How To Permanently STOP Eye Stains!

Why do dogs cry? In practice, humans are the only known species capable of breaking into emotional tears, so technically dogs do not cry due to sadness. Rather, this tear-like fluid is a leak from the protective film naturally intended to protect their eyes, and not a thought-out outburst of their emotions. Eye stain removal methods involve using bleaches and chemicals, which could be effective, but might go ahead to cause more problems in your dog way beyond just eye stains. So by the end of this video, you should get familiar with a number of effective remedies that perform both preventative and curative functions, and at the same time do not further compromise the health of your dog. First, what are eye stains? Eye stains, tear stains, epiphora, or whatever they're called today, refer to an overflow of tears that accumulate on a dog's face, which can be either due to a decreased drainage or an increased production of tears. The reddish-brown discolorations seen in eye stain are from porphyrin, a byproduct in the breakdown of red blood cells. All dogs have some porphyrin in their tears, but some dogs have more porphyrin than others, and this staining is always more noticeable in white or light-colored dogs. Some of the causes of eye stain could be as a result of blocked tear ducts, puppy teething, allergies, infections, abnormal lashes and ducts, medical conditions like glaucoma, and breeds of dogs. So if you own a Maltese or a Shih Tzu, due to their short snouts, they have higher chances of developing a tear stain than breeds with darker furs and longer snouts. It's important to check in with your vet to rule out the possibility of your pet having an underlying health issue that needs to be treated first, such as an infection, disease, or an abnormal eyelid. Your veterinarian will do a thorough exam, taking your pet's age and breed into account. Other specific eye tests can help determine whether tear stains are the result of a medical condition that requires attention. In a normal dog, there are specialized ducts that drain tears away from the eye and down into the throat, although a variety of dog eye problems exist that can affect this drainage, causing excessively watery eyes. These conditions include shallow eye sockets. If the eye sockets aren't big or deep enough, tears can spill out onto the fur around the eyes. Secondly, eyelids that are turned inward. If the eyelids roll in toward the eyeball, the drainage holes for tears may become blocked. A blocked tear drainage hole can also be the problem. Scar tissue can be formed from previous eye infections or injury and block some of the drainage passages for tears. In some cases, a surgical procedure needs to be performed to correct an abnormal eyelid, and unless this is done, you might not be able to effectively control eye stains in your pet. So, all of these need to be considered before exploring any remedy option. Once all of these are properly checked, the following remedies will be well effective in getting rid of the eye stains. Number one, proper grooming and hygiene. A daily face cleaning will go a long way in keeping these eye stains in check. So, if you ever notice your pet having constant wet eyes or a formation of crust under the eyelids, it's a sign that you need to up their facial hygiene game. Using a pet eye wipe or soft clothing to clean off excess tears that have accumulated in the eye area will help in preventing the appearance of these stains in the first place. The essence of this cleaning is to prevent a buildup of moisture, which can harbor bacteria activity and ultimately result in those unsightly stains. Number two, cornstarch and hydrogen peroxide. Let's say you have a pet's party to attend by the weekend, and you need your pet looking all sharp and tidy, then this is what you need. So, how does this work? In cases where wipes and cleaners are unable to get this stain off, cornstarch in a mix of hydrogen peroxide has proven to always get the job done. Apply the paste of this mixture to the areas affected by the stain, making sure it doesn't get into your dog's eyes. Hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive to your pup's eyes, but it's a more safe option compared to the conventional bleaches and chemical removals. Hydrogen peroxide is also effective in dissolving the stains and killing any underlying bacteria. So, allow this mixture to sit for at least two hours for greater effects. Then, clean off against the direction of the eye and dry up any residual moisture. Remember to be careful enough to not let this get into your pet's eyes, because practically, it will pay off more to show up at the pet's party with eye stains than an inflamed smoker's eyes. Number three. Eliminate allergy-causing food ingredients. Sometimes, excessive eye tearing can be a dog's immune response to an allergen present in their food. So, as a pet parent, you will want to invest in purchasing quality foods for your dog. Corn, wheat, and meals that are used as fillers in inferior quality foods just don't ensure long-term good health and can cause allergic reactions, resulting in excess tearing and other problems. This food quality monitoring is very essential for your dog because it will be an erratic waste of time to explore eye wipes and cleaners without first tackling the causative allergens in their food. Number four. Filtered or distilled water. Tap water is a huge no, especially when they are treated with high mineral components like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Hard water from these taps can immensely contribute to a dog's tear stain. Switching your dogs to filtered water will have a massive improvement on the appearance of eye stains. If you fill your dog's outdoor water buckets from the backyard faucet, ensure that your outdoor water is fully potable and not contaminated with hard minerals. You can purchase a faucet-mounted water filter available in stores to purify your outdoor water supply and ensure your pup doesn't get any more of this poor water quality. Number five. Trimming. While this is a temporary remedy, you need to incorporate this into your pet's routine grooming care if you're really interested in putting an end to those non-pretty eye stains. If your shih tzu has an abnormal eyelash and brows conformation or excess hair around the eyes, chances are they will experience excessive tearing as the hair keeps getting into their eyes. You can eliminate this problem by simply trimming the hairs close to their eyes. We know you love that furry and adorable fluffy look, but you can bet that if dogs had the ability to speak, they would be saying a huge thank you to you each time you give them that weekly trim. Number six. Food additives. Many times, tear staining is caused by a pH imbalance in an animal's system. You can help to rebalance your pet's pH by adding a teaspoon of vinegar to its daily drinking water. This will help to eliminate the tear stains. This alkaline pH created by vinegar will also maintain an alkaline environment in the dog's system and will also go on to prevent any bacteria or yeast infections from occurring. And number seven. Say no to plastic bowls. You might be wondering, what do plastic bowls have to do with anything? Well, here's what. A lot of pet owners don't know this, but the choice of either a plastic, a ceramic, or a metal food bowl plays an affecting role in your dog's well-being. Plastic bowls always go easily. Well, the sad part is a lot of dogs develop allergies to the plastic material, causing a mild skin irritation on the chin or face, and also resulting in irritation and tearing of the eye. Plastic bowls can also be chewed or scratched by your dog, leaving room for bacteria to creep in. So while providing quality care for your pooch, you do not want them coming down with an ill health just because of an avoidable plastic bowl. Eye stains are always not life threatening, but it's understandable if those brown streaks or patches drooping down your dog's eyes bother you. You just need to keep up with a healthy and consistent care routine for your dog, and in no time, you'll have the situation under control. Remember to always consult your vet before picking up on any routine, because no doubt, they know better.