Tear stains are caused by the overproduction of tears in cats and dogs eyes, and take the form of red/brown streaks around your pet’s eye area (usually most prominent in lighter-coloured pets).
How To Set About Tackling Tear Stains
More often than not, tear stains are nothing more than an annoyance, and aren’t a sign of anything more sinister than the overproduction of tears. However, they can sometimes be a sign of medical conditions that, if left untreated, can have serious impacts on your pet’s health.
What causes tear stains?
Tear stains can simply be caused by the overproduction of tears in your pet’s tear ducts, and usually this is just down to genetics, meaning you have nothing to worry about. However, unfortunately tear stains can also be a sign that your dog has Glaucoma (or other eye diseases) or infected tear ducts. The stains may also be a result of less serious problems, such as an ingrown eyelash or a food allergy, which be easily resolved. It is because of the many different reasons for tear stains that it is very important to consult your vet, as they could help to prevent the development of serious health problems.
How Can I Prevent Them?
In order to try to prevent your pet from getting tear stains, you can try a number of different things:
- Change their diet- It may be the grain in your pet’s food that is causing the reaction of increased tear production. If you suspect an allergy, you should change your pet’s food to a brand or type that does not contain grains.
- Change their bowls- Plastic pet bowls often harbour bacteria, which, as water splashes back into your pet’s face, may cause eye-infections, resulting in tear stains. Stainless steel bowls, on the other hand, are much cleaner- but you should still aim to clean this to the point of sterilisation (such as in a dishwasher) around three times a week.
- Keep them groomed- Long hair around your pet’s eyes may irritate them, causing them to produce more tears, which lead to tear stains. Keeping the hair around your dog’s eyes short will help to prevent this.
How Can I Remove Them?
If, after visiting your vet, you find that your pet’s tear stains are unpreventable, you can simply try to clean them in these ways:
- Water- Using warm water and cotton wool, clean your pet’s eyes as often as is necessary to prevent the tears from staining.
- Vaseline- Once your pet’s tears have been cleaned, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the area just under the eye to prevent the tears from sitting in the same area and staining.
- Cleansing solution- Ocryl Tear Stain Remover & Eye Cleansing Solution can help to reduce reduce hair discolouration caused by tear staining and remove dried on crust.
If your pet has recently developed tear stains, you should take them to a vet as soon as possible. Also, it is important that you always seek advice from your vet before using anything to remove your pet’s tear stains, even water, as the eyes are an incredibly sensitive area.