[meagranny]

Are you struggling to remove your dog's tear stains? Did the store bought tear stain remover fail you? Is it safe to use makeup remover, milk of magnesia, hydrogen peroxide, gold bond, or corn syrup to remove tear stains? What causes tear stains anyway? Read what our members think... - Dave|Xoxide

My white poodle has tear stains and it is ugly. I was told to use Terramoycin. Does anyone know how much I should use?

Wanda

[pamperedpups]

This is my first post here. I'm a dog groomer.

Please do not use Teramyacin on your dog for tear stains unless you have been instructed to do so by your dog's veterinarian. Teramyacin is an antibiotic and the proper use insturctions should have been included with the medication. If you have any questions on how to administer this medication to your pet, please consult your dog's veterinarian ASAP. If you were not instructed by your dog's vet to use Teramyacin to clear up the tear staining, please read on.

Tear staining is caused by excessive tearing. What cases the excessive tearing is what needs to be found out or the problem may always persist. (Note that antibiotics such as Teramyacin will only work temporarily, if at all, if an infection is not the true cause of your dog's excessive tearing.) When the area around the eyes stays moist due to excessive tearing, red yeast bacteria start to develop into the staining you see. The causes of excessive tearing can be many and varied, including but not limited to genetics, health, diet, fleas, bacterial infection, ear infections, cutting teeth (in puppies), irritation, high mineral content in the dog's drinking water, blocked tear ducts, etc. It is important that your dog's vet determine the cause(s) of the excessive tearing before directing you in any methods of trying to cure the problem. Until then, keeping the eye area wiped clean daily will help and you might even consider having your dog's groomer carefully shave the area so as to prevent excessive red yeast bacteria build-up.

[Benni]

When I bought Benni my Maltipoo I was told to buy distilled water to help with the tear stains. We have had Benni for 3 months and have very little tear stains. It works for us..........

[terrier terror]

Many common dog food ingredients can cause staining in some dogs. What are you feeding? Your water can be the problem, too.

My LWD gets Innova + canned, raw, and distilled/filtered water (filtered downstairs in the kitchen and in her food, and distilled with her in her x-pens and crate) and I just wipe her eyes daily to remove eye boogers. When she is older, I will start her on TUMS and ACV.

I would look at changing her food and water, etc. to see if that helps. Have you discussed this with your vet at all?

[Raggs]

I'm with Pamperedpups on this one. Terramycin won't do anything for tear stains. Eyes weeping is mainly caused by lack of good nutrition, but there could be another reason. Putting your dog on a premium food most of the times helps with this. The only person that should tell you to use Terramycin would be your vet and then your vet would tell you how much to use.

[Leila12345666]

I say you listen to Benni if it worked for her baby it might work with you. I know is very common for Maltese, Shih Tzu and Poodles to have tear stains for some reason.

[k9poopscoot]

I concur with pamperedpups. I am also a groomer and this is my first post. The red stains are caused by a red yeast growing on the moist hair. By changing the pH of your dogs body, it makes a hostile environment for the yeast to grow. 1/2 tablet of tums once a day will make tears alkaline or 1/2 cap of apple cider vinegar in water to drink will make them acidic. Either will work.

[DoggyMoments]

I have a Shih Tzu and he gets the grey eye boogers. There isn't any red but the hair in that area is tougher, even with the wipes. We have him on Blue Buffalo which is supposed to be very good food (all sorts of natural good stuff) and he drinks the crystal springs water that gets delivered. Does this sound more like the common Shih Tzu trait or is this something that should disipate with good nutrition?

[Kerry]

I've heard from several sources now about vinegar in the water. But half a cup of apple cider vinegar into about how much water? And will she still want to drink water with vinegar in it? Yuck.