How to reduce or eliminate pet tear stains

Tears stains are unsightly

       Tear stains can change the appearance of a pet.  Tear staining is usually caused because of excessive tear production (epiphora). There are also medical causes for tearstains like secondhand smoke, medications, ingrown eyelashes, eye and ear infections, and more.

      They can make a very beautiful pet look sick or weepy.  They may not always hurt anything but they can be bothersome. There are ways to combat tear stains in cats and dogs.  

      As a dog and cat groomer, I have learned about various tools that help combat tear stains. In this article, I will share them with you. Hopefully, they can help you get rid of tear stains and perhaps improve your pet's overall health.  

Bright clean eyes without tear stains

Products used in video

Eye Envy kit for cats-
All-in-one Eye Envy NR Tear Stain Remover Kit for Cats. This tear stain removal starter kit contains the popular Eye Envy solution, dry application pads and a jar of application powder.

Eye Envy kit for dogs and cats
This ultimate tear stain removal kit contains the popular Eye Envy solution, dry application pads, a package of pad refills and a jar of application powder. 

Eye Envy Foam
 Simply wet, lather and scrub the stain, let sit for 5 minutes and rinse away to help him feel like new.

Eye Envy Foam

Wipes- wipes are easy because they already include the active ingredient on the wipe and can be grabbed daily.  This is really convenient.

Angel Eyes

Powders-powder disguises the look of the tear stain and some actively break down the stain while on the hair.

Tear stain liquids-there are liquids available that you apply with a cotton swab. I have found that this method is not as easy as a pre-moistened towelette.

Tear stain liquid

Tear stain liquid

-Services available-

A groomer can clip the hair around your dog's eyes and that will assist you with removing gook and gunk from your dog's eyes. 

It is surprising how quickly hair grows around your dog's face.  Let us take care of that for you.  Call ahead and ask if they have time for a quick eye trim. 



Diet-
Probiotics or a change in dog food may help.
Low-grade dog foods can contribute heavily to tear stains.

Here are foods that are specifically designed for tear stains






Treats-

There are treats that include probiotics and ingredients that combat tear stains

Example of tear stain treat

Some treats do contain antibiotics.  See the below article to inform yourself about tear stain treats and decide if this is something you want. 

Tear Staining: What Is It and What Causes It?

In August of this year, the FDA sent a letter of warning to three manufacturers of tearstain removal products. The reason? They contain the antibiotic tylosin tartrate, which is not approved for use in dogs or cats, or for the treatment of tearstain-related conditions.

-Conclusion-

There are many ways to combat tear stains.  Diet, wipes, powders, and supplements like treats can assist with tear stain removal. I hope that this has helped you in finding ways to combat tear stains. 

What ways have you tried?  Were any of them even a little effective?  

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