Tear Stains.

Dog-Gone-Crazy · 10-30-2006, 12:10 PM

Ok, I have a white maltipoo and she gets very ugly tear stains under her eyes. If any of you own a poodle, malteese, or any other kind of light colored dog, you probably know what I'm talking about. When she goes to the groomers they cut around her eyes and get all of those tear stains off but she only goes once a month and they come back in like a week, and we've tried cutting the tear stains out but we don't do a very good job. Are there any home remidies or store bought products that WORK for tear stains? Thanks!

mrbingley · 10-31-2006, 01:01 AM

My toy poodle gets these stains regularly. I'll have to look at the name of the eye cleaning pads I use. It's a white jar with a blue label. They work pretty well. Also, I have a small Oster clipper I use to keep the hair near his eyes shaved.
I'd recommend using the pads at least every other day, and probably do a shave about once a week.

blackgavotte · 10-31-2006, 07:14 AM

You may have to deal with this all his life. Its basically a reaction of the fluid from the eye with the hair on the dog. Being white or light coloured of course you are going to see it right away. Do use the pads Mr. Bingley mentioned, I don't know what ones they are but be prepared for a life long battle. It is possibly a genetic thing, some dogs just tear more than others, do talk to your vet about maybe flushing the tear ducts out, but don't get into a knot about this. You have chosen a type of dog and in a colour that may always show this. Keeping the eye area as clean as possible will help, but its not likely ever going to be solved completely. Sorry !

Dog-Gone-Crazy · 10-31-2006, 07:49 AM

Yes, she'll have this for the rest of her life. A lot of the show dogs you don't see the tear stains because they get them bleached and stuff. I'll be looking into some products to see what I can find, and I'll try to see if I can find the pads! Thanks!!

DC Whittier · 11-03-2006, 01:48 AM

tear stains are caused by acidity in a dogs system..if you use a small amount of cider vinegar in the dogs water,it will correct the ph imbalance..you only need a very small amount,about 1/8th tsp to the dogs water

LoveLilly · 11-03-2006, 09:12 AM

Have you had the vet check into the tearing? When our Pap is spayed in a few weeks, they are going to make sure everything is okay with her eyes while she is "out". What we do is keep the area dry and this helps. Its also important to keep the area dry so they don't develop an irritation on the skin that could get infected (this is what my vet said).