Home Remedies for Tear Stains

If you own a dog with light or white fur, you've probably encountered tear stains, those dark red or yellowed track marks around your dog's eyes. Occasionally these stains are a sign of illness, such as ear or yeast infections. More often, they're a normal feature of your dog's breed. If such stains appear unexpectedly, take your dog to a vet to make sure it's nothing dangerous. If these marks show up regularly, tackle them with one of these home remedies.

  1. Remove Stains

    • Remove existing tear stains by mixing an equal volume of milk of magnesia and peroxide with corn starch to create a paste. Rub the paste onto the stained area. Let dry for four hours, then wash the paste out and condition well with hair conditioner. This method will take a few days to start showing any effect, and you should skip a day between each application so that your dog's skin doesn't dry out.

    Bleach

    • For particularly stubborn tear stains, try this remedy: Mix 2 teaspoons of corn starch with a few drops of boiling water to create a paste. Add a drop of plain bleach to this paste. Gel-based bleach is generally understood by dog groomers to be the most dog-friendly. Mix the mixture again and let it cool, then apply it to the stained area. Be very careful not to get any bleach in the dog's eye. Let the paste dry, wait for an hour, then wipe the area with a cloth dipped in warm water. Swipe the area with a thin layer of peroxide, letting it air dry. Repeat this process for two weeks, applying the paste only every other day to save the dog's skin.

    Prevent Stains

    • Adding a teaspoon of vinegar to your dog's drinking water can prevent new tear stains by changing the pH of your dog's tears. When water lingers around a dog's eyes, it attracts bacteria and yeast. White vinegar will prevent the accumulation of yeast and bacteria, protecting against the deep stain color these germs cause. It may take a while for your dog to get used to vinegar in its water. Start small, adding only a little at a time until your dog becomes accustomed to it. Never add more than a teaspoon of vinegar to your pet's water each day.