Keeping your dog’s facial hair short can help mitigate tear stains in two ways. Some dental issues can also cause drooling, which contributes to even more discoloration. It can stem from major issues such as glaucoma, retinal separation, tum… Wipes are best for physically removing the gunk that has built up around your dog’s eyes, and powder removers are really only good for keeping your dog’s face dry—we don’t usually recommend them. Greenfield Puppies has been finding loving homes for puppies for over a decade. Let’s take a look at various ways dogs’ eyes secrete “gunk” that turns into boogers – and see if they’re something that require a visit to the veterinarian: Normal Eye … Lessening Existing Tear Stains Wipe your animal's face with a damp cloth. The fact is, dog eye boogers could indeed be innocuous – or they could be a sign of trouble for your dog. guide to the best dog food for tear stains, Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Pet Eye Wash, Always Bright Eyes’ Super Whitening Face Wash, How to Make Your Own Homemade Dog Eye Wipes, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/eye-discharge-or-epiphora-in-dogs, Natural juniper berry & coconut-based formula removes stains, crust, and mucus without harsh chemicals or bleach, Llera, Ryan, BSc., Ward, Ernest, DVM. Read the final section of this guide for more info. The best person to diagnose eye problems in dogs is a certified veterinary officer through an ophthalmic exam. If your dog has short hair and you’re not able to trim it, the same general principle applies. Discoloration is most noticeable on dogs with light-colored fur. To do this, you’ll need a good dog tear stain remover. Dog tear stains may be caused by a blocked tear duct, epiphora, or other health issues. Examine the quality of your water. The pupil is the black spot in the center of the eye. If your dog has gunk or … The Dog Tale is reader-supported. If you notice your dog’s eye doesn’t seem to be “sitting right” in the socket or is enlarged, bring it up to the vet as soon as you can. Some products, such as Always Bright Eyes’ Super Whitening Face Wash, claim they can literally whiten your dog’s fur. If you’re considering hydrogen peroxide, you’d be better off using Bodhi Dog’s Tear Stain Remover, which includes peroxide supplemented with other ingredients, such as lemongrass oil and tea tree oil, to help fight the bacteria without being so harsh on your dog’s skin. They’re typically more visible … Specific foods, such as Forza10’s Sensitive Tear Stain Plus, claim to be made specifically to eliminate tear stains. You’ll be best off upgrading your dog’s diet to all-natural, human-grade ingredients, such as you’d get through a meal plan from NomNomNow or Ollie Dog Food, or by cooking their meals yourself. Either way, your dog will get the help he needs and you’ll get peace of mind. … Your dog is stinkin’ cute. At the end of the day, dog tear stains are usually just a cosmetic issue. Discoloration Around a Dog’s Eyes and Mouth: What it Means and What to Do. If you notice pigment changes or spots in your dog’s eyes, consult a veterinarian to have him evaluated. Some amount of discharge will always mark your dog’s face, and you need to wipe it clean before it has a chance to set in. Dog tear stains, also called “tear marks” or “eye stains,” refer to the discoloration and residue left behind by your pup’s naturally occurring eye discharge. Inflammation can also be caused by food-related allergies. Cheap over-processed food and low-quality water sources can expose your dog to additives and minerals that lead to tear-stained eyes. This will take time, of course, but if you’re proactively cleaning your dog’s face, you’ll see steady improvement over time. His work has been featured on Frontline Education, Yahoo! Determining the Cause of Your Dog’s Eye Discharge Visit your vet. Typically the changes will be in one eye … Tear stains usually appear as a brown or rusty-red stain on the insides of your dog’s eyes as well as around the mouth and private areas. Symptoms of ringworm -- a … After traveling a couple of times with my own dogs without … The theory is that this can alter the acidity of your dog’s pH balance, which prevents new stains from forming. If you stretch the lid further you will see a pink tissue which is the conjunctiva. Irritations to the skin caused by any embedded items, like splinters, can cause inflammation leading to discoloration from licking. As we’ve explained above, the first step to preventing dog tear stains is cleaning them early and often. © 2021 Greenfield Puppies. He is a french mastiff My dog's right eye is discolored. However, there are other steps you can take if you want to mitigate the chance of stains occurring in the first place. Hyphema is one of these disorders that could form. ), so feel free to try it out. Porphyrins are excreted primarily through bile and the intestinal tract, but in dogs a significant amount of … Allergies are a common cause of ear problems in dogs, and subsequently of dog ear infections. Finally, if your dog forms severe, rusty-colored tear stains, it could be worsened by the mineral count of their water. Tear stains are an unfortunate part of life for some dogs, but don’t fret! This cosmetic problem occurs in almost all … Keeping an eye rinse on hand for such occasions can help you flush out irritants before they have a chance to bother your dog’s eyes. The reddish color comes from porphyrins, a naturally occurring chemical your dog excretes through their saliva, tears, urine, and waste. Skin discoloration may often be caused by exposure to sun or treatment with certain drugs or topical ointments, but this may also be a symptom of an underlying condition.The color of skin in dogs may vary according to the breed and age of the dog. Unfortunately, many breeds inherit many congenital eye diseases that will more or less show up as they get older. Any damage or trauma to the eye caused by the dog rubbing their paw against it, running through trees or tall grass, or any other situation in which the eye becomes irritated by an object can cause it to produce more tears; thus, more discoloration appears over time. Since discoloration around the mouth is caused by saliva, common causes include anything that would produce extra saliva or result in more saliva hitting the “beard”, or the fur around your dog’s mouth. Featuring breed spotlights, seasonal activities, and helpful tips for every level of owner! Hi Steve, From the glare in the photo it is difficult to see that part of her left eye. Hydrogen peroxide will likely be effective at treating existing dog tear stains. These are some common causes: The best way to remove dog tear stains is by cleaning the area early and often, before the stain has a chance to set in. Some dog owners claim that adding 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their dog’s water or meal each day helps remove tear stains. But a variety of factors can lead to an excess of misplaced dog tears. >> Read more: Can You Use Baby Wipes on Dogs? Chemical-conscious dog owners often wonder how to clean dog tear stains naturally. The most common areas discoloration occurs is near a dog’s eyes and around its mouth. There are also many dog tear stain treats available that contain enzymes and supplements to help prevent tear stains. These can come in liquid, powder, paste, or wipe form. The extent of pigmentation changes in the iris varies from dog to dog. Eye infections in dogs are extremely uncomfortable for the canine and can lead to permanent blindness. The main symptom of dog eye infection is thick, mucus-like, green or yellow discharge from one or both eyes. It’s also possible that there are other conditions causing the irritation, like ectopic cilia or entropion, which refer respectively to abnormally placed eyelashes or the rolling in of the eyelids. Some of them are annoying but normal, like seasonal allergies, while others are more serious, like periodontal disease or cancer. We may earn a commission if you buy something through our site. A small amount of discoloration around a dog’s eyes … A healthy diet that consists of real, whole foods won’t just help mitigate tear stains—it will lead to holistically better health, which will impact all aspects of your dog’s life. Do not apply yogurt directly to your dog’s face. Dog … The stains that discolor the fur below the dog’s eyes are due to porphyrins, an iron-containing molecule secreted in tears, says Monk. But his favorite articles live right here on The Dog Tale and help you live a healthy, happy life with your pup. Brown stains under your dog’s eyes Excessive tear production, known as epiphora, leaves brown or wine-colored residue on the fur. However, there’s a reason your vet or doctor only ever prescribes antibiotics in limited doses. If your dog is constantly licking the same spot, that could explain the discoloration and could also indicate a potential health issue in that area. But if you’re addressing this problem for the first time and you’ve already allowed deep stains to set in, you might not be able to eliminate them entirely. Our guide to the best dog tear stain remover explains your options while taking safe, natural ingredients into consideration, so you can find the remover that will work best for your dog. You may need to consult a vet and/or test different solutions to identify the source of the problem. Saliva is then unevenly distributed in the mouth, often causing it to trickle down the sides of the mouth or dribble. Dog tear stains, also called “tear marks” or “eye stains,” refer to the discoloration and residue left behind by your pup’s naturally occurring eye discharge. Dog eye infection can also be secondary to food allergies, eye irritation by foreign substances in the eye, trauma, and low or poor quality tears production. It also tends to be common in older dogs as well. Painful joints, flea bites, and more can also cause your dog to lick or chew on other areas of their coat, which can cause discoloration. This is a great question to ask, since many pet products include harsh chemicals that, though effective, may irritate your dog’s skin. Anterior uveitis in dogs or eye inflammation of dogs refers to when the ciliary body inflames, which continues to the iris and produces aqueous humor. And consider upgrading your dog’s diet to food that doesn’t contain cheap fillers. Again, we haven’t seen hard evidence that this will help staining, but yogurt is a healthy and safe treat for your dog (as long as they’re not lactose intolerant! Finally, long hair around the eyes and mouth will stay wet longer after your dog tears or drinks, and prolonged dampness in the area is one of the main reasons tear stains and bacterial infections form. It usually develops in both eyes at the same time and the eyes gradually take on a cloudy, bluish … Second, as we described in the causes section above, longer hair can contribute to tear stains in a number of ways. 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