Author:
Carl Weaver
Date Of Creation:
21 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
- Steps
- Method 1 of 3: How to remove existing tear stains
- Method 2 of 3: How to prevent new tear stains from forming
- Method 3 of 3: Keeping Your Pet Safe
It is not uncommon for many cats and dogs to develop tear stains. They are characterized by the formation of red-brown crusts around the eyes on the muzzle and even on the paws. It is quite difficult to get rid of tear stains completely, and their negative effect on the appearance of animals is frustrating for pet owners. Tear stains can also irritate the skin, cause discomfort to the animal, and even be a source of unpleasant odors.To remove tear stains, you can wipe them with water or a special tear stain remover. To prevent the appearance of new spots, it is necessary to make changes in the pet's lifestyle, in particular, revise its diet. For the safety of the animal itself, it is important to use only a veterinarian-approved feed.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: How to remove existing tear stains
1 Wipe your pet's face with a damp cloth. If you see fresh tear stains or watery eyes in your pet, wipe them with a damp cloth dampened with plain tap water. If you act promptly, small tear stains can be easily removed. - Dampen a cloth with water, then rub it very gently around the fur around your pet's eyes. It is not necessary to use soap, especially if the tear stains are quite fresh.
- However, be very careful when rubbing your pet's eyes. Do not allow water or the tissue itself to get into the eye, as this can cause irritation.
2 Check with your veterinarian for specific tear stain removers. Special products can be used to remove old tear stains. While tear stains by themselves are not necessarily a cause for concern about your pet's health, they can look quite unattractive. In some cases, the resulting crust can irritate the eyes of cats and dogs. But before you buy any remedy for tear stains at a pet store or over the Internet, you should definitely consult your veterinarian. - Natural herbal remedies may be safer for your pet than more corrosive chemicals. However, labels can sometimes mislead you, and a product marketed as “natural” may contain many synthetic chemicals. This is why it is important to consult a veterinarian.
- Chances are, you won't need a veterinarian's prescription for your tear spot remedy. However, your veterinarian may recommend a specific remedy for you. Perhaps such a remedy will even be immediately sold to you at a veterinary pharmacy at a veterinary clinic.
- Not all over-the-counter tear stain control products are safe for all dogs. Small breed dogs in particular can suffer from the side effects of these agents.
- Carefully read the instructions for the specific medication with your veterinarian, especially if your pet has any health problems that may affect the proper use of the medication.
3 Compare recommended remedies for tear stains. Be sure to read reviews of the anti-tear stain products you are considering. These reviews can be found online. Just enter the names of the different drugs into the search engine. Not all of them may be officially approved by the Ministry of Health and included in the list of veterinary drugs, for example, due to bad reputation, side effects in the form of eye irritation and other health problems associated with the use of the drug in cats and dogs. - For the greatest safety, search and compare only the drugs recommended by your veterinarian.
4 Talk to your veterinarian about antibiotic use. Lacrimal stains in dogs are sometimes the result of excess formation of porphyrin molecules. This can be corrected by using antibiotics. If your dog is prone to severe tear stains, check with your veterinarian to see if antibiotics are helpful. Do not select medications to treat your dog without veterinary supervision. - Many antibiotics are only available with a prescription from your veterinarian. In this case, the veterinarian cannot prescribe an antibiotic to the animal without a preliminary examination.
- Remember that there is no clear relationship between antibiotic use and tear stain reduction, but some people report successful use of drugs such as doxycycline, metronidazole, and enrofloxacin.
- If your veterinarian suggests that you use one of these drugs, use it only as directed by your veterinarian. With a fortunate combination of circumstances, this will help rid the dog of tear stains. However, if antibiotic treatment is unsuccessful, you will need to turn to other methods.
5 Ask a groomer or veterinarian to remove tear stains from your pet. If the tear spots are very large and a crust has formed because of them, you can ask the vet clinic if they can be removed there. The clinic may have a technician who can remove tear stains from your pet. You can also take your dog or cat to the groomer and ask him to remove the tear stains. - In addition to removing any existing tear stains, ask the groomer or veterinarian to trim the hair around your pet's eyes in an area where crusts tend to form.
Method 2 of 3: How to prevent new tear stains from forming
1 Change food and water bowls. Plastic bowls can irritate your pet's eyes due to tiny cracks where bacteria can accumulate. If you are using plastic bowls, try replacing them with glass, steel, or ceramic. This little trick can lead to fewer tear stains in your cat or dog. 
2 Use bottled water. The high mineral content of tap water can sometimes irritate cats and dogs, leading to tear stains. If your pet is prone to tear stains, try drinking bottled water instead of tap water. This can have a positive effect on your pet's tear stains. - If you have a water filter (like Brita or another), you can use filtered water.
3 Trim long-haired dogs regularly. Long-haired dogs are especially prone to tear stains, as their long hair is often irritating to their eyes. Long hair on the face can easily enter the eyes, causing irritation and watery eyes. Regular haircuts can alleviate this problem, so make sure to visit your groomer regularly. - Unless you have received specialized training in animal grooming, it is not recommended to trim the muzzle yourself. When grooming a dog's eyes, it is very easy to accidentally injure the dog's face or eyes. Therefore, be sure to contact the professionals.
4 Talk to your veterinarian about the quality of the feed. While there is no clear link between nutrition and tear stains, high quality food can help prevent many of your pet's overall health problems. If other methods have not helped you to combat tear stains, talk to your veterinarian about your pet's current nutritional status. He may recommend that you change the type of food (for example, switch from canned food to dry food) or try out more nutritious brands of food for cats or dogs. - Changes should usually be made gradually to avoid stomach irritation. Talk to your veterinarian about how slowly the new feed should be introduced to avoid digestive upset.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Your Pet Safe
1 Make sure your tear stains aren't caused by any medical condition. Usually, tear stains are just a cosmetic problem and not something serious. However, excess watery eyes can indicate a variety of health problems. If your pet's lacrimation seems to be profuse, make an appointment with your veterinarian for an examination of the animal. - Lacrimal stains in cats can be caused by eye diseases, blockages of the tear ducts, allergies and bacterial infections.
- In dogs, tear stains can result from eye and ear infections, ingrown eyelashes, and abnormally narrow tear ducts.
2 Avoid using non-recommended drugs. Certain tear stain removers (especially those not listed by the Ministry of Health on the official registry of veterinary drugs) have the potential to be a source of additional problems. This is why it is important to discuss the use of anti-tear stains with your veterinarian. For example, it is not recommended to use food additives: - Angels' Eyes;
- Angels' Eyes Plus;
- Angels' Eyes Natural;
- NOMOR-I-STAIN;
- Health Glow.
3 Be very careful when cleaning the areas around your pet's eyes. It is a good idea to have a helper to hold your pet while you cleanse his eyes, especially with a tear stain remover. They are intended for external use only, so they should not get in your pet's eyes. Work as leisurely as possible and keep the applicator away from the animal's eyes. - If the product accidentally gets in your pet's eyes, call your veterinarian for further advice.
4 Don't use unproven methods of dealing with tear stains. There are many unproven methods for removing tear stains in animals. It is not uncommon for people to claim that handy remedies such as certain herbs or makeup removers can help fight tear stains. There are often nutritional supplements available on the market that claim to help with tear stains. However, such methods have already been proven to be ineffective, in addition, they can even negatively affect the health of your pet.
