Home Remedies for Dog Tear Stains

If you have a dog with white fur around his face, then you are probably familiar with ugly tear stains. These stains are not necessarily a sign of poor health; in fact, they are typical in some breeds of dogs such as poodles and English Bulldogs. When you first notice the stains, take your dog to the vet to make sure the stains are not being caused by a health condition. Once you get the okay from your vet, try an at-home remedy to help eliminate the stains.

  1. Wash

    • Bathe your dog regularly to help keep his face and especially the area around his eyes clean. After wetting his face, carefully use your fingers to work the shampoo in the areas where the stains appear. Avoid getting the soap into his eyes. Rinse the soap thoroughly away from his face and eye area when you are finished washing. Regular bathing should reduce and eliminate the stains.

    Wipe

    • Wipe your dog's face to help get rid of the tear stains. You can purchase wipes designed for the eye area at your local pet store or you can use baby wipes with your vet's approval. Wipe the area of your dog's face where the stains appear multiple times a day, starting when your dog first wakes up in the morning since tears are likely to accumulate at night. Place the wipe just below his eye and wipe down until the stained area is clean. Repeat this process as often as necessary.

    Dry

    • Keep your dog's eye area as dry as as possible. Moisture that accumulates in his eye area can be a source of bacteria and make the staining worse. Wipe your dog's eye area immediately after you clean it. Use a soft cloth or a paper towel. It will be a good idea to check his eye area from time to time throughout the day to see if it needs to be dried again. With a vet's approval, dab a small amount of cornstarch or baby powder in your dog's eye area after you dry it to soak up any excess moisture.

    Remove

    • Remove set-in stains from your dog's under-eye area by creating a paste to bleach the stain. Seek your vet's approval first, however. Mix cornstarch with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to create the paste. Use the tip of your finger to rub the mixture onto the tear stained area of your dog's face, being careful to avoid his eyes. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the mixture when you are finished applying it.