Tear spots are rust-colored areas that you can sometimes see around your dog's eyes. To avoid them, you must first treat any underlying health problems affecting the animal's eyes. If this is not possible, regular muzzle cleaning is the most effective weapon available to an owner to prevent stains from forming.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Identify and Treat Basic Problems
Step 1. Learn about tear stains
Tears contain a chemical called porphyrin that takes on a rust-like color when exposed to air; the phenomenon, called oxidation, causes the development of spots on the dog's fur. Just like with dyes, porphyrin also takes time to transfer its color. Tear spots are the result of untimely cleaning of the eyes.
However, it is much more important to know the reason for this tearing; there may be a health issue that should be evaluated by the vet
Step 2. Have your eyes examined by a vet
The secretion of tears is necessary to lubricate the surface of the eyeballs and to eliminate traces of dust and debris. This liquid is then drained through the tear ducts, which function a bit like a sink plug; if they are constricted or blocked, the tears cannot flow and overflow onto the face.
- If dust or a foreign body has gotten into the dog's eyes, it may have blocked the tear points; the vet is able to eliminate them.
- The ducts sometimes narrow due to an infection. The doctor should be able to identify the problem and prescribe antibiotic therapy. If you suspect an infection, take your dog to the vet's office immediately, as this could lead to ulcers and irreparable damage to the eyes.
Step 3. Consider rinsing the tear ducts with saline
The dog may have been born with narrowed ducts, but this can be confirmed by the vet, ruling out other more serious causes. This is a rather frequent defect in breeds such as Chihuahuas, tramps and bichon à poil frisé. Unfortunately, remedies to open narrow ducts by nature are often unsuccessful; the vet may try to dilate them with a saline wash, but they are likely to return to their original gauge.
- In rare cases, the procedure causes scar tissue to form which reduces the lumen of the ducts even more.
- In equally rare situations, washing leads to long-term improvement; ask your vet if this is also valid for your dog.
Step 4. Clean your bulging eyes every two hours
Some breeds, such as the pug and the Pekingese, have very large, round eyes that are somewhat protruding slightly. Big eyes are more likely to water, because they have a larger surface area; moreover, the protruding ones push the eyelids forward and outward, misaligning the tear ducts which, in this way, do not perform their function correctly.
- Regularly wipe your eyes from tears. You can use medicated gauze, available at pet stores, which contains a safe solution for cleaning the area under your dog's eyes.
- Do this every two hours or so or whenever you notice new tears.
Step 5. Eliminate environmental factors that cause eye irritation
When the eyes are sore, they produce the tears to get rid of them. Among the irritants are mentioned allergens, cigarette smoke, perfumes, deodorants and sprays for the environment. If you suspect that a substance is making your furry friend's eyes water, stop him being exposed to it and watch for any improvements.
- If you get positive results, try reintroducing the irritants, to make sure they were really the cause of the problem; if you get confirmation, prevent the dog from coming into contact with these products.
- When using any type of spray, keep the animal in another room for twenty minutes or until the air is clear again.
- If he has allergies, such as hay fever, which cause him to scratch the itchy areas, take him to a vet for prescription.
Step 6. Remove the hair from the eyes
If your four-legged friend has long hair, this could get into the eyes and be the cause of the irritation that triggers the tearing. Treat your dog to a groomer so that the eyes are uncovered and free from falling hair.
Step 7. Check to see if there is any hair growing inside the eyes
Sometimes, the fine hair around the eyes, similar to eyelashes, grows inward of the eye and rubs the cornea; in this case, the eyes get irritated every time the dog blinks - just like you do when you have dust in your eye.
- It is not possible to see these hairs with the naked eye, but the vet uses special equipment to examine the dog's eyes and can determine if they are the cause of the tearing problem.
- The doctor can remove the hair through a procedure such as electrolysis, in which electric current is used to kill the hair follicles, so that the hair does not grow back.
Part 2 of 2: Reduce the Marks Left by Excessive Tears
Step 1. Understand that tear stains do not harm your dog
The sight of the "rusty" coat may be unpleasant to you, but the dog does not complain of any complaints other than excessive tearing. Sometimes, this is completely normal for the animal's anatomy, for example if it has bulging eyes. The treatment of these spots is for aesthetic purposes only, so it is up to you whether or not you want to solve the problem.
Step 2. Clean your eyes regularly
Have a few clean cotton swabs handy and whenever you see a shiny drop in the corner of your faithful friend's eyes, wipe it off. Do not let the liquid dry, crust or accumulate on the corner of the eye; usually, you can remove these encrustations with your fingers, but in some cases they become so hard that you cannot get rid of them. If this happens, dip the cotton swab in boiled and cooled water and wet the encrustation until it becomes soft again; at this point, you can take it off with your fingers.
Step 3. Be careful when using stain removal products
You can find "canine cosmetics" on the market that promise to erase or reduce tear stains; However, you should only use them after your vet has seen the pet to see if you can treat the tearing at home.
- Read the labels carefully to know if the product should be diluted, before applying it to the dog's face.
- Some of these "stain removers" contain ingredients that can irritate the eyes; ask your vet for advice to avoid making the situation worse.
Warnings
- Never try to open blocked tear ducts with home techniques; the vet uses special tools to perform this type of procedure and to ensure the dog's comfort while performing it.
- Among the various tips you could find the one that plans to give an antacid to the dog for its calcium content. However, these drugs also have other ingredients that could be harmful to the animal; Additionally, these substances negate your attempts to lower the pH of tears to a more acidic level. It is always best to consult your veterinarian before administering this kind of treatment.
- There are conflicting opinions regarding antibiotic therapy to reduce excessive tearing. If recommended by your vet, these drugs should be used in moderation and never for a long time as a preventative therapy. Bacteria can become resistant to active ingredients when these are administered incorrectly; as a result, you would be exposing the dog to a whole host of other health problems. Never give antibiotics to puppies, unless they are specific medicines formulated for dogs under a certain age. Read the ingredients list to make sure any product you use does not contain antibiotics.
