Everyone has seen them; the brownish-red discoloration dog eye tear stains. Most visible on dogs with white fur like the Maltese, these stains are a common concern. For professional groomers and pet owners alike, these “angel eyes”, as they’re so affectionately nicknamed, are a hassle to deal with. But, before you can learn how to treat them, you must first determine what they are and why they are there.
What are Dog Eye Tear Stains?
Although they are quite common, dog eye tear stains can actually insinuate the workings of a bigger issue. Or, they can simply be a side effect of a lifestyle change that can be reversed. Either way, it’s best to find the reason for dog eye tear stains. This way, you can be sure that before treatment, the dog isn’t suffering and is happy. Also, you can be sure that you are preventing the stains from returning in the near future.
Most of the time, dog eye tear stains are caused by a health symptom known as epiphora. It’s a term used to describe overproduction of tears. Epiphora doesn’t occur on its own. It’s a result of a condition affecting the dog. Usually, the condition causing epiphora is because the eyes are not effectively draining excess tears as they normally should. Epiphora can occur for a number of reasons including:
- Inward facing eyelids
- Obstruction of the tear drainage system
- Shallow orbital cavities
- Too much hair around the eyes
Breeds that are Affected by Dog Tear Stains
Any dog can be affected by tear stains. But, it may not be noticeable in dogs with darker fur colors. However, certain breeds of dogs are at a higher risk for tear stains because they either have white fur or have breed characteristics like 
excess fur around the eyes or shallow orbital cavities. The most common breeds of dogs who are affected by dog tear stains include:
- Pug
- Maltese
- Shih-Tzu
- Pekingese
- Cocker spaniel
- Poodle
- Boxer
- Bichon
- Lhasa Apso
- More
What to do if you’re the Owner of a Dog with Tear Stains
If you’re an owner of a dog that suffers from frequent tear stains, it means that your dog is producing more tears than normal or isn’t draining tears properly. Although it may be something that could be fixed with something as simple as proper grooming or diet change, it’s best to eliminate possible medical conditions. If your pooch is suffering from a medical condition, your vet will be able to determine the reasoning and provide proper treatment. This, eventually, will help the problem with tear stains in the future.
What to do if you’re the Groomer of a Dog with Tear Stains
As a professional groomer, your number one priority is to make sure the pet you’re grooming is healthy. If you notice that a dog you’re grooming has tear stains, it’s best to let the owner know of the possibility for tear stains to be a symptom of another medical condition. And, tell the owner of the pet to seek veterinary care right away.
To groom dog eye tear stains, you can try to bath the area with a professional pet tear stain remover product. After bathing, clip the fur around the eyes. This will eliminate the problem altogether for dogs who are producing too many tears as a result of excess fur surrounding the eyes. Overall, besides bathing and clipping the area, the best thing you can do is provide helpful information to the pet’s owner so that the issue can be resolved before you see the dog again for his/her next groom!
Want to Learn how to Professionally Groom Dogs and Cats?
If you think that you would be interested in gaining a professional career helping pets and owners with problems like dog tear eye stains, then an education at The Merryfield Academy may be right for you! To learn more about our school and courses, please give us a call today at (954) 771-4030.
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