Remove Dog's Tear stains

hungover · 04-27-2009, 12:26 PM

Just wondering...

Those of you that have seen very little improvement with the raw food- what kind of treats do you use???

ioreks_mom · 04-27-2009, 12:59 PM

i give iorek either freeze dried beef liver (locally made), NRG chicken or salmon stixx, natural balance beef roll, freeze dried cheddar cheese, and we also use orijen 5 fish kibble as treats. we buy the sample size bag (0.88 lb) of kibble and it lasts for about 3 weeks. he doesn't get all those things in one day. he usually gets one or 2 different things throughout the day.

darlah · 05-19-2009, 07:35 AM

I tell all our puppy people and those we board NOT TO CUT The hair short around the eyes. The issue is when the hair grows out, it pokes in the eyes and causes even more tearing. If it is a show dog I have used Laser Lites product and for long term I have had good results with Eye Envy but you can also order Boric Acid from the pharmacy and create a mixture that you can use on the hair similar to Eye Envy. All of this means you must be careful but cutting just creates yet another reason for the eyes to tear unless you are getting them cut weekly.

Keeping the area clean and using something to stop the leakage from rolling down the face helps. All my dogs tend to stop leaking after the teething period and just have these more solid pieces that you just take off.

The key in stopping the staining is cleaning (I clean 2 to 3 times a day during the teething period) and protecting new hair from staining and figuring out - is this teething or more? I also check eyes, ears, feet and teeth etc and clean the areas on the adults daily as my usual ritual.

Staying on top of it helps. It doesn't solve the issue but minimizes it and if it is due to teething, it will help you through that hump on white faced dogs. The dark faced dog people don't seem to mind but I also clean all - light, dark what have you as I believe in keeping the area clean to avoid any issues with the eyes and I like knowing of any changes my dogs are going through.

Some eye staining is genetic - some is not but all should be checked by a eye doctor (get a Cerf done) and discuss it at that time. This way you are seeing an eye specialist not just your usual vet that can be good but his/her expertise is not the eyes. Who knows, your dog may an issue that needs to be maintained or dealt with etc.

hungover · 06-02-2009, 05:35 AM

hi darlah

Wow!!! Your post puts me to shame!!! Face washing 3 times a day!!!

You are correct that constantly cleaning the face will help in most cases. At the risk of being shot down- I don't have the time to groom them that often. Ok so I could find the time but then I would be neglecting something else.

I am happy to give them Angels Delight on an almost daily basis given the health benefits of it and the time savings. Granted it does cost more then water and a rag.

I can see that with some dogs trimming around the eyes could be an issue. Some dogs such as the bichons need to have the hair kept short.

You suggestion about seeing a specialist is valid but I would be concerned about the added expense given that the vast majority of staining in toy dogs is not an indicator of an underlying health issue.

Boric acid and home brew pastes have their place but many owners have well founded concerns about trusting themselves to apply it correctly. This why we turned to the likes of angels eyes- until we discovered that it is an antibiotic- and why more of us are happy to pay for the natural and healthy products such as Angels Delight and NaturVet.

Best of luck

darlah · 06-02-2009, 06:15 AM

I have 9 dogs and I work full time (on-line work that I have to pay attention to and code) albeit out of my house. The dawgs are just my focus. They are a priority. You can tell when you look at my hair or clothes. They look pretty and groomed and often I have my hair in a pony tail that isn't even - well it's a fast job till someone comes over and I try better or I go to a handling class or to friends or even out to a movie like I did last night to see Star Trek.

I do take care of the dogs. Each day I groom all of them. I check ears, feet, do teeth and eyes and cleaning eyes takes a couple of minutes and I tend to do it 3 times a day..not much time honestly. It's more energy remembering - just like teeth. I treat them better than myself. My show dogs get washed every 4 to 5 days. I had 4 show dogs up to a month ago and now have 2. Two finished. I am still treating the two like they have show coats as one blew her coat and one is in the process and I have learned a clean coat knots less and saves the coat. IT'S CALLED OCD. ROFL

But I get easy. We all want it. I just enjoy the end result and therefore I do what I have to do to get it. We all have different priorities and eye staining may or may not be high on the list but a Cerf is not expensive and it can tell you critical info about the eyes. Even without breeding, I would do it. It's something that should be at least looked into so you know.

Re: short hair around the eyes - hair sticking in the eyes either due to hair growing out or hair growing the wrong way into the eyes absolutely is a huge contributing factor in tearing. So if you cut the area short, you must do so very frequently to avoid this stage or leave it long and do the hair up and away from the eyes.

ioreks_mom · 06-02-2009, 07:00 AM

my dog has naturally short hair around his eyes. my vet can not figure out what could be causing the staining and occasional infections. although the infection frequency has really gone down. i have cut out most of the treats, now he only gets dehydrated beef liver (locally made), natural balance beef roll, and the occasional piece of cheese.

i will try washing his face and see how that goes. it will not be a fun experience since he doesn't really like me doing anything like that. brat!

do you use just a wash cloth and warm water?

poo76 · 06-18-2009, 10:31 PM

I have been giving my poodle mixes vinegar in tap water for two weeks and the stains went away. I cut the old stained hairs away and new stains have not returned! I use about a tablespoon for 20 ounces of water. Both of them are still tearing but the red yeast is GONE! Yay I am sooo happy!

FidoTheYorkie · 06-19-2009, 06:14 AM

I use Diamond Eyes, he has no tear staines at all

I wipe his eyes everyday.

Twinkle_Twinkle · 07-12-2009, 12:26 AM

I read once in a Bichon book that a mix or hydrogen peroxide and water helps reduce the appearance of tear stains, and I believe that when I was doing this regularly it was helping, but now I am paranoid about putting the solution around my dogs eyes because I don't want to irritate her skin. Usually I wipe a wet cotton ball (with just water) around the eyes, then one with the solution, and then another water only cotton ball to finish. It's a 1:1 ratio of water to peroxide. Is that harmful?

luvntzus · 07-20-2009, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocosMom

I tried all the topical products, like you all mentioned above, Angel Eyes, Eye Envy.. They don't take the stains away, it just covers them up...

Angel's Eyes isn't topical, it's a powder that you put in their food. It's the only thing that worked for my dog. Bottled water, holistic food and apple cider vinegar didn't work. I gave him Angel's Eyes for a month or two and the stains have been gone for over a year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinkle_Twinkle

I read once in a Bichon book that a mix or hydrogen peroxide and water helps reduce the appearance of tear stains, and I believe that when I was doing this regularly it was helping, but now I am paranoid about putting the solution around my dogs eyes because I don't want to irritate her skin. Usually I wipe a wet cotton ball (with just water) around the eyes, then one with the solution, and then another water only cotton ball to finish. It's a 1:1 ratio of water to peroxide. Is that harmful?

I wouldn't feel comfortable using peroxide near my dog's eyes. I would imagine that it is harmful if it gets in them. I've also heard that peroxide changes the texture of the coat, making it more rough and porous. That's just what I've heard second hand, so I can't testify to it.

paux · 07-27-2009, 03:30 AM

I used Angels Eyes for a couple weeks but my dog HATED it, even in wet food. I was curious what was so bad about it, so I put a few sprinkles of it on my finger and tasted it. By far, one of the most DISGUSTING things I have ever tried. I immediately stopped giving Angels Eyes to her and started her on Eye Envy, which is applied topically onto her fur. The results are visible within a week and after you clear the stains, you only need to apply it every few days or so. I am very pleased because I no longer have to worry about feeding my poor girl antibiotics for something that is only cosmetic and her face is quite clean. I highly recommend Eye Envy.

Twinkle_Twinkle · 07-27-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paux

I used Angels Eyes for a couple weeks but my dog HATED it, even in wet food. I was curious what was so bad about it, so I put a few sprinkles of it on my finger and tasted it. By far, one of the most DISGUSTING things I have ever tried. I immediately stopped giving Angels Eyes to her and started her on Eye Envy, which is applied topically onto her fur. The results are visible within a week and after you clear the stains, you only need to apply it every few days or so. I am very pleased because I no longer have to worry about feeding my poor girl antibiotics for something that is only cosmetic and her face is quite clean. I highly recommend Eye Envy.

Do you use both the powder and the liquid? How long would you say that the product lasts and how much of the product do you tend to use in an application? Thanks!

paux · 07-29-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinkle_Twinkle

Do you use both the powder and the liquid? How long would you say that the product lasts and how much of the product do you tend to use in an application? Thanks!

Well, I don't always use both. The most important thing is to use the liquid because that is what is actually formulated to keep the stains away. The powder, on the other hand, is just for covering them up. If there are no stains and you are just trying to maintain the absence of the stains, you will use just the liquid. If some staining is starting to reappear, you use the liquid and then apply to powder to visibly conceal the stains.

You really use only very little when you apply it. I would say the liquid will last at least 2 months depending on how often you apply it. I know some people who only apply the solution once a week after they get rid of the initial staining. The powder lasts for a very long time. I haven't used up the container I have, but I'm guessing that it'll last at least a year. And the little absorbent pads can be cheaply found in the cosmetic department for replacements.

TeddyMom · 07-29-2009, 08:28 AM

I have two Bichon/Shih tzu mixes. I used Angel Eyes and it worked for my boy (the older of the two) and even with only one dose a week he has remained tear free. For my girl, I believe it is a tear duct issue or an allergy that is non food related. The Angel Eyes never worked for her. Their diet consists of chicken, brown rice, green beans, and some other fruit and vegetables with no additives, so I do not believe it is their diet that causes the reaction. I plan to have Britnee's ducts checked and cleared if necessary, but I still would like to address the staining.

The yogurt makes sense, the red staining is a yeast. It might, along with regular ear cleaning help prevent other yeast issues in ears, etc...as well. The tums is an interesting concept.

My biggest question to the forum is about the distilled and bottled water. I have heard this numerous times...switch to distilled water. I know there is a difference between distilled and bottled water, I have heard both being used. My question relates both to my kids constantly drinking only bottled water and my dogs switching to distilled water...what about fluoride? The fluoride added to our treated tap water has made a difference in our dental care, this has been proven. Does it make a difference for our dogs dental care? My kids are drinking bottled water like crazy and I keep encouraging them to switch back and forth between bottled and tap...they get fluoride from their toothpaste...and I brush my dogs teeth once a week too...should I even be concerned or worried about them not getting the fluoride from the tap that they are getting in other ways??

zenithmamma · 10-26-2009, 08:44 PM

What would be the Tums dosage for a 14 wk. old, 5 lb. Bolonka?
How about yogurt? What kind?
Green beans?? Really?

Baileyby · 10-29-2009, 09:11 PM

What does anyone think about Eyemunity? I have been using Angel Eyes but when I found out it had antibiotics I stopped using it. Now I am tring to find an all natural product. The pet store said that Eyemunity was good. I never heard of it.

What do you think???

BeWise · 11-02-2009, 02:49 AM

I have several methods that I can suggest to remove tear staining. Care must be taken in using these products or any other chemical solutions to not get anything in the dog's eyes. It is also important to remember that when attempting to removing tear staining you my also be damaging the hair. Before I bleach I make sure I condition the hair well first. What works best for me is Wella Kolesterol. I pack the face furnishings with this for several days before I bleach. After you bleach make sure you neutralize the effects of the chemicals you have used and condition the facial hair after any attempts to remove stain.

shihtzu42 · 11-06-2009, 11:29 AM

I had the same problem with my 8 shihtzu's, yes 8 and counting!!

Buy the Merrick, or Solid Gold dog foods.

I have personally used the Merrick Wilderness Blend and it is all healthy and well balanced.

Then for treats I use Nutro Natural Choice Crunchy Treats in the apple and blueberry flavors.

My kids faces have cleared up and no longer have stains by using the above products. I know the shihtzu's are allergic to wheat.

Hope this helps, the food is not expensive.