How to Remove Tear Stains on Dogs: Causes and Daily Care

Reddish-brown streaks under the eyes are the most common grooming problem of all in white dogs. If you want to remove tear stains from your dog, you need two things: the cause of the watery eyes and a daily routine that keeps the fur in the corner of the eye clean and dry. Here you get both, step by step and from practical experience with Coton de Tuléar.

Where do tear stains on dogs come from?

Tears are not just water. They contain porphyrins, iron-containing pigments that are produced when red blood cells are broken down and are excreted via tears, saliva and urine. You cannot see them on dark fur. On white fur they oxidise in the air and turn the hairs reddish to rust-brown. The longer the fur stays wet, the stronger the colour becomes.

There is also a second factor: damp, warm fur in the corner of the eye is an ideal place for yeast and bacteria. If they are involved, the stain tends to turn dark brown, the area smells musty and the hairs stick together. At that point it is no longer a purely cosmetic problem.

Important to know: the colour is not on the hair, it is in the hair. Hairs that are already discoloured become lighter with care, but rarely return to completely white. It only becomes truly clean once the discoloured fur has grown out and the new fur stays dry. That is why patience matters more with tear stains than any miracle remedy.

The most common causes of tear stains

Behind almost every tear stain is an overflowing tear film; the technical term is epiphora. Either the eye produces too much tear fluid, or it does not drain properly through the nasolacrimal duct. Typical reasons:

• Eye shape and breed. Small breeds with round, slightly prominent eyes and a short nose often have little room for the tear film. In some dogs the tear duct is narrow or has been blocked from birth.
• Hairs in the corner of the eye. Hairs that point towards the eye from the bridge of the nose or from the inner corner of the eye act like a wick. They irritate the eye and lead the tears straight into the fur.
• Allergies. Pollen, house dust or certain food ingredients can make the eyes itch and water. Often the dog will then also scratch or lick its ears or paws.
• Teething. Many puppies get tear stains while the permanent teeth come through, usually between the fourth and seventh month of life. It often gets better on its own afterwards.
• Irritation. Wind, dust, smoke, shampoo in the eye or a foreign body make the eye water temporarily.
• Water and food. Tap water with a high mineral content is often named as a cause, but this has not been proven. There is more on food further down.

When to see the vet about tear stains

Tear stains are mostly harmless, but not always. Have the eyes examined if you notice any of the following:

• The discharge is yellow, green or mucus-like instead of clear.
• Your dog squints one eye, rubs it with a paw or the eye is red.
• The stains are on one side only or appear suddenly and heavily.
• The area smells, weeps or the skin underneath is inflamed.
• The eye looks cloudy or bluish.

The vet can check whether the tear duct is open, whether eyelashes or hairs are irritating the eye and whether an allergy or inflammation is behind it. No grooming replaces this check-up if the eye itself is the problem.

Removing tear stains: the daily routine

The aim is not to get the stain off once, but to keep the fur in the corner of the eye clean and dry every single day. It takes two minutes, ideally morning and evening.

1. Soften the crusts. Soak a cotton pad with an eye care solution and hold it on the corner of the eye for 20 to 30 seconds. Dried-on discharge softens as you do so.
2. Wipe away. Wipe with the pad downwards, away from the inner corner of the eye, along the tear track. Use a fresh pad for each eye.
3. Comb out. Gently comb through the hairs under the eye with a fine eye and face comb, always away from the eye. This also loosens small crusts at the root of the hair.
4. Dry. Pat the fur dry with a dry pad or cloth. This step is the one most often forgotten and the most important.
5. Protect. For dogs that tear heavily, a stain-care product or clay mask then goes onto the dry fur.

Keep this up consistently for two weeks before you judge whether it helps. When you are out and about, grooming wipes are enough to wipe wet fur on the face. They do not belong in the eyes.

Keeping the hair around the eyes short

Long hairs in the inner corner of the eye and on the bridge of the nose should be trimmed. This is part of every grooming appointment. If you do it yourself, you need a steady hand, small scissors with a rounded tip, such as the ROSE LINE paw and face scissors, and a second person to hold the head. If in doubt, you are better off leaving it to the dog groomer. Long hair on the head can be tied into a ponytail with small latex hair bands, so it no longer falls into the eye.

Tear stains in Coton, Maltese, Havanese and Bichon

These four breeds are the ones most often seen with tear stains in forums and in our WhatsApp chats. This comes down to a combination of white or light fur, round eyes, a short muzzle and long hair on the face that reaches the eyes. A few points that matter especially for them:

• Coton de Tuléar. The cotton-like coat soaks up moisture like a sponge. Drying after cleaning is a must here, otherwise the corner of the eye stays permanently damp.
• Maltese. The long, straight hair on the head falls straight into the eyes without a ponytail. A topknot or a short cut on the face often makes a big difference already.
• Havanese. Not every Havanese is white, but on cream and white animals the stains stand out just the same. The hairs on the bridge of the nose often point towards the eye and should be trimmed regularly.
• Bichon Frisé. The curly fur on the face holds on to tears. A round, short cut around the eye helps here, which the groomer touches up every few weeks.

For puppies of these breeds: tear stains during teething are common and no reason to panic. Still, groom them daily so the colour does not set in the fur.

Home remedies for tear stains: what makes sense and what does not

There are lots of home remedies circulating online. Some are harmless, some harm the eye. Our assessment:

• Sensible: boiled, cooled water. It works for softening crusts when nothing else is to hand. Boil it fresh each time and use a clean pad.
• Harmless, but unproven: filtered drinking water. It cannot do any harm. An effect on tear stains has not been demonstrated.
• Better not: chamomile tea and black tea. Fine plant particles can get into the eye, and chamomile in particular can itself cause irritation in sensitive dogs.
• Do not use: apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Acid stings and has no place near the eyes. Apple cider vinegar in the drinking water also has no proven benefit against tear stains.
• Do not use: hydrogen peroxide and household bleach. They irritate the thin skin around the eye and can run into the eye.
• Do not use: baby powder or cornflour directly at the eye. The fine dust irritates the eyes and clumps with the tears.
• Rather not: coconut oil. Oil in the corner of the eye holds on to moisture and dirt, and the fur darkens again faster.

The most effective trick is not a product but a habit: clean, comb out and dry every day.

What we recommend for removing tear stains

We have sorted the products by task. You do not need everything. For most dogs a cleaning solution and a fine comb are enough; for stubborn stains, a stain-care product is added.

For daily cleaning

The Tauro Pro Line Ultra Natural Care eye and ear care spray is our standard for every day. It consists of ionised, alkaline water with six minerals, completely free of surfactants, fragrance and preservatives. It dissolves dried-on discharge, does not sting and, according to the manufacturer, is also suitable for puppies and sensitive animals. With the pipette attachment you dose it straight onto the cotton pad.

The SHOW TECH No More Tears lotion is intended for dogs that tear heavily, such as Maltese, Shih Tzu or Yorkshire Terriers. The manufacturer recommends it daily until the watering eases, then once a week. Moisten the fur around the eyes with a soaked pad, leave it on briefly, clean and comb out.

For when you are out and about, the Tauro Pro Line Pure Nature wet wipes with aloe vera are handy. They are alcohol-free and mild enough for the face, for example after a walk or before an appointment. Do not wipe into the eye.

For existing stains

The Tauro Pro Line Stainless Look Clay Shield Mask is a clay-based care product with kaolin, micro-zeolite and silver, without peroxide and without bleach. It goes on clean, dry fur. For prevention, you let it dry on and stay in the fur. For existing stains, you let it dry completely and then comb it out, once or twice a day. The clay absorbs moisture and wraps protectively around the hair. It is also suitable for the beard around the mouth.

The SHOW TECH Tear Stain Remover is a thick stain-care product for the eye and mouth area. Apply, let it dry, brush it out the next day and apply again. This way the stains fade gradually. If the contents get thicker over time, add a few drops of water.

Neither product belongs in the eye. It is better to apply thinly and regularly than once thickly.

For combing out

The SHOW TECH Face and Ear Comb has short, closely spaced teeth of 18 mm and is made precisely for the hair around the eyes. With it you get crusts and dirt out without pulling on the fur. An alternative with slightly shorter teeth is the IDEAL DOG face comb. You will find all products for the eye area in the Eye care collection.

What role does food play in tear stains?

Food is not a stain remover, and no food can promise that a dog will never get tear stains again. But it can be one building block. If, besides the eyes, your dog also licks its paws, scratches a lot or has a sensitive stomach, talk to your vet about a possible intolerance.

Nature's Protection has developed food specifically for dogs with white coats with its Superior Care White Dogs line. According to the manufacturer, the balanced composition of amino acids and the selected raw materials are meant to help counteract brown tear stains and keep skin and coat healthy. The varieties contain MicroZeoGen, a natural mineral of volcanic origin which, according to the manufacturer, is meant to improve nutrient absorption, plus omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat.

For small breeds such as Coton, Maltese or Bichon, suitable options include the White Dogs dry food with lamb for small breeds (wheat-free, but contains barley), the grain-free White Dogs with salmon for small breeds or the grain-free White Dogs with insect for small breeds. If you would like to test first, start with a food sample. Switch over slowly across several days, as described on the pack.

Stay realistic: whether a change of food makes a difference for your dog is not something you will see after a week. Discoloured fur stays discoloured; what matters is the fur that grows back. Allow at least two to three months and take a photo at the start so you can compare later. You will find all varieties in the Nature's Protection White Dogs collection.

Your next step

Start with a cleaning solution and a fine comb and keep the routine up for two weeks, morning and evening. For stubborn stains, the clay mask is added. You will find everything for the eye area in our Eye care collection. Not sure whether the stains are normal or what suits your dog? Send us a photo of the coat via WhatsApp and we will take a look.