Dog Tear Stains: Causes, Solutions, Prevention and Reminders

Tear stains occur when tears cannot be fully drained through the nasolacrimal ducts and overflow from the corners of the eyes. The tears soak the hair around the eyes, fostering the growth of a large number of bacteria and fungi. These bacteria and fungi break down the tears and produce a significant amount of secretions, which stain the hair red.

Cause Investigation

1. Diet: Excessively high salt content or high oil content in food can stimulate the lacrimal glands to secrete tears. The salt in the tears precipitates in the nasolacrimal ducts, causing obstruction or partial obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts. This prevents tears from being drained through the nasolacrimal ducts, leading to tear stains.
2. Environmental Factors: Irritants in the pet’s living environment continuously stimulate the eyeballs, resulting in excessive tear secretion.
3. Ear Infections: After an ear infection, pets will shake their heads frequently. This affects the trigeminal nerve of the face, causing pseudocular discomfort and excessive tear secretion.
4. Nasolacrimal Duct Issues: Ectopic nasolacrimal ducts, blocked nasolacrimal ducts, abnormal lacrimal punctum structure, nasolacrimal duct inflammation, etc.
5. Entropion and Ectopic Cilia
6. Specific Breeds: For example, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises, and Poodles have well-developed lacrimal glands, making them prone to tear stains.
7. Grooming Issues: It may be found that the hair around the pet’s eyes always pokes into the eyes.

Solutions

1. Change the food to one with low salt content, and use tear stain remover products in conjunction.
2. Keep the environment clean and tidy. Think about whether new furniture, green plants, etc., have been purchased at home recently when the pet developed tear stains. If so, measures should be taken to eliminate this problem.
3. For dogs with ear infections, take the pet to the hospital and cooperate with the doctor for proper treatment.
4. For congenital abnormalities such as abnormal nasolacrimal duct structure and abnormal lacrimal punctum, there is no effective solution. The only way is to strengthen daily eye care to prevent the condition from worsening. The method is: first wet a clean cotton cloth in water, then carefully wipe the affected area clean, blot the moisture with a paper towel, and then instill eye drops into the pet’s eyes.
5. For tear stains caused by nasolacrimal duct inflammation, dacryoadenitis, etc., antibiotics can be used to control the inflammatory infection.
6. For nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by improper acquired feeding and care, nasolacrimal duct dredging surgery can be performed to improve the condition.
7. For pets with entropion or ectopic cilia, entropion correction surgery can be performed to improve the condition.

Prevention Measures

1. Maintain a light diet and ensure adequate water intake for the pet daily.
2. It is recommended to keep pet eye drops at home and regularly maintain eye hygiene.

Special Reminder

In daily life, if tears are found overflowing from the corners of the eyes, wipe them off in a timely manner. Otherwise, prolonged soaking of the hair will turn it red.