Clearing Up the Mess: Effective Solutions for Banishing Tear Stains in Dogs

It’s a common misconception that the only cause of tear staining in our dogs is the overproduction of tears. However there are many causes to consider and this is why so often tear stain supplements only work for a short period of time if at all.

The most common causes for excess tears causing the staining we see are;

1. Entropian

2. Breed disposition

3. Water quality

4. Poor diet

5. Bowl material

6. Vaccines

7. Teething in puppies

8. Yeast overgrowth

9. Allergies/intolerances

10. Blocked ducts

1. Keep the area cleaned & well groomed - Ensure you’re cleaning the tear stains daily with a reputable and clean colloidal silver or Leucillin then pop some Virgin coconut oil on top which will provide a barrier. Some find cleaning with steeped green or chamomile tea to also be as effective.

2. Change to filtered water and use the right bowl! - Something that can also help with tear stains is changing the dogs water to filtered drinking water and changing to non plastic bowls for both feeding and water.We recommend bamboo for feeding and glass for drinking water.

You could also Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with the mother in food or water (if your dog does not have any yeast issues).

3.Feed a species appropriate fresh diet - Feed a species appropriate fresh diet -  Food and treat wise it’s best to avoid diets high in carbohydrates as they are high in sugar and feed inflammation. So a 100% kibble diet isn’t ideal - if you’re feeding a raw or cooked diet - you’re already half way there!

Incorporating lots of healthy antioxidant rich foods into the diet like blueberries, golden paste, açai, Colostrum, green tea & green lipped mussels.

4.Nourish the gut - Probiotics are essential to help rebalance the gut and work to combat yeast and bacteria build up in the body that cause the reddish brown tear stains. Most would find tear stains would clear up with a good SBO probiotic - My choice would be four leaf rover protect as this contains SBO probiotics as well as bentonite clay which also helps the body to detox.

Unlike traditional probiotics, SBO probiotics do not exacerbate SIBO as SBO’s do not colonize the small intestine or feed the bacteria already growing there since they don’t contain Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium strains (from dairy). And yet, they still provide all of the benefits of a traditional probiotic. Learn more about probiotics finding the right probiotic for your dog, here

5.Consider allergies/intolerances - If you believe your dog may have food intolerances or environmental allergies - now is the time to address these. Consider doing an elimination diet to find your dogs “safe” proteins/foods. If your dog struggles with environmental allergies, consider adding in some natural anti histamines like quercertin & bromelain. Colostrum can also be beneficial for allergies and is best fed on an empty stomach.

Learn more about natural antihistamines here.

Consider which proteins you are feeding - red meats are rich in iron and can contribute to tear staining in some pets. If your pet is prone to tear stains, this may be something to eliminate to determine if it helps.

6.Omega 3 fatty acids - Implementing a reputable and clean fish oil like green lipped mussel, krill or phytoplankton and give a triple dose daily. Often we can overlook how beneficial omega 3 fatty acids can be for gut health. We would only recommend to supplement this for one month as fish oil quickly goes rancid. If you’re in the uk - Kiki do krill . If you’re in the USA use four leaf rover safe sea, Baie Run or Nutrasea. Learn more about finding an appropriate omega 3 supplement here

7.Beware of targeted supplements - There are many supplements on the market targeted towards combatting tear stains - but for each individual dog, the cause of tear stains is likely to be different & therefore there is no one size fits all product that will make every dog’s tear stains go away. It’s worth noting that many of these supplements only list part of their ingredients and the rest as “propriety blend” and so if it’s an intolerance flaring the tears it can actually make them worse.

Many Tear stain products contain Tylosin or Tartrate Be cautious of products that contain these ingredients. Tylosin is an antibiotic and may not be appropriate for your dog. While short term use may reduce the reddish brown tear stains for your dog, the product will not address a long-term solution and may inhibit healthy flora in your dog's gut.

Learn more about supplement ingredients here.

Conclusion

So very often we look for quick fixes and miracle cures but this isn’t always the most natural solution It’s very likely tear stains are a result of an imbalance in the gut. For some, the addition of golden paste or high antioxidant food like blueberries and açai can work well, for others it takes more. For my dog especially, it wasn’t until I included probiotics that it went away. It’s worth noting especially for Puppies that they will often experience runny eyes after vaccines and or because of teething so you may not see them resolve for a while.

Even for adult dogs - you may need to implement these changes for at least 6-8 weeks before seeing a permanent change.

As always we recommend consulting your holistic veterinarian if you consider the root cause to be a physical issue.