Why Your Dog Gets Tear Stains and What To Do About Them

Every dog mom knows the constant struggle of assessing and treating your canine’s minor ailments and oddities, especially those around their eyes. The small crusties, phlegmy goop, and moist stains are common sights on your pup. Though these all need your attention and daily cleansing, none are as pervasive as tear stains. Here’s more on why your dog gets tear stains and what to do about them.

What Are Tear Stains?

Tear stains are the dark brown or red marks at the inner part of your dog’s eye, often extending beyond their eyelid toward the base of their snout. This pesky watery buildup looks like a constantly moist and pretty smelly patch of fur right beneath their eyes. Tear stains are most visible on dogs with lighter fur around their snout. These unsightly patches stem from the overproduction of tears or the inability to drain tears properly.

Why Do Dogs Get Them?

Tear stains are notoriously pesky on dogs with large, bulging eyes. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a great example of this problem. This breed is sweet, snuggly, and good-natured with the classic spaniel bowl-shaped skull. However, their face shape leads to often bugged-out eyes that have higher than normal exposure to the air, forcing their eyes into tear overdrive to maintain eye moisture.

Dogs can get worse stains depending on their diet. The staining pigment comes from biological processes, but the tears themselves are products of influences like allergies, anxiety, and low-quality kibble. Sometimes, these stains indicate more serious medical issues like glaucoma, eye infections, or conjunctivitis, so make sure you take your pet to the vet for a checkup if staining occurs unprompted.

What Can You Do About Them?

You’ve likely tried to clean your dog’s tear stains dozens of times over to no avail. One of the easiest ways to handle daily eye care is with dog wipes for your furry friend. These are quick and simple solutions that bring a gentle washing agent to your dog’s tear stains, removing the stinky, dark liquid from the mix.

You can also give your pup a facial. Bring your dog a mix of blueberries and coconut oil and apply it to their stains. The antioxidants and health properties in these safe-to-eat ingredients will help cleanse your dog’s eyes, making for a fun and tasty solution to the stains.

Knowing why your dog gets tear stains and what to do about them equips every dog owner with the knowledge to keep their pup healthy. Remember to involve a veterinary professional if the situation worsens or you notice other symptoms.