Discovering What Causes Those Pesky Dog Tear Stains
Feb 11,2025 | puaintapets
Tear stains in dogs are a common, often concerning, issue for many pet owners. These stains typically appear around the eyes and can vary in color, ranging from brownish-red to dark rust, depending on the underlying cause. While tear stains are usually harmless, they can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Understanding what causes tear stains, how to treat them, and how to prevent them is important for every dog owner.
In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of tear stains in dogs, how to recognize them, and what treatments and preventive measures you can take to keep your dog’s eyes healthy.
What Are Tear Stains in Dogs?
Tear stains are discolorations that appear around a dog’s eyes, usually along the fur of the face and under the eyes. These stains are the result of excess tears, which can be caused by a variety of factors. In most cases, the stains are reddish-brown and are caused by a pigment called porphyrin, which is found in tears. While a certain amount of tear production is normal, excessive tearing can lead to staining, which may become more noticeable in light-colored dogs.
What Causes Tear Stains in Dogs?
There are several main causes of tear stains in dogs:
1. Physiological structure factors
- Nasolacrimal duct problem
Some small dogs are born with shallow tear ducts and insufficient space in the eyelids to retain tears, resulting in tear outflow, such as Teddy and English Cocker Spaniel. In addition, the nasolacrimal duct suffers from infection and inflammation and swelling, resulting in complete blockage or incomplete blockage of the duct, tears can not be normally discharged from the nasolacrimal duct, will also be overflowed to form tear tracks.
- Eyelid problems
Eyelid inversion will make the eyelashes inverted and irritate the cornea, resulting in the dog's eye discomfort and frequent scratching of the eyes with the forelimbs, which will stimulate the secretion of the tear glands and cause tear stains.
2.Disease factors
- Eye diseases
Conjunctivitis, keratitis, glaucoma, dacryoadenitis and other eye diseases can lead to abnormal secretion of the lacrimal glands, and too many tears can't be discharged through the nasolacrimal ducts in a timely manner, thus forming tear stains from the corners of the eyes.
- Ear Canal Diseases
Ear canal infections are a common cause of tear stains in dogs. When the ear canal suffers from bacterial, viral, mold, parasitic infections, or swollen, painful, itchy ears, the dog will frequently scratch his ears with his hind feet, as the pain in the deeper part of the ear canal extends to the area around the eyes, stimulating the tear glands to secrete, and when too much tears can't be discharged from the nasolacrimal ducts, they overflow from the corners of the eyes and form tear stains.
- Oral and dental diseases
Oral and dental problems such as double rows of teeth, periodontal disease, and root abscesses of upper molars may compress the nasolacrimal duct, leading to blockage or inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct, which in turn triggers tear stains.
3. Dietary factors
- Food Allergy
Dogs may be allergic to certain food ingredients, such as grains, artificial additives, preservatives, etc. The allergic reaction will lead to increased secretion of snot and tears, which will pool around the eyes for a long time to form tear tracks.
- Diet too salty or oily
If the food your dog eats is too heavy in flavor and too high in salt or grease, it will increase the burden on the kidneys, leading to an increase in tear secretion, thus aggravating the tear stains.
4. Environmental factors
- Allergic stimulation
Dogs may be allergic to pollen, dust mites, cigarettes, perfumes, chemicals, etc. in the environment, which will irritate the eyes and respiratory tract upon contact, leading to tearing and tear stains.
- Water Quality Problems
Tap water contains excessive minerals, iron, chlorine and fluorine, which may cause irritation to your dog's eyes and body, and long-term consumption may lead to tear stains.
5. Other factors
- Genetic factors
Certain dog breeds are born with well-developed tear ducts or excessive tear secretion, such as Bichon Frise, Maltese and other white-coated breeds, as well as some short-nosed breeds, which are more prone to tear stains.
- Grooming problems
Excessively long or untrimmed hair around the eyes can irritate the eyes or cause ingrown hairs, which in turn can cause tear tracks.
- Puppy Growth Period
Puppies may develop tear stains in stages during the growing period, which may disappear on their own when the dog grows up a bit, but you also need to pay attention to the cleanliness around the eyes during this period.
What to Cure Dog Tear Stain?
1.Cleaning care
- Eye Cleaning
Use a clean soft cloth or cotton ball dipped in warm water to gently wipe the corners of your dog's eyes and the area around the eyes to remove eye droppings and tear stains. You can also use pet-specific eye wash or saline for cleaning.
There are some cleaning solutions on the market that are specifically designed to remove tear stains in dogs and lighten them.
- Trimming Hair
Regularly trim the hair around your dog's eyes to avoid the hair being too long and irritating the eyes or causing ingrown hairs.
2. Diet adjustment
- Change dog food
Choose light, low oil and low salt dog food and avoid food with too many artificial additives and preservatives. Try grain-free natural dog food, such as purple potato and duck type.
- Increase water intake
Make sure your dog has enough clean water to help flush toxins from the body and reduce tear stains.
- Avoid allergy foods
If you suspect your dog is allergic to certain foods, such as grains and beef, try changing the food and observe if the tear tracks improve.
3.Disease Treatment
- Eye Diseases
If your dog suffers from eye diseases such as conjunctivitis or keratitis, it will need to be treated with antibiotic eye drops or eye ointment. For severe eye diseases, further diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian may be required.
- Ear Canal Infections
Treat your dog's ear canal infections promptly by cleaning and treating them with veterinarian-recommended ear medications.
Also Read: 5 Common Ear Canal Infections
4. Environmental Improvement
- Reduce irritants
Avoid exposing your dog to substances that may cause allergies or irritation, such as pollen, dust mites and cigarettes.
- Air Purification
Use an air purifier to keep indoor air fresh and reduce dust and allergens.
- Avoid Secondhand Smoke
Keep your dog away from second-hand smoke environments, as smoke can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract.
How to Prevent Dog Tear Stains?
1. Diet adjustment
Choose hypoallergenic dog food: Avoid food containing grains and artificial additives, and prioritize natural food with single animal protein (e.g. duck, salmon).
Control salt intake: Reduce snacks and human food to avoid over-salting which leads to increased tear secretion.
Supplementation: add foods rich in vitamin A and C (e.g. carrots, blueberries) or specialized tear powder (containing lutein and probiotics).
2. Daily eye care
Daily cleaning: Wipe the eye area with warm water or pet wipes to remove secretions.
Trim the hair around the eyes: prevent hair from irritating the eyes and reduce tear retention.
Eye drop care: Use pet-specific eye wash (e.g. Vic's Eye) to rinse 1-2 times a week.
3. Health Management
Regular ear canal inspection: Ear canal infections are prone to dacryoadenitis and need to be cleaned out monthly with ear wash solution.
Unclogging the nasolacrimal duct: Massage gently from the inner corner of the eye to the nose (once a day for 30 seconds) to promote tear drainage.
Treatment of eye diseases: If problems such as conjunctivitis or impingement occur, timely medical treatment is required (e.g. laser to unblock the nasolacrimal duct or impingement surgery).
FAQs
What foods cause tear staining in dogs?
Human food: human food is usually high in salt content, such as ham, salted fish, cured meat, etc. Feeding these foods to dogs for a long period of time will lead to excessive salt intake in the dog's body and increase the burden on the kidneys, which will lead to increased tear secretion and aggravate the tear stains.
Part of the dog food: some cheap dog food, especially high-temperature extrusion and shaping, nutrition loss of more puffed food, may add a large number of additives, preservatives, food attractants, etc., these ingredients may adversely affect the dog's health, leading to aggravation of tear stains.
Do all dog breeds get tear stains?
No. While any dog can potentially develop tear stains, some breeds are more prone to them due to their genetics, anatomy, or other factors.
How long does it take to see an improvement in tear stains after making changes to my dog's diet?
If your dog was previously consuming a high salt diet that caused tear staining problems, you may see a reduction in tear staining within 1-2 weeks after switching to a lower salt, lighter diet. This is because by reducing salt intake, the burden on your dog's body will gradually decrease and tear production will decrease accordingly.
If your dog's tear stains are caused by a food allergy, it may take 2-4 weeks or even longer to see significant improvement after the allergen has been identified and eliminated, and the dog has been switched to a suitable food. It takes time for the inflammation caused by the allergic reaction to subside and for the body to restore normal metabolism and immune function.
Conclusion
Tear stains in dogs are a common issue that can have various causes, from breed predispositions to health conditions like allergies or infections. While tear stains are generally not a health threat, they can be a sign of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for tear stains, you can help ensure your dog’s eyes stay healthy and stain-free. If your dog has persistent tear stains, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns and find the most appropriate treatment.
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