Dealing with Dog Tear Stains: Causes, Prevention, and S

Today, I'm going to share some handy tips with you on how to manage your dog's tear stains.

How Pet Owners Can Tackle Dog Tear Stains

1. If your dog's tear stains are not the typical brick red but rather a brownish hue and have an unpleasant smell, it might indicate a yeast or bacterial infection. It's best to consult a veterinarian.

2. Many puppies have a more robust tear duct secretion during their early stages, which usually subsides as they grow up. This is a normal occurrence, so it's advisable to be cautious with puppies and avoid rushing to treatments.

3. Opt for highquality dog food. If possible, homemade or raw diets are ideal.

4. Provide your dog with filtered water, as tap water, rich in minerals like iron and impurities, can contribute to tear stains. Moreover, the fluoride and chlorides in tap water can be harmful to your dog's health.

5. Replace your dog's plastic food bowl.

6. Regularly inspect the hair around your dog's eyes to prevent overgrown fur from irritating the eyes.

7. You can use citric acid or liquid vitamin C to wipe around the corners of the eyes, as these can react with the iron in porphyrin to prevent the formation of tear stains.

8. Silver polish can be effective in cleaning tear stains and is safe for topical use. It contains antibacterial properties that can reduce the chances of infection around the eyes.

9. Vaseline can also be used to remove tear stains.

Understanding Your Dog's Eye Structure

The tear glands are responsible for secreting tears to moisten the dog's eyes. These tears typically flow through the nasolacrimal ducts into the nose, completing the cycle of moisturizing, disinfecting, and detoxifying the eyes.

When there's an excess of tear secretion from the tear glands or a limitation in the duct's ability to drain, tears can overflow from the eyes. This overflow isn't just due to emotional crying but can also be a result of the dog's eye anatomy.

3 Common Causes of Dog Tear Stains:

1. Inflammation of the tear glands, causing excessive tear production beyond the capacity of the nasolacrimal ducts.

2. Nasolacrimal duct blockage, preventing tears from draining normally.

3. Congenital defects, such as in shortnosed breeds like Pugs, Shih Tzus, and French Bulldogs, where the nasolacrimal ducts are naturally curved and narrow, leading to lower duct capacity.

The Key Substance Behind Dog Tear Stains: Porphyrin

Porphyrin is a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, containing iron, which is metabolized by the liver and excreted as part of bile. Some of it is also excreted through urine, tears, and saliva. When the iron in porphyrin oxidizes, it results in the characteristic brickred tear stains. This is also why some dogs' mouth corners may turn brick red over time, as saliva contains porphyrin, and prolonged oxidation leads to the same coloration.

Factors Contributing to Dog Tear Stains

Common factors that can lead to tear stains include disease, congenital issues, environmental factors, and dietary factors.

1. Disease Factors:

Tear gland inflammation

Nasolacrimal duct blockage

Ear infections, which can cause pain deep in the ear and stimulate excessive tear production from the sensitive tear glands

Entropion, where eyelashes continuously irritate the corners of the eyes, prompting excessive tear production

Other eye diseases, such as infections or glaucoma, can also lead to excessive tear production and tear stains

2. Congenital Factors:

Special breeds, such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, and French Bulldogs, have curved and narrow nasolacrimal ducts, limiting tear drainage and causing tear stains easily.

Longhaired breeds may have excessively long hair around the eyes, which can irritate the eyes and lead to excessive tear production.

Congenital defects, such as larger tear glands or more sensitive glands, or narrow nasolacrimal ducts due to genetics, can also lead to tear stains.

3. Environmental Factors:

Secondhand smoke exposure can cause excessive tear production and crying in dogs.

Allergies to pollen, carpets, or other environmental triggers can lead to eye discomfort and excessive tear production.

Plastic bowls can cause allergic reactions in some dogs, leading to excessive tear production.

4. Dietary Factors:

Food allergies to certain ingredients, such as beef, corn, or wheat, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and lead to excessive tear production.

Excessive additives and toxins in poorquality dog food can burden the liver, affecting the normal excretion of porphyrin with bile, leading to increased porphyrin content in the body fluids.