Dog Tear Stains

Dog tear stains can commonly be seen on the insides of the eyes of light-colored dogs, especially miniature and toy breeds. Herbs can be used to alleviate this problem and remove the tear stains.

If you have a light-colored miniature or toy breed dog (e.g. Poodle, Pekinese, Chihuahua and Maltese), you will no doubt notice tear stains on the skin and hair below the inside corners of your dog's eyes. The stains are usually pinkish to brownish in color.

Like us, dogs also have tear ducts (in the eyelids) to drain out excess tears. However, if the tear ducts are blocked, the tears overflow the lids and run down the face. The tear stains are caused by a reaction of the tears with the normal bacteria on the hair and skin on the dog's face.

Causes of Dog Tear Stains

There are quite a few causes of tears overflowing the lids resulting in tear stains in dogs. Some common reasons include:

Shape of the Eye: Many miniature and toy breed dogs have eyes that stick out. This shape can result in eyelids that become stretched thus cutting off the tear drainage system.
An Abnormal Eyelid: Some dogs may have eyelids that turn inward, rubbing against and irritating the eye surface. This problem can be remedied by surgery.
Genetics: Some dogs are born with an abnormal drainage system that results in excessive tearing. This problem may or may not be corrected by surgery.
Excessive Hair Around the Eyes: Hair can act like a wick, drawing out the tears from the eye. This problem can easily be corrected by removing the excessive hair.
Infections: Excessive tears on the face hair around the eyes can cause bacterial and yeast growth. The most commonly seen is "red yeast" which causes reddish-brown stains. Sometimes the stains may even give out a moderate to noticeably strong odor. Tear ducts may also become infected and result in excess tearing and noticeable staining.
Eye Irritations: Excessive tears will be produced if the dog's eyes are irritated, either caused by a particle of a foreign object in the eye, or an allergy.
Inflammation of the Eye: Corneal ulcers or inflammation of the duct system can also cause excessive tears to overflow.

Untreated, some of these causes of tear stains can be painful. They can also lead to infection and even blindness. If you suspect that your dog's tear stains are caused by an allergy, inflammation, or infection, be sure to ask a vet to check out the dog's eyes.

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Conventional Treatment for Removing Dog Tear Stains

Conventional treatments include antibiotics (e.g. Tetracycline), eye scrubs and other chemical-based tear stain cleansers.

Some also suggest home remedies such as mixing bleach with corn flour and water, or mixing Milk of Magnesia, corn starch and peroxide. While these may work to remove the stains, we need to be very careful when using chemicals around our dog's eyes. If the mixture was not applied safely or was allowed to wick through the facial hair into the dog's eye area by accident, you could potentially harm your dog.

As regards using antibiotics to treat tear stains, the problem is that the medicine will weaken the dog's immune system making her more prone to infections in the future.

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Herbal Remedies for Dog Tear Stains

Dog tear stains are not life-threatening; therefore, the use of strong chemicals, medication, and other "heavy-duty ammunition" should be kept to a minimum. In particular, for dogs that are not being shown, dog parents should aim at taking steps to safely minimize the condition.

Before taking any action to get rid of the stains, we should first rule out that the excessive tearing and staining are not caused by any underlying health problems such as mentioned above.

To minimum dog tear stains, herbs are beneficial because they are mild and gentle on the dog's skin.

The first "eye herb" that comes to mind is Eyebright. This herb is excellent for easing discomfort in the eye and helping to prevent excessive tearing. Eyebright is anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamins A and C. It can be taken internally as an eye tonic. Externally, it can be used as an eyewash.

Other herbs that are good candidates for external use (as a wash) include:

Chamomile: This herb is also anti-inflammatory and is effective against bacteria and fungi.
Calendula: This herb is excellent for healing wounds and is also effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Goldenseal: Goldenseal contains berberine compounds that are active against bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, and infections involving the mucous membranes.

A Natural Product for Removing Dog Tear Stains

i-Clenz

This natural herbal tincture contains the herbs Eyebright, Chamomile, and Dandelion. It can be used to effectively wipe over the fur below the eyes to remove tear stains.

Preventing Formation of Dog Tear Stains

Besides using herbs to topically remove tear stains, pay attention to the following and your dog eyes will probably be free of tear stains:

Maintain a Healthy Immune System
Dog tear stains can be caused by bacterial or yeast infection, so it is important to make sure that your dog has a healthy immune system. Feed your dog a healthy natural diet with lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. You may also want to consider a natural immune booster such as Missing Link Canine Formula.

Keep Your Dog's Eyes Clean
To prevent eye infections (a cause of excessive tearing), keep your dog's eyes clean. When in a moving car, do not let your dog put her head out of the car window to avoid dust and other foreign objects from getting into her eyes.

Keep the Hair Around the Eyes Short
If you have a long-haired dog, have your pet groomer pay special attention to the hair around the eyes - Trimming the hair short around the eyes can prevent the hair from wicking moisture from the eyes.