Last Updated : November 26, 2022

How to remove dog tear stains naturally

Sometimes, dogs have excess tears leaking out of their eyes uncontrollably. This problem is common to all dog breeds and, most times, may lead to a yellowish or reddish discharge, which could cause a bit of discoloration on the dog’s fur or skin.

Cleaning dog tears may be simple, complicated, and tricky because you don’t want to put your dog’s eyes at risk. And that’s why in this article, useful tips are provided on how best to clean dog tear stains without exposing your dog to any form of risk.

How to remove dog tear stains naturally

What causes dog tear stain

There are many reasons why your dog may produce tears. Although the reason may vary from dog to dog. While in some, it may be a sign of Infection, some may produce tears as a response to food allergies. However, whatever the reason(s) might be, it can always be traced back to certain factors like;

1. Discomfort and Infection

Dogs are highly sensitive to certain substances like shampoos and smoke. When they are exposed to any of these substances, they become uncomfortable and respond by scratching their face with either their paws or any object they can lay their hands on. A contaminated object or dirty paws can cause Infection, and if the dog already has tears build up on skin right below the eyes, it may cause yeast infection.

2. Allergies

If your dog has a perpetual habit of producing tears, it is most likely to be a response to a distaste to some food intake. This triggers the dog’s immune to respond by producing excess tears from their eyes. So because this is something that happens year-round with the dog, it can cause inflammation which could block the dog’s tear duct and cause tear stain.

3. Lashes

Dogs with long, big lashes are more likely to have watery eyes than their counterparts with shorter eyes lashes. When this lash rubs against the dog’s eyes often, it can cause a bit of discomfort in the eye region, and this may force the tear gland to produce more tears fluid than the duct can contain.

Dog tear stains have what ingredient

Dog stain majorly consists of porphyrins which contain iron.

Why do dogs tear stain

This is because dog tears have porphyrins in them. When this chemical is released in the form of tears, it can cause discoloration in the eye region of your dog. This discoloration is more apparent in dogs with white or lighter fur or skins.

Are dog tear stains permanent

No, dog stains are not permanent.

There are different methods you can adopt that will help you get rid of dog tear stains for good. Your only challenge is getting to know the best possible treatment combinations. But don’t worry, the later section of this article is dedicated to helping you with that.

What can I use to remove dog stains

There are lots of ways/products that can help remedy dog stains. Few of these include; Diluted baby shampoo, Eyewash for dogs, contact lens solution, white vinegar, Vedco soft chew, Gentle tear stains wipe, optixcare eye cleaner, etc.

How to get rid of dog stains naturally

Before I go into details about how to remove dog stains naturally, I would like to suggest to you first how you can prevent your dog from excreting tears. If you stick to any of these routines, you would not have any reason to start looking for how to remedy tear stains in the first place.

How to prevent dog tears

  1. Maintain proper hygiene for your dog’s eyes and face.
  2. Ensure you only give your dog clean water.
  3. Do not stick to one diet for your dog.

The natural way of removing dog tear stain

There are varieties of natural ways you can pick from, but here in this article, I will be making use of cornstarch.

Why cornstarch?

What actually influenced my cornstarch decision is that it is a tested approach. And besides, cornstarch is an excellent natural stain remover that gets rid of dog tear stains by absorbing them. Plus, it is so easy to use and can be used in various ways.

Using cornstarch to remove dog tear stains

  1. Make a solution from 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and a single drop of bleach with little hot water.
  2. Leave the solution to cool down a bit to the level of room temperature.
  3. Apply the solution to the stain and leave it to dry for about an hour.
  4. Wipe off the solution with a moderately wet soft towel.
  5. Repeat the process every other day for two weeks.

How to remove dog tear stain using hydrogen peroxide

Apart from removing dog stain tears, hydrogen peroxide can help get rid of parasites and other microbes that might be present in your dog’s face.

Using hydrogen peroxide to remove dog tear stains

  1. Combine an equal amount of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide.
  2. Saturate a cotton ball in the solution and apply it on the tear stain and leave it to sit for about 5 minutes.
  3. Wash with water afterward to remove any leftover stains.

How to remove dog tear stains using coconut oil

Coconut oil can help remove dog tear stains, and it’s quite simple to use. Follow the steps below to guide you through the process.

  1. Dampen a cotton ball in a bowl or bottle of coconut oil.
  2. Rub the dampened cotton ball on the tear stain and leave it to sit for about 5 minutes.
  3. If you feel your dog is too oily and can make the dog uncomfortable, apply baby shampoo and wash afterward.

Note: This should be done once a week.

Dog tear stains FAQs

1. How to remove porphyrins from dog tears?

To remove porphyrins from the dog, use contact lens cleaner. Yes, you heard me well! Contact lens cleaners contain boric acid that can help oxidize iron present on porphyrins which helps lighten them.

  1. Dampen a cotton ball in a contact lens cleaning solution.
  2. Rub the dampened cotton ball on the tear stain.

Note: This should be done once or twice daily, and make sure the solution doesn’t get into your pet’s eye.

2. Does baking soda remove dog tear stain on clothes?

Yes, baking soda can help you get rid of dog tear stains on clothes.

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3. When is it appropriate to go and see a vet about dog tear stains?

Dog stain might be an infection symptom or ordinary reaction to irritation or allergy. Therefore, it is advisable to go and see a vet the first time you noticed the tear so that he can help with the cause and recommend preventive methods.

4. What does a tear stain look like on a dog?

Tear stain color ranges from dark black to brown and sometimes reddish.

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