Eye Staining in Dogs

Eye staining is characterized by the "tear stains" you frequently see underneath the eyes of white dogs, though it does occur on breeds of all colors. According to the Small Dogs Paradise website, 99 percent of dogs sport these eye stains at least once in their lives. Eliminating them is necessary to keep bacteria and infections either out of or around your dog's eyes, particularly for those who show their dogs because they have to be perfectly groomed, healthy and have the expression the judge desires to see.

  1. Causes

    • Causes of eye staining include feeding a commercial dog food diet or changing a dog's diet, teething, the dog being in heat and allergies, states the Small Dogs website. In addition, toy breeds' eyes stain more frequently than larger breeds because small dogs are closer to the ground and therefore dust and dirt constantly fly in their eyes. Additional causes include bacteria and yeast that result from the tears of the dog's eyes, clogged tear ducts, ear infections, genetics and fleas, according to the Bhe-Jei Maltese website.

    Homeopathic Remedies

    • There's a natural way to keep your dog's tears from staining his fur and removing the tear stains. Mix one tsp. of cold, weak tea per cup of warm water, states the Small Dogs site. Hold your dog's eye open with your finger or thumb and soak a lint pad in the tea mixture. Slowly squeeze the pad over the dog's eye. Using an eyedropper, put one drop of cod-liver oil in the dog's eye and massage around the eyelids. To eliminate the staining that's already present, use either your fingers or a baby toothbrush to apply boric acid powder on the stained fur underneath the eye, one to three times per day, depending on how bad the stains are. After you rid the dog of the staining, wash his eyes daily with weak tea or warm water.

    Over-the-Counter Remedies

    • Pet shops and online catalogs sell products that can cleanse your dog's eyes and help remove the staining. Eyewashes, for example, come with a boric acid or saline solution to eliminate eye discharge, open clogged tear ducts and reduce any irritation that might be present around the eyes, states the Small Dogs site. A food supplement for your dog's diet can lessen the eye staining. These supplements come in powdered form in chicken, beef, sweet potato and vegetarian flavors. The amount depends on the dog's size.

    Eye Medications

    • Speak with your veterinarian about prescribing an eye medication, though specific medications generally depend on the cause of the staining. Tetracycline or Delta AlbaPlex are general stain removal products, but Tetracycline can cause permanently yellow teeth in puppies, states the Bhe-Jei Maltese site. Gelatin Violet Flush is an ear wash and would be most beneficial if an ear infection was the cause of your dog's eye staining. Otomax or gentamicin sulfate would be best if a yeast infection was the cause. The bottom line is--let your vet determine the cause to know which medication to use.

    Water

    • Water can contain high levels of minerals, which can contribute to your dog's eye staining, states the Bhe-Jei Maltese site. To combat this problem, train your dog to drink from a water bottle, beginning when it's a puppy. Or give your dog bottled water to drink.