It’s possible to remove the dark-colored brownish stains, or tear stains, from under your dog’s eyes using a few painless methods. After properly cleansing your dog’s fur, you can use a hydrogen peroxide solution, a cornstarch mixture or coconut oil.
Being a fur parent requires more than just love and care. Awareness is also key to successful pet parenting. You can often be caught in surprise by something strange happening to your fur baby. Say, for example, the appearance of a tear stain, what can you possibly do? If you do not know the hacks yet, stay tuned and discover some ways in dealing with tear stains.
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Cleansing the tear-stained fur
There are available solutions to help you naturally brighten the stained parts of your pet’s fur. Although there are chemicals that can remove this type of stain, it is better to try natural remedies before jumping to commercially prepared solutions. The reason for this is always anchored on the safety of your dog.
Of course, you do not want harsh chemicals to irritate your dog since one reason for having tear stains is also exposure to irritants in the first place. The first thing to try when your dog has tear stains is clean his fur before trying any stain removal remedies. To clean the fur:
- Moisten a cotton ball with saline solution.
- Rub it around and under the eyes while making sure not to touch the inside of it.
Using hydrogen peroxide
One way to remove tear stains is with hydrogen peroxide, which you might already have in your medicine cabinet.
- Observing a 1:4 ratio, mix one part hydrogen peroxide to four parts water.
- The volume of your solution will depend on the area to be cleansed.
- Dampen a cotton ball using the prepared solution onto the tear-stained fur of your dog.
- The same precaution applies as above – avoid direct contact with the eyes, as that will only produce more tears.
- Wet another cotton ball with water to rinse the area.
Cornstarch and hydrogen peroxide can also work together
Cornstarch can be used to clean tear stains on your dog by doing the following steps:
- Form a paste by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with warm water.
- Add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to form a thicker consistency.
- Apply this paste to the tear-stained area.
- Allow it to dry.
- Rinse the area with water.
The hydrogen and cornstarch methods work best on light-colored dogs, who are also more prone to tear stains in the first place.
Tips to prevent tear stains on your dog
Having a dog is a huge responsibility. Animal welfare should always be taken into account. For that, you must go the extra mile in giving the care your dog deserves. Here are some of the tips to prevent tear stains from forming around your dog’s eyes.
- Use only purified or distilled water for your dog’s drinks.
- You can pour a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in with his water to help in the recurrent appearance of tear stains. Note that this will only take effect with less chronic cases.
- Check the diet of your dog. As much as possible, make it free from grains like corn and wheat since this can act as an allergen that will sooner or later worsen the tear staining. Chemically produced additives and fillers are not healthy for dogs.
- Face-grooming is vital to prevent fur from touching the eyes and irritating it further. Remove long pieces of fur from the area surrounding your dog’s eyes.
- Buttermilk powder can be added to your dog’s meal.
- Since one of the reasons for the development of tear stains is the thriving of yeasts in moist areas near the eyes, it is essential to always keep these wet parts dry.
Common questions about tear stains on dogs
What causes brown tear stains on dogs?
The brown tear stains beneath the eyes or on the sides of your dog’s nose are often caused by something called epiphora, which means they have excessive tear production.
It can also be caused by a yeast infection. Yeasts are microorganisms that thrive in moist environments. They usually reside on the skin under the eyes, leading to the eyes becoming irritated. That is why it is essential to keep moisture-prone areas dry from time to time.
What causes dog tear stains?
In addition to Epiphora, or excessive tear production, there are a few other reasons dogs get tear stains.
- Exposure to irritants and allergens
- Eyelids are turned inward
- Shallow eye sockets
- Hair around the eyes is too long
- Blockage of tear drainage holes
- Yeast infection
- Stress and poor diet
- Teething
- Genetic conditions
Causes are not limited to the above-mentioned conditions. If you can’t figure out why your dog has tear stains, it is always a good idea to seek veterinary advice.
Does coconut oil remove dog tear stains?
Yes, coconut oil can remove the stains formed by the formation of excess tears. Unlike many other products that can remove tear stains, the coconut oil is not harmful even if you accidentally put a small amount into your dog’s eyes.
To do the coconut oil method, follow this:
- Start by drying the area where you will be applying the coconut oil.
- When you start to notice the formation of tear stains under your dog’s eyes, get at least a drop of coconut oil and put it at the tip of your finger or use a Q-tip. Make sure your hands are clean.
- Apply the coconut oil to the area where tear stains are starting to accumulate.
- Repeat every day until tear stains are gone.
Wrapping up
There are different kinds of stains, but tear stains are unique in that they are the stains that may suggest that something wrong is happening to your dog. Do not just use chemicals, and carefully read the label on any product your dog may be exposed to, to make sure it’s not an irritant. Dogs can feel and be harmed by harsh chemicals too. You wouldn’t want to expose your fur baby to anything too harsh.
