Ultimate Solution for Bichon Frise Tear Stains: Root-Ca

Many pet owners of Bichon Frise dogs may have encountered the issue of tear stains on their furry friends. Tear stains are the brownish stains that form under the eyes after a dog sheds tears. These stains not only affect the Bichon Frise's appearance but can also lead to skin and eye infections. Moreover, tear stains can sometimes be a sign of underlying health conditions, such as congenital nasolacrimal duct collapse, blocked tear ducts, ingrown eyelashes, eye infections, and more.

So, what can you do if your Bichon Frise has tear stains?

Don't worry; today, I'll share some relatively simple treatment methods with you.

1. Common Causes of Bichon Frise Tear Stains

☞ Diet too salty or greasy, leading to fire and heat

☞ Irritation from hair around the eyes

☞ Ingrown eyelashes

☞ Facial structure with a large curve in the nasolacrimal duct, making it difficult for tears to drain

☞ Blocked nasolacrimal ducts

☞ Excessive tear secretion from the tear glands

☞ Teething period or dental issues

☞ Ear infections (ear mites, otitis, Malassezia infection, etc.)

☞ Environmental stimulation

2. The Best Treatment for Bichon Frise Tear Stains

While we're discussing tear stains in Bichon Frise dogs today, it's important to note that the reasons for tear stains can vary from one dog to another.

Firstly, Bichon Frise dogs have short noses, curved and narrow nasolacrimal ducts, which result in slower tear drainage. Combined with the fact that some Bichon Frise dogs have abundant tear secretion, they tend to have more tears and, consequently, more tear stains than other breeds. However, if a Bichon Frise's tear stains are severe, these inherent issues may only be part of the problem. Factors like diet, ear mites, and foreign body irritation can also be significant contributors.

Therefore, the best way to treat Bichon Frise tear stains is to tailor the treatment to each dog's specific cause.

If the exact cause is unknown, we can only resort to some comprehensive approaches:

1. Diet Adjustment

● Choose lowsodium, lowoil dog food: Avoid highsalt, highadditive, highsugar foods, and leftovers to reduce tear secretion.

● Drink plenty of water: Ensure your Bichon Frise drinks enough water daily to help expel toxins from the body and reduce tear stains.

● Supplement with vitamins: Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits, such as carrots and apples, to supplement with vitamin C and E, which can help reduce tear stains.

2. Daily Care

● Regularly trim the hair around the eyes: This refers to the hair around the eyes to prevent long hair from irritating the eyes, causing tears and tear stains.

● Eye cleaning: Wipe your Bichon Frise's eyes with petspecific wet wipes daily to remove tears and dirt, maintaining eye hygiene. If the stain is severe, use a mixture of 20% physiological saline and 80% boric acid water to wipe the area, twice or thrice a day.

● Massage the nasolacrimal duct: Gently massage the area around your Bichon Frise's eyes and nasolacrimal ducts to promote duct patency and reduce tear stains. Do this 3 to 4 times a week.

3. Environmental Improvement

● Regularly clean the indoor environment and dog bed to maintain cleanliness.

● Avoid exposing your dog to volatile odors, smoke, dust, and other irritants in their living environment.

4. Health Problem Screening

● Check your Bichon Frise's oral health to ensure there are no oral ulcers or gum swelling issues. If your dog is teething, provide some dental chews.

● Inspect your Bichon Frise's ear canal. If the ears are dirty, use Erbanfen (pet ear care solution) for cleaning. If your dog has ear mites, otitis, or other ear canal diseases, use specialized pet ear medications for treatment.

● If your dog shows symptoms like red, swollen, or painful eyes, along with puslike eye discharge, it may indicate an eye infection. After cleaning the eyes, use Bailangming (neomycin sulfate eye drops) to drop the eyes. Observe for about 3 days. If the symptoms do not improve, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly.

Lastly, if your Bichon Frise's tear stain issue persists, it is recommended to have them undergo a lacrimal duct fluorescence test to determine if the tear ducts are blocked. If confirmed to be caused by blocked tear ducts, you can take your dog to the hospital for lacrimal duct flushing. If the effect is not satisfactory, surgery such as nasolacrimal duct intubation may be required.