Dog Tear Stain Remover: How to Treat Dog Tear Stains [2024] (2024)

Rusty-colored tear stains around your dog’s eyes are a common issue but can be unpleasant—especially if you have a dog with white fur. That’s why finding safe ways to care for your dog’s face is important.

Tear stain removers, like gentle wipes or supplements, tackle this issue without irritating your pet’s sensitive skin. But before we get into the details on how you can prevent them, let’s first understand the causes of tear stains on dogs and why it’s important to remove them.

What is Dog Tear Stain Remover?

Dog tear stain removers are specialized products designed to clean the area around a dog's eyes to remove the rusty-colored stains caused by excess tearing. Tear stain removers come in various forms, including wipes, cleansers, and supplements.

The goal of a tear stain remover is to clean the area and maintain regular hygiene to prevent further stain buildup and keep your dog looking their best.

Top Causes of Dog Tear Stains

Surprisingly, tear stains are not just an aesthetic issue. They often stem from internal factors related to your dog’s breed, health, or facial features. Let’s look at the most common causes:

Light-Colored Fur

Tear stains stand out more on dogs with white or light-colored fur. Even normal tearing from activities like yawning or drinking water can seem more noticeable. The contrast gives the fur a rusty color from the tears' pigments.

Natural Features

Some dogs, especially those with flat faces or shallow eye sockets, are naturally prone to tear stains. Hair growth around the eyes can also be a factor. If hair grows too close to the eye, it can wick tears away from the eye and onto the face, leading to staining. While it’s frustrating, this is often just part of having a breed with these features, and regular cleaning can help manage it.

Eyelid Issue

Some dogs have eyelid abnormalities like entropion, where the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelashes to rub against the surface of the eye. This constant irritation increases tear production, leading to more frequent stains. In cases like this, surgery may be an option to correct the issue, which can reduce tear staining over time.

Other Underlying Issues

Tear stains may also be caused by allergies, infections, or even diet. Allergens like pollen or dust can cause the eyes to water more than usual and lead to staining. Keeping your dog’s eyes clean and consulting with a vet can help manage these issues​.

Importance of Removing Tear Stains on Dogs

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Tear stains can have broader effects for your dog’s health and well-being beyond purely cosmetic issues. Removing tear stains is important and benefits your dog by:

• Preventing bacteria buildup: Tear stains can trap moisture and dirt around your dog’s eyes. If left untreated, this can create a breeding ground for bacteria and potentially lead to infections.
• Providing comfort: Stains often come with crusty material or excessive moisture, which can cause discomfort and irritation around your dog's eyes. Cleaning the area helps keep your dog’s face free from irritation and allows them to feel more comfortable​.
• Avoiding long-term staining: The longer tear stains go untreated, the harder they are to remove. Over time, the pigment from the tears can become deeply embedded in your dog’s fur, making it difficult to fully clean later.
• Keeping your dog looking their best: While health is the main priority, maintaining your dog's appearance is also important to many pet owners.

How to Remove Tear Stains on Dogs

If your dog already has tear stain build up, here are a few methods to remove them:

1. Try Dog Tear Stain Removal Products

Pre-soaked wipes, like Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes, are a convenient way to clean the area around your dog’s eyes. They’re formulated with aloe vera to gently remove dirt, crust, and excess tears without irritating sensitive skin. These wipes are fine for daily use to prevent future stain buildup.

Tear stain supplements, like Nootie’s Tear Stain Eye Support Soft Chews, support your dog’s eye health from the inside out. These supplements use safe ingredients to help prevent future tear stains by reducing the internal factors that contribute to tear staining.

Try Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes and Tear Stain Eye Support Soft Chews!

2. Avoid Irritating Products

Avoid anything that contains harsh chemicals that can irritate the sensitive skin around your dog’s eyes. Look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera and plant-based glycerin, like the ones found in Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes, to help clean the area and moisturize and protect the delicate skin around your dog’s eyes.

3. Consult With Your Vet

If your dog has persistent or worsening tear stains, it’s always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. Tear stains can sometimes signal an underlying health issue, like eye infections, allergies, or blocked tear ducts. Your vet can help identify the root cause and recommend safe treatment options tailored to your dog’s specific needs​.

How to Prevent Dog Tear Stains

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Tear stains can be frustrating, but taking some simple steps can help you reduce or even prevent them from appearing in the first place. Let’s look at a few key ways to keep your dog’s face stain-free:

Prioritize a Healthy Diet

A balanced, high-quality diet plays a big role in your dog’s overall health, including tear production. Some tear stains may be related to dietary sensitivities or allergies, so feeding them dog food for allergies, like KOHA’s Limited Ingredient Diet, can help. KOHA's limited recipes focus on single proteins and eliminate junky fillers to reduce the likelihood of food-related tear stains.

Groom Your Dog Regularly

Trimming the hair and cleaning the eye area daily helps prevent buildup of dirt and debris. Long hair around the eyes can wick tears away from the eyes and onto the face, causing staining.

More About Tear Stain Remover for Dogs

Let’s look at some frequently asked questions about tear stain removal and how to keep your dog looking their best.

How do I get rid of tear stains on my dog?

Start by gently cleaning the area around your dog’s eyes daily. You can use specially formulated tear stain removers, like Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes, which are pre-soaked, gentle, and designed to clean without irritation. Consider adding some sort of tear stain supplement to support eye health from within.

What do groomers use to get rid of tear stains?

Groomers often rely on gentle, non-irritating wipes and cleansers to remove tear stains. They may use products like Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes, which are formulated to clean the area around the eyes while soothing the skin. Regular grooming and trimming the hair around the eyes also help prevent future buildup of dirt and moisture that leads to tear stains

What is the best dog tear stain remover?

The best dog tear stain remover depends on your dog’s specific needs, but dog owners use Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes because they’re formulated with soothing ingredients like aloe vera to clean and moisturize without causing irritation. They’re convenient for daily use and help maintain regular hygiene.

Try the Best Dog Tear Stain Remover for Your Pup

Now that you know all about the causes, prevention, and solutions for tear stains, you’re ready to take the best care of your dog’s eye health. Whether it’s managing tear stains through a healthy hypoallergenic dog food, regular grooming, or using the right tear stain removal products, you now have the tools to make a real difference for your furry friend.

Remember, consistency is key. So keep up with daily cleaning. For those looking for an effective, gentle solution, consider Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes. They’re a great way to tackle tear stains immediately.

Try Nootie’s Tear Stain Wipes and Tear Stain Eye Support Soft Chews!