Nature of Tear Stains
Tear staining is most obvious on dogs with white and other light color coats or with heavy wrinkles. The stain is usually reddish-brown.
Whenever hair rests around the eyes some amount of tear staining results from the hair wicking moisture from the eyes, both above and mainly below the eye. But there are many other sources of tear stains. Tear staining can be traced to health and diet, as well as genetics. Most veterinarians agree that face staining results from excessive tearing. In this case, the damp face hair is a breeding ground for bacterial and yeast growth. The most common is "Red Yeast" which is usually associated with reddish-brown facial stains, and which may emit a moderate to noticeably strong odor. Tear ducts may become infected and result in excess tearing and noticeable staining.
Some owners have consulted veterinary eye specialists on the problem. The doctors advised them that the eye structure was the most probable source of the problem. If that is so, then genetics would likely play a role and explain why the problem is more pronounced in some pets of the same breed. If you are purchasing a puppy and you care concerned about the potential for tearing and staining, you should observe the mother and sire, and others in the direct lineage.
Eye duct surgical procedures to increase their tear capacity may help some pets; ask your veterinarian.
Hair/coat stains also occur in areas other than the eyes. White and light color coats, wrinkled faces and short nosed breeds can acquire water stains from pet drinking water, bacteria and red or pimple looking bumps may appear as well, try using a stainless steel bowl for food and water and clean at least weekly in a dishwasher to sterilize them. Minerals in the water may stain facial hair in the whisker, and mouth areas, as well as other areas on the chest and front legs when water regular drips. Purified waters with low mineral content may be the answer.
Some pet foods with color additives (and certain fillers, like beet pulp,etc) will stain hair in the mouth area too and can eventually excrete to the tear ducts through absorbing into the dogs system.
Your first step is to determine the source of tear and face stains. As we have noted, it may be water and food sources and that can be corrected. Tear staining often involves more complex solutions requiring veterinary introspection to determine the source.
If bacterial and yeast infections are involved you need to take steps to reduce and eliminate their presence. Veterinarians can prescribe medication to treat bacterial and yeast infections. Your veterinarian or eye specialist veterinarians can determine if excessive tearing is the source of stains, and describe alternatives available.
Tear Stain Removal
Tear stain removal has become some what easier with various products, medication and home remedies. You may consult with groomers for commercial product recommendations.
Tetracycline
Consult your vet for this method as it requires a prescription. This method should only be used when all others have failed and should only be used for 1-2 courses of treatment and not relied on as a continued treatment. Some have found success in eliminating tear staining by putting their dog on a ten day course of low dose tetracycline. Occasionally this may need to be repeated. Do not use this in puppies that have not yet cut their adult teeth. Tetracycline has been shown to cause teeth which have not erupted to permanently stain yellow.
Vetropolycin
A sterile ophthalmic ointment, for the eyes. Use it for
10 days (1/4 inch strip in both eyes once a day and wash area with warm
water twice a day)
TUMS
If you need to change the pH of your dogs system to aid in preventing yeast or infection then Tums is primarily a source of Calcium, known as an antacid formulated as 500 mg Calcium Carbonate. Giving your dog 1/2 of the Fruit flavored variety twice a day will help change the pH of the tears. This will change the tears' environment and can help make it hostile for the continued growth of yeast and bacteria. There are some Maltese exhibitors who use TUMS with success to control tearing before the dog shows.
White Vinegar
A teaspoon of white cider vinegar can be added to your dogs drinking water to control new tear stains. It may take a while for your dog to "decide" to drink this water so start with a little less and gradually increase the amount of vinegar. Vinegar works much like TUMS in that it can changes the pH of the drinking water. Changing the pH of your dog slightly will do wonders in the tear stain war and help eliminate bacteria and deep stain color and prevent yeast build up and is best used as a prevention once you have the tear stains removed or nearly removed. This will help for the future of the tear stains and make them a minimum occurrence.
Milk of Magnesia, corn starch and peroxide
Use equal volume of MOM (plain white) and peroxide, and then use the corn starch to make a good paste of this; put on and work well into the stained area and let dry 4 hours. Wash out, CONDITION WELL. Keep doing this for several days until tear staining is gone, although I would recommend skipping a day or two between applications if possible. Apply a thin coat of Destin diaper rash ointment after the area is washed out and dry. Try this every other day if possible and the choice way of doing it. If your dog has heavy stains then do this for 3 days in a row, then skip every other day. It works well but give it a few days to show results.
Corn Flour, water and a drop of bleach
Take a 2 teaspoon of corn flour, add a few drops of boiling hot water and mix to a paste. Add 1 single drop of plain bleach. mix again. Allow the mixture to cool down and apply to the tear stain area. Allow to dry (10 minutes), wait 1 hour and remove with warm water and clean cloth. Then wipe on a thin layer or peroxide and allow to air dry and leave alone. Repeat every other day for 2 weeks. DO NOT get any in the dogs eye.
You should also make sure your dog don't have a tear duct obstruction (blockage) and have corrected the food and water issue first so he don't keep getting tear stains. After all if you treat the tear stains to remove them while at the same time you feed a food that causes tear stains you won't gain nothing. Try the least invasive of the above methods first, give them 2-4 weeks to work, then if your not satisfied go to another method of treatment. Do not use multiple treatments at the same time. Always have your vet give the dog a complete exam to rule out any serious eye condition first before trying anything else. The commercial products just don't work very well so it is best to just forget about them unless you have a very mild case of stain.
Colloidal Silver
This is a product that is again placed in the eyes and works much like an antibiotic. Colloidal Silver is a natural antibiotic. There are a few who swear by this. You put a one to two drops into each eye daily. This can be purchased as any Health & vitamin store .. such as GNC.
Boric Acid Powder
Rub it into the staining with fingers and leave it there. Do NOT brush it out, it is left in the coat. Do this every day, also use a very fine comb to
comb out any debris in the corners of the eye. Also, if there are any hairs
in the very corners of the eyes, carefully remove these. Do NOT put it on puppies if the mother licks them clean.
Boric Acid Solution #1
Make a paste of the boric acid powder & green lemon juice. Using a toothbrush, brush the paste on the stains and leave overnight. The next day, comb out and no more stains. For really bad stains, repeat again.
Another Boric Acid Solution #2
Use 1 teaspoon of boric acid to 1 cup of boiling water, let cool, use 1-2X a day..make a fresh solution every 3rd day...moisten cotton ball and wipe the eye and tear stain area...this gives them clean sparkling eyes and from my experience has not hurt their eyes.
Crown Royale "WHITENER"
You can mix this with human hair peroxide (20 volume to 40 volume) Mix into a paste and again leave it on overnight. The Crown Royale Whitener works a lot like the Milk of Magnesia & peroxide mix. The Crown Royale will work much faster but it is harsher on the hair. You must condition very well. And please be very careful NOT to get any mixtures into the eyes. Crown Royale phone number 1-800-992-5400.
Peroxide & Crown Royale Magic Touch
Purchase Magic Touch grooming spray concentrate (buy the #1 formula for Maltese). Mix the concentrate 1 part to 1 part water. Now mix this with 2% hydrogen peroxide - NOT the kind you use on your hair. You can mix up enough for a whole week and store it in a closed bottle. Apply with a cotton to clean the eyes. This solution takes a week or two to really see results .. but it is one of the safest. Again .. it will dry the coat so remember to condition.
#1 All Systems Whitening Gel
This is a gel product that contains a mild bleaching agent. It is applied to the facial hair and left to dry. It takes several applications to work, but will also gently help lift some color from the hair.
Link to #1 All Systems ...
Eye Envy
Shake bottle of Eye Envy well and soak up a cotton pad or washcloth. Gently wipe around eye area. Don't be afraid to get it too wet. Do NOT pour solution into eyes, but don't worry if a bit gets inside. Allow to dry. After completing steps #1 through #3, gently work the EYE ENVY POWDER into your pets fur, working around the eyes and working powder against the hair growth. You can use a small brush, Q-Tip or your fingertip. Allow to dry. For really bad stains use twice a day for two weeks to see the best results. http://www.eyeenvy.org/index.html
It is always best to use a product such as DuoLube, a sterile mineral oil ointment, in the dogs eyes for protection before applying any harsh type of bleaching mixture to the face. And remember to CONDITION!
Yellow (urine) Stains or other stains on feet
Here is a great formula to help remove stains on feet/coat. Mix 50% liquid Woolite and 50% human hair peroxide (20 volume), then dilute this mixture with 50% water. Add a small amount of a conditioning type shampoo. Shampoo this mixture into the stained areas of the coat and feet. Allow it to remain on for 5 minutes. Rinse it out and shampoo & condition as normal.
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