It is hard to keep a white coat clean! Whether it is the dirt from the yard or a food mustache or tear stains, it shows up on a light colored dog. Tear staining is noticeable on dogs with light coats. Breeds like the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu are commonly affected by cosmetic tear stains. Other breeds, including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Greyhounds and Old English Sheepdogs also experience tear stains, but their darker coats camouflage the reddish brown stains.

There are many reasons why a dog has tear stains. It is trial and error to figure out which is causing the problem in your dog. Every dog has a different chemical makeup and lives in a different environment; therefore the eye stain culprit can vary from dog to dog.

Some dogs have a genetic predisposition when it comes to tear staining. Researching the direct lineage of your pup will help to determine if your pup will experience tearing and staining. If mom and pop have clean eyes, most likely the same will be true for their pups.

The mineral level in water is also a documented cause of tear stains. Many dog owners put filtered water or commercially bottled water in their dog’s water bowl. If this doesn’t eliminate enough minerals for your dog try distilled water.

Wet face hair caused by excessive tearing is a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Red Yeast is a common eye infection and causes a deep reddish-brown stain. Bacterial infections in the tear ducts are also common and may cause excess tearing and staining. A veterinarian can diagnose these types of infections. An examination will determine the actual cause of the staining.

A Veterinarian can help diagnose the cause of excessive eye tearing and staining. Vets can determine if your dog has clogged tear ducts, ear infections or irritating eye lashes that are causing your dog’s eye to tear. Treating an ear infection or unclogging an eye duct via eye irrigation can be medically necessary. If there is a severe eye condition a Veterinary Opthalmologist might be required to treat your dog’s condition.

Pet owners have been known to treat eye stains at home. Adding a teaspoon of white cider vinegar to your dog’s water bowl or giving your dog TUMS are some common homemade remedies. Another popular solution is equal parts milk of magnesia, corn starch and hydrogen peroxide made into a paste and applied to the stained area. Before a portrait, dog owners and handlers have been known to whiten up a coat by rubbing corn starch into the coat.

Check with your Veterinarian to be sure the method you choose is safe for your dog. The eye area is very sensitive and extra caution is necessary to keep your pet beautiful and healthy!

There are several causes why a dog would have tear stains. It is trial and error to figure out which is causing the problem in your dog. Joanne Gallagher is an authority in caring for your dog and suggests browsing to Jake’s Dog House for different solutions for tear stain removal.