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I will be buying my family’s first puppy from a breeder in a few weeks. However in every photo the breeder has sent me, the puppy appears to have some heavy (red) tear stains. Is this a red flag or is it not a big deal?
Should I buy a puppy with heavy tear stains?
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What does the breeder say? Is this a problem with the parents or grandparents? Previous litters? Has the puppy had its tear production and tear duct function tested?
Some breeds are more prone to this than others, and while it's occasionally associated with other problems (like an eye infection or blocked/non-functioning tear ducts), it's often more aesthetic than medically significant. But a responsible breeder will know if it's common in their lines and if it tends to resolve as the pups grow or is a lifelong concern.
Either way, any pup should have a health check ASAP after coming home, and a good breeder will have some kind of contract or guarantee in regards to health issues.
Some breeds are more prone to this than others, and while it's occasionally associated with other problems (like an eye infection or blocked/non-functioning tear ducts), it's often more aesthetic than medically significant. But a responsible breeder will know if it's common in their lines and if it tends to resolve as the pups grow or is a lifelong concern.
Either way, any pup should have a health check ASAP after coming home, and a good breeder will have some kind of contract or guarantee in regards to health issues.
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All great advice.
With my Pom, his year stains were completely cleared by diet change.
Very poor feeding from "breeder", threw out poor quality kibble like she was throwing scratch to chickens...ya got what you could grab.
Grain free Vital from PetFresh worked for him.
With my Pom, his year stains were completely cleared by diet change.
Very poor feeding from "breeder", threw out poor quality kibble like she was throwing scratch to chickens...ya got what you could grab.
Grain free Vital from PetFresh worked for him.
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Thanks everyone. I guess I will just have to ask the vet. The breeder just says, “It’s just tear stains.” Will see the breeder next week And may ask her to have the vet check it out before adoption.
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Please keep us posted.
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It is usually very hard to get rid of eye stain, what works for one dog will not necessarily work for your dog. If the parents have eye stain, the puppies are more likely to have it too. I have a standard Poodle that started to get eye stain and when I took her into the Vet, he said "all poodles have it" and you cannot do anything about it. She did not have it when I first got her so I took her to a different Vet and she had an inverted eye lid which she had operated on and is perfect now. (forget what they call it but usually shows up as a puppy and hers did not).
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