The Truth Behind Dogs' Constant Tears and Severe Stains

Dog tear stains are often caused by frequent eye watering, a condition known in medicine as "epiphora." Normally, a dog's tears flow from the eyes into the lacrimal sac and then through the lacrimal ducts into the nose. If a dog produces an excessive amount of tears or if the nasolacrimal ducts become blocked, tears can accumulate around the eyes,溢出眼角。When the iron in the tears reacts with air, it oxidizes and turns rustcolored, forming the "tear stains" we see.

What Causes Dog Tear Stains?

There are numerous reasons why a dog might have tear stains, including the following:

● Nasolacrimal Duct Blockage: This is a common cause of tear stains in dogs, often resulting from infections, inflammation, or congenital defects.

● Diet Issues: A diet high in salt or greasy foods can lead to internal heat and inflammation, increasing tear production and contributing to tear stains.

● Environmental Factors: Exposure to irritants like dust, secondhand smoke, or allergens in a dog's environment can also cause eye watering and tear stains.

● Genetic Factors: Certain dog breeds, with facial structures that include prominent eyes or curved nasolacrimal ducts, are more prone to tear stains.

● Poor Eye Hygiene: Inadequate cleaning of a dog's eyes can lead to the growth of bacteria and yeast in the fur, exacerbating tear stains.

● Other Factors: Issues like ear infections, teething, ingrown eyelashes, and entropion can also lead to excessive tearing and tear stains.

● Eye Diseases: Conditions such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and dacryoadenitis can cause an overproduction of tears that cannot be properly drained, leading to tear stains. Glaucoma can also cause persistent irritation in the eyes, resulting in tear stains.

How to Remove Dog Tear Stains?

1. Daily Cleaning and Care

✔ Clean your dog's eyes and remove tear stains every morning and before bedtime. For breeds with excessive tear production, such as Pekingese and Chihuahuas, more frequent checks and cleaning are necessary.

✔ For lightcolored, small tear stains, use warm water, saline solution, or alcoholfree wet wipes. For darker, more extensive stains, use a specialized tear stain cleaner or a mixture of 20% saline solution and 80% boric acid solution.

✔ For longhaired breeds, regularly trim the fur around the eyes to prevent hair from irritating the eyes and causing watering.

2. Adjusting Diet

✔ Feed your dog a diet of bland, easily digestible foods and avoid highfat, highsalt, and highsugar foods.

✔ For dogs prone to tear stains, incorporate cooling foods into their diet, such as winter melon, pear, cabbage, and lettuce.

3. Environmental Management

✔ Regularly clean the corners of your home, such as balconies, under beds, and beneath sofas, to prevent hair or foreign objects from entering your dog's eyes.

✔ Inspect your dog's cage and items they frequently come into contact with to ensure there are no sharp objects that could scratch their eyes.

4. Treating Underlying Diseases

→ If you notice redness, swelling, or excessive discharge in your dog's eyes, it may indicate an infection. Use Baiming (neomycin sulfate eye drops) to treat it.

→ If your dog has ingrown eyelashes, consider regular trimming or removal, but for a permanent solution, consult a veterinarian for surgical adjustment.

→ Chronic, severe tear stains may be due to a blocked nasolacrimal duct and require veterinary surgery for疏通. In some cases, procedures like lacrimal sac fistulization or nasolacrimal duct stent placement may be necessary.

→ If your dog has excessive earwax, use Er Fen Fen (pet ear care solution) for regular cleaning. If there's redness and swelling, apply a small amount of Xin Ren Ning (miconazole nitrate ointment) after cleaning.

In summary, dog tear stains can be caused by a variety of factors, including eye diseases, dietary issues, environmental factors, genetic predispositions, and poor eye hygiene. Pet owners should take appropriate care measures based on the specific situation and seek veterinary assistance for diagnosis and treatment when necessary.