Tear Stains on my dog. What is it, and what should I do?

What are the tear stains around the dog's eyes?

The brown or reddish stains that appear on the hair around the eye area are a relatively common phenomenon in dogs. Although they may be more visible in light color breeds such as Bison Frise, Maltese, Westies, or Samoyed, they can appear in any dog regardless of its color.
In most cases, it is caused by the phenomenon that is called epiphora (excessive tear secretion), which in turn can be caused by various factors (genetic, obstruction of the lacrimal ducts, allergies, diet, eye diseases). Before taking any action, if your dog has a severe lacrimation problem (primarily if it occurs suddenly), consult your vet, who will guide you regarding the possible causes and the best course of action.
When tears stay on the coat around the eyes, porphyrin - a pigment that is naturally contained in them - "dyes" the hair leaving the brown-reddish stains we see.
In addition, the concentration of moisture and tear residues on the dog's facial hair favors the formation of bacteria that, in turn, can cause irritation and discomfort to our dog's eyes.

Why is my dog producing excessive tears?

Excessive secretion of tears in our four-legged friends has several causes, some of which may require veterinary care. The standard production of tears in the eyes is "drained" through two small holes at the tip of their eye, which channel tears into the nasal cavity and are thus sent down through the nose and mouth. Therefore, any irregularity in the anatomy of the eye or irritation due to allergies, unsuitable diet, obstruction, or other causes can obstruct the draining process and thus cause excessive lacrimation. In any case, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to identify the cause. We also need to note that tear stains are caused by normal tear secretion when even small amounts of tears remain on the hair around their eye area.

Treatment of tear stains on a dog.

- Meticulous cleaning and grooming around the dog's eye area

Frequent care (even daily where required - such as in breeds with a lot and long facial hair), cleaning and removing tear residues, dirt, and tear crusts will help reduce or even eliminate tear stains. How? No More Stains, the moisturizing cleansing emulsion, was designed to address precisely this problem. With four actions in 1, it cleanses, moisturizes, soothes, and regenerates skin and hair cells. Having a combination of 11 natural ingredients and Vitamins E &C will become your daily ally in the care of your dog's eyes. It is ophthalmologically tested and safe to use around the eye area and generally anywhere there is pigmentation on the coat. Please find out the details and how to apply the innovative eye cleansing lotion No More Stains and enjoy their clean faces!

- Balanced diet
A balanced diet is the priority for the overall good health and the correct weight of our pet and contributes significantly to the proper function of the eyes. Please consult your veterinarian for the optimal nutrition of your dog, based on their breed, age, and specific needs. Be sure to adjust the diet according to their development stage, everyday life, and the conditions that may arise as your dog develops.

Stains around the dog's mouth or paws

Apart from the area around the eyes, pigmentation of the coat can also be observed in the area around the mouth or paws of our four-legged friends. The causes, in this case, are different and are mainly due to food pigments when it comes to the mouth area or dust and dirt when it comes to paws. This problem might be more distinct in light-colored and long-haired breeds as water from drinking or saliva moisture is trapped in the long coat, and then pigments from food or dirt adhere to the damp coat and cause stains on the hair. Here, too, meticulous grooming and daily cleaning and trimming of the coat (recommended to be done by a professional dog groomer) to avoid the concentration of moisture will help improve or even eliminate the problem. No More Stains is suitable and can help in these areas as well.

Care, frequent grooming, a balanced diet, and frequent veterinary checks ensure that our four-legged companions remain healthy and have the well-being they deserve!