Do stainless steel bowls cause tear stains

What Causes Dog Tear Stains? Plus Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

If youve noticed tear stains on your dogs or cats face, youre not alone. Tear staining is a common concern among pet owners, and it can be caused by various factors. While blocked tear ducts and certain breeds are often associated with tear stains, there are other underlying causes that complicate the issue. In this comprehensive guide, well explore the different factors contributing to tear staining and provide practical solutions to prevent and treat this condition. From proper grooming techniques to dietary adjustments and specialized products, well help you find the most effective strategies to address tear stains and restore your pets vibrant and clear eyes.

Tear staining, more often than not, is noticed on white pets but can affect any color pet. It makes the color of the coat around the eyes a brown, red, or copper color. It has always been believed that tear staining comes from epiphora (or excessive tear production) but thats not always the case.

Two main factors to consider with tear staining:

1. A blocked or maldeveloped nasolacrimal duct (where your pets tears are formed), can cause overproduction of tears that can lead to tear stains.
2. Certain breeds have a greater deposition for tear staining. The most commonly affected are small breeds with longer hair coats. Some examples would be Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Bichon Frise, Maltese, Toy Poodle and others.

Its a common misnomer that the only cause of tear staining in our pets is the overproduction of their tears. Aside from a blocked tear duct and breed, there are plenty of other causes that complicate the main factors listed above:

• Corneal injury or ulceration
• Entropion (eyelashes are turned inwards and rub against the eyeball)
• Infection of the eye
• Ear infections (bacteria, yeast)
• Certain medications
• pH imbalance
• Red meat in the diet (iron and other minerals)
• Poor diet (e.g., excess carbohydrates, vitamin or mineral insufficiency/excess)
• Stress
• Teething issues (especially in puppies)
• The use of plastic food/water bowls
• Water Quality

Why are tear stains brown?

The brown color of tear stains comes from porphyrin iron-containing molecules that come from break down of hemoglobin. These molecules can be excreted through the GI tract, saliva, urine, and tears! The majority of pets have these molecules in their tears, but some pets have more molecules than others, which results in staining.

Prevention & Treatment for Tear Stains in Cats and Dogs

Trim the Hair around the Eyes

To prevent irritation and inflammation, keep the hair around your pets eyes trimmed shorter than the rest of their coat. This helps to avoid hair getting into their eyes and causing discomfort.

Evaluate Your Pets Diet

Take a close look at the appropriateness and quality of your pets food. Opt for foods that contain high moisture, quality protein, and minimal carbohydrates. Foods with excessive carbohydrates can promote inflammation in the body. Also, steer clear of preservatives, fillers, and additives, as they can trigger inflammatory reactions. Pay attention to the carbohydrate content in your pets diet, including treats.

Monitor pH Levels

pH imbalances in your pets body can affect tear staining. Certain medications prescribed by veterinarians, such as omeprazole and Pepcid, can raise stomach pH levels and lower pepsin levels. This can lead to malabsorption and maldigestion. Discuss any medications your pet is taking with your vet to understand their impact on tear staining.

Consider Protein Sources

The protein source in your pets food can contribute to tear staining. Red meats, which are high in iron, can intensify tear stains in some pets. If your pet is prone to tear stains, consider eliminating red meats from their diet to see if it helps. The additional iron and magnesium in red meat require extra effort for the body to break down, putting additional stress on the liver. Excess iron intake can lead to an overproduction of porphyrin, the compound responsible for the brown color in tear stains.

Evaluate Drinking Water Quality

Tap water, particularly well water, often contains iron and magnesium, which contribute to the formation of porphyrins. Using filtered water to provide your pet with clean drinking water can help prevent or treat tear stains.

Use Specially Formulated Shampoo

To clean up existing tear stains, opt for specially formulated dry shampoos or waterless shampoos. These products offer better control and are gentler around sensitive eyes, reducing the risk of irritation.

Choose the Right Bowl Material

Avoid using plastic bowls for your pets food and water as they can harbor bacteria more easily than glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowls. Bacteria from the bowl can transfer to your pets coat and lead to infection. Regardless of the material, make sure to clean your pets bowl regularly with soap and water to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Surgical Option for Entropion

In cases where entropion (inward rolling of the eyelid) is the cause of tear stains, surgical intervention may be necessary. This procedure requires your pet to undergo anesthesia, and the surgeon will remove a section of skin on the eyelid to correct the condition.

Medications, Minerals, and Vitamins

Certain medications, minerals, and vitamins can help treat infections and ulcerations associated with tear stains. Consult with your vet to determine the appropriate options for your pets specific condition.

Avoid Overuse of Antibiotics

Overusing antibiotics can disrupt the healthy bacteria in your pets gut, which play a role in reducing inflammation. If your pet frequently requires antibiotics, work closely with your vet to identify the underlying cause of recurring infections and find alternative solutions to minimize antibiotic usage.

Topical Solutions for Tear Stains

Nootie offers an affordable and veterinary-quality pre-soaked wipe that helps to remove buildup and prevent staining around the eye.

EarthBath also offers a waterless eye wipe, although its not formulated specifically for tear stains. This product is made with natural and organic ingredients, which help provide a preventative and maintenance solution for less severe staining.

Remember the ears! A high-quality ear cleaning solution can help remove buildup and keep ears and eyes clean. Some ear related issues can contribute to inflammation, including the eyes. Some of our favorites include EarthBath, Earth Animal & Kenic. For stubborn ear buildup, or dogs who spend a lot of time swimming we like Liquid Healths ear cleaning solution. Our team would be happy to help you pick out the best option for your situation.

Supplements to Help Tear Stains

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to be lacking in most diets for pets and even humans. A high-quality fish oil, manufactured under stringent standards, can effectively reduce inflammation. Additionally, human studies demonstrate the beneficial effects of essential fatty acid supplementation in addressing eye problems [1]. To ensure the highest quality, opt for fish oils packaged in glass (not plastic), stored in the refrigerator, and ethically sourced. We recommend brands like Nordic Naturals, Thorne, and Omega Alpha, all available on our shelves.

Other Tear Stain Solutions

Regular exercise is important! Just like humans, canines and felines benefit from regular exercise to reduce stress, maintain a healthy weight and promote proper digestion. Exercise promotes blood flow, oxygenation and therefore helps to effectively cleanse all organ systems, including the skin and liver! In addition, regular exercise can help keep bodyweight in check. Excess bodyweight even a pound or two in cats and dogs can increase inflammation on many levels. Its a simple and seemingly small detail that makes a world of difference!

Reduce or eliminate high carbohydrate snacks. Instead, opt for freeze-dried meat, jerky and chews instead of biscuits. The majority of pet biscuits contain minimal or no meat, instead being filled with ingredients like flour, tapioca, molasses, maple syrup, potatoes, and other starches and sugars. These directly influence the amount of inflammation within the body. Some of our favorite pet treats include Small Batch, and Northwest Naturals. You can even supplement some frozen raw food as treats for a healthy and high value treat! Our team will be happy to show you their favorites too just ask!

Be attentive to additives/preservatives, red meat and excess carbs in your pets food. These often tend to cause inflammation and irritation, resulting in tear stains. A fresh, well-balanced diet is best in pets who suffer from tear staining! Just remember that it may take several weeks to months to see a difference patience and consistency will eventually pay off!

References

1. Bhargava R, Kumar P, Kumar M, Mehra N, Mishra A. A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome. Int J Ophthalmol. 2013;6(6):811-6. doi: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.06.13. PubMed PMID: 24392330.

How to clean your dogs tear stains

You should always make sure the area around your dogs eyes is clean and dry. You should also bathe your dog regularly, take them for vet visits, and make sure to trim and clean the fur around their eyes.

There are a few things you should keep tabs on to prevent tear stains in the future.

Food.Make sure your dogs diet includes healthy fiber and high-quality ingredients. This will decrease the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

Water.When dogs drink water from sources outside the home, like water bottles or other dogs bowls, they may contain minerals that irritate a dogs eyes. Give your dog purified or distilled water. In most cases, tap water is fine. We recommend using a stainless-steel bowl for their drinking water.

Hygiene.Grooming around your dogs face and best hygiene practice goes a long way. Long hair can cause more build-up from excessive tearing around the eye area.

Wipe your dogs mouth after they drink water. You can also dust a bit of cornstarch around the eyes and muzzle to help with matting.

Dog Tear Stains in Bichon Frises

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Bichon Frise dog tear stains are reddish or brownish marks or stains that are found on the inside corner of a dogs eyes or just below his eyes.

While dog tear stains can look pretty nasty, they usually dont pose a serious health risk. However, tear stains can indicate that your Bichon Frise has allergies or that she needs a change in diet.

Because of the nasty appearance of dog tear stains, most people will want to find a way to remove the stains. And, if you have show dogs, removing the tear stains becomes even more important.

Who Gets Tear Stains?

Most often, we see dog tear stains on white or light haired dogs. Perhaps other dogs have tear stains, but light hair makes makes the stains more obvious.

Dog tear stains are common in the Bichon Frise, as well as in miniature and toy poodles, Maltese, German shepherds, and chihuahuas.

What are Tear Stains?

Tear stains in dogs are caused by excessive tearing. A dogs tears form a warm, damp area around his eyes.

This is important because warmth and dampness provide a perfect environment for bacteria, yeast, or fungi to grow.

Often Red Yeast is the culprit. Red Yeast is colored red, which is why so many Bichon Frises have red tear stains around their eyes.

If your dog has a Red Yeast infection, the yeast stains your dogs hair where it is moistened by tears. This yeast staining is the reddish-brown color you see around your dogs eyes.

Dogs dont cry. So what causes the excessive tearing? Your dogs eyes can tear because of irritations, allergies, or the genetic structure of your dogs head around his eyes.

Why Dogs Get Tear Stains

Your Bichon Frise dog may have dog tear stains because of:

• Genetic predisposition He may have been born with abnormalities in his tear ducts. If they are blocked, your dogs vet may have to irrigate the ducts. If the tear ducts are completely clogged, they may have to be opened surgically.
• Ear infections Ear infections can cause excessive tearing and mucous in your dogs system.
• Dog Allergies Dog allergies cause tearing of the eyes, just like they do in humans.
• Cutting teeth Puppies who are teething can slobber and have tears in their eyes.
• Unhealthy diet If your dogs diet does not have everything she needs, or your Bichon is allergic to her food, she can develop tear stains. Learn more about a healthy Bichon Frise diet here.
• Water with lots of minerals iron in water can combine with the protein in tears (lactoferrin) and bind together to cause tear stains.
• Irritation from fleas Many Bichon Frises are allergic to flea bites. If the area around your dogs eyes is irritated by flea bites, his eyes can tear excessively.

How to Remove Dog Tear Stains

Depending on how bad your dogs tear stains are, you can attack the problem in a number of different ways

Tear Stain Remover Combs

Made of stainless steel, these tear stain remover combs were designed to remove eye gunk from small dogs. The combs are designed to remove the matter without pulling or annoying your dog. Used by professional groomers.

Pet Post! Dog Tear Stain Remover Wipes

These pre-moistened wipes make it easy to clean the area around your dogs eyes. You will have to clean your dogs eyes regularly, and if you do, these convenient wipes do work. They are made from healthy natural ingredients, with no chemicals added.

The tear stain remover wipes are a soft cotton, designed to be gentle. And if you are not 100% happy, the company will cheerfully refund your money. Based on customer reviews, I dont think this will be an issue.

ANGEL Eyes Dog Tear Stain Remover Supplements

Probably the best known product on the market, Angel Eyes has changed their formula. I used to recommend this product as my first choice, but the new formula does not work as well as the old. Many people are now dissatisfied with Angel Eyes Tear Stain Remover. This product has not been tested for safety with pregnant dogs, so do use caution if you think your dog may be pregnant.

Pet Post! Dog Whitening Shampoo

Dog whitening shampoo will help keep your Bichon sparkling white, and it has some other advantages for Bichon Frise owners.

It controls matting and tangling, which is also a Bichon issue. Pet Post works to hydrate and moisturize your Bichon Frises delicate skin with its coconut oil and aloe vera. It has a light watermelon scent.

Prevent Tear Stains in Your Dog

Here are some simple ways that you can minimize Bichon Frise dog tear stains. What you do, will depend on what is causing the stains.

Grooming

Routine Eye Care

Simply taking care of your dogs eyes can go a long way toward preventing tear stains. Unfortunately you need to clean your dogs eyes regularly, perhaps daily.

Trimming

Keep the hair around your dogs eyes trimmed. This will make it easier to keep the area free from stains. It also allows air flow and helps the area stay dry.

Bath Time

After bathing your Bichon Frise, dry her ears thoroughly. Pluck the hairs from her ear canals. While ear care may seem unrelated to your Bichons eyes, ear infections can cause eye tearing and can lead to the stains beneath your dogs eyes. If the cause is environmental allergies, a hypoallergenic shampoo should help.

Food and Water

Dog Food

Most Bichon Frise allergies are related to food. If you think this is an issue for your Bichon, consider switching to a healthy dog food designed for dogs with allergies. Grains are often an allergen, so pay attention to the ingredients on the package.

Water

Give your dog bottled or filtered water, if your tap water is full of minerals like iron.

Dog Bowl

Serve your Bichon Frise her food and water in stainless steel bowls. Some plastic bowls harbor bacteria which causes facial discoloring and/or tear stains. Just as important, remember to wash your dogs bowls frequently.

A raised dog bowl helps reduce neck and joint stress. This raised dog bowl set also keeps the mess contained because it has sides that prevent splashing. Even spilled water is redirected to a lower reservoir, instead of onto your floor.

Probiotics

Give your Bichon a teaspoon of plain 100% natural low fat yogurt 3 times a week. The live active cultures found in yogurt will help boost her immune system. Or you might try a product made just for pets, like Purina Pro-plan Veterinary Probiotics for Dogs.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Add a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar (with the Mother) to your Bichon Frises drinking water. This will change the PH balance of the water and discourage yeast and bacteria. Yeast and bacteria can cause infections and Bichon Frise tear stains.

Pick Your Puppy Carefully

Of course you should purchase your puppies from responsible Bichon Frise dog breeders who will breed puppies based on positive breed characteristics. The reason for this is that you want to eliminate puppies with a genetic disposition for eye tearing and tear stains.

If your Bichon Frise has tear stains, you are not alone. When you look around, you will see many light colored dogs with tear stains. Tear staining is very common with light colored dogs.

However, a little prevention, good grooming and perhaps a good tear stain remover for dogs, should help you keep your dog looking healthy and attractive.