Here Are Safe and Natural Ways to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Tear Stains
Your dog is looking almost perfect! You’ve just had it groomed and dressed up, ready to be a star on Instagram.
But wait, there they are again! Those unsightly reddish-brown stains under its eyes. You thought that you had gotten rid of them when you took your dog to the salon.
Now the tear stains are back, and you do not know if your dog is actually crying. Why on earth do these stains keep showing up all the time? Why is it so impossible to get rid of them and keep them gone?
Do not be in a rush to arrive at any sad conclusions. The fact is a lot of dogs undergo this type of condition, epiphora, which is characterized by excessive tears or watery eyes.
The cause may be simply a foreign object that has lodged in its eyes or a more serious medical matter. It may also depend on the breed of your dog.
Here Are the Common Causes of a Dog’s Tear Stains, or Epiphora
If dog’s tear staining is only occasional, you should not get overly alarmed. You can opt to take your pet to the veterinarian to determine the cause, but refrain from panicking or getting upset just because it is marring your dog’s beautiful face.
After all, is not our dog’s health and happiness far more important than other people’s impression of them?
Here are the common causes of epiphora:
- Foreign objects that come into contact with a dog’s eyes and cause them to get irritated. This is a frequent problem with young, active dogs
- Cutting teeth in puppies may also make them shed excessive tears
- Eye infection caused by bacteria or fungi
- Overactive tear glands
- Obstructed tear glands
- Allergic reactions to certain foods, dust, smoke, pollen, molds, or grooming products
- Damage to a dog’s tear drainage system
- Rhinitis/sinusitis
- Congenital defects like the lack of proper tear drainage system or eyelids that are growing inwardly
Aside from excessive tears, epiphora is also characterized by other symptoms such as skin irritation, skin infection, odor, squinting, skin around the eyes that is loose or sagging, and ulcer of the cornea.
Ways to Remove Your Dog’s Tear Stains Safely and Naturally
Of course, the first thing you should do if your dog’s tear staining seems to be a symptom of epiphora is to consult its veterinarian. It is always best to determine if your dog’s symptom has an underlying medical condition.
Moreover, your dog’s breed may also have to be considered. Ectropion is common in Great Danes, spaniels, mastiffs, chow chows, bulldogs, and bloodhounds, and it causes a turning outward of these dogs’ eyelids, which makes the eyes appear droopy.
Another birth defect seen in several breeds is entropion, wherein the eyelids turn inward.
But, once any serious medical condition has been ruled out, you can opt for natural ways to remove your dog’s tear stains. Here are three effective ways to do it safely:
- Wet a soft, clean cloth in slightly hot water and gently wipe the tear stains. The warmth will also help to unclog your dog’s tear duct. Do this three to four times a day and observe for fourteen days if the condition has improved.
- A tea bag is another effective option since it has anti-bacterial properties. Wet it in warm water and use the tea bag to wipe away those unsightly stains.
- Natural, unprocessed coconut oil is also a great tear stain remover and reliever since it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is applied topically, and you can even ask your dog’s vet if it’s safe for your dog take orally, since it does have several health benefits.
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