. Bacteria and mould can build up in food and water bowls, potentially leading to increased tear production. Stainless steel bowls are recommended due to their resistance to bacteria and easy cleaning.
You may notice discoloration, or tear stains, in the corners or underneath your pup's eyes, especially if your dog has lighter hair or fur. Despite the name, these red or brownish spots don't actually mean that your pup is sad.
This occurs because tears contain a pigment called porphyrin that turns reddish-brown with prolonged exposure to air. In the absence of other problems, tear staining in this area is normal and is just a cosmetic concern.