Dog Tear Stain Home Remedy
Brown tear staining, especially around white-coated dogs’ eyes, can be annoying and become a health issue. Several years ago, many dog tear stain removers went on the market, promising to remove dog tear staining forever and pet owners saw promising results with continued use. Well, it seems these dog products contained low levels of antibiotics and we all know continued use of antibiotics will most certainly lead to antibiotic resistance. There’s some good news now for dog tear stains and it doesn’t contain antibiotics. It’s actually the opposite; it’s probiotics!
What Causes Dog Tear Stains?
Dog tear staining is usually most noticeable on white-coated dogs. It leaves a reddish brown stain on the inner corners of some dogs’ eyes. All dogs, regardless of color, are susceptible to tear staining. Though there are certain breeds that are more susceptible than others, such as Cocker Spaniels and Poodles. To make things even more confusing, tear staining can be caused by poor diet, allergies, eye irregularities (blocked tear ducts), entropion (inverted lashes that rub against the eye), eye disease and even genetics.
Usually, dog tear stains are an issue when dogs have an eye infection or the skin near the eye becomes irritated due to constant moisture from excessive tear staining. Always have a complete veterinary exam to rule out any eye disease or infections. Foul smelling brown tear stains may indicate a bacterial or yeast infection.
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Power of Probiotics
Many dog owners are seeing a dramatic reduction in tear staining after using probiotics. If you choose probiotics, you still need to clean the tear stained area several times a week, keep hair trimmed short (prevents buildup), throw away your dog’s plastic food and water bowl (replace with glass or stainless steel) and, of course, feed your dog a high quality diet. Adding a good quality probiotic, made especially for dogs, is just as effective as Angel Eyes and other products containing antibiotics without the terrible side effects.
Choosing a probiotic made for dogs is always a bit overwhelming, but I do know most veterinary dermatologists recommend Prostora MAX by Iams. A recent study on dog tear stains showed tremendous results from Prostora. However, the price might just scare you a bit. If you choose Prostora, be prepared to pay $38 for 15 tabs (13-day supply). As with anything, if your dog needs it, then it’s worth every penny. I tried to find the actual study’s results, but this was the closest research I could find. Also, if you view Prostora’s reviews on Amazon, you’ll find testimonials describing dramatic tear stain reduction.
For the most part, I think continued use of any great probiotic (made for dogs) would work. Check out my recommendations here. Most pet owners notice a difference after one to two months of daily use, so be patient and remember probitioics are just as good for your dog as they are for us. 🙂
If probiotics have helped your dog’s tear stains, please share your results below!
