One of the most frequent concerns from dog owners at the vet clinic is the brown stains beneath the eyes. Tear stains appear on a dog's face and along the sides of their nose when too many tears leak from their eyes. Even though the staining is harmless, many owners want to get rid of it because it can be ugly. Excessive ripping may, in extreme circumstances, result in skin irritation, sickness, and localized odor.
Reasons for Canine Tear Staining
1 - Typical Dog Tearing
Reasons for Canine Tear Staining
1 - Typical Dog Tearing
A lot of dog breeds rip a lot by nature. In actuality, this problem is not "normal"; rather, it may be something the dog experiences as a result of the breed and structure of their skull. For instance, because of the size and shape of the eye, several "apple-headed" breeds, including poodles, Boston terriers, Chihuahuas, Shi Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and pugs, have sockets for their eyes that are ineffective at draining tears. The nasolacrimal puncta allows tears produced by the lacrimal glands in a healthy eye to exit the eye. These tiny openings serve as tear ducts near the corners of one's eyes. The tears can drain into the dog's nasolacrimal duct through the apertures that lead into a tiny tubular tunnel. The tears are sent by this duct into the dog's mouth and back of its nose, where they are silently swallowed.
Because many of the aforementioned species of dogs possess shallow eye sockets, tears spill over the lower eyelids rather than down the nasolacrimal duct. There is obvious staining on the face when there are tears present. This is just a characteristic of the dog's anatomy; it is neither a medical disease nor a treatment. In these situations, the severe tearing itself is not treated.
Dogs may also tear excessively due to other problems. Entropion, long or misdirected hair that acts as a wick and pulls tears from the eye over the face, and clogged or damaged punctae or nasolacrimal ducts are a few of these. Your veterinarian can advise draining the obstructed eye structures under general anesthesia or even recommending surgical repair to open them.
2 - Unusual Weeping in Canines
A dog's eyes will cry more or excessively in reaction to any kind of aggravation, much like a human's does. Tears clear away irritants and other items from the eye while also protecting and lubricating it. If your dog does not usually exhibit significant weeping and staining, squinting, only one affected eye, rubbing the afflicted eye, yellow-coloured discharge from one eye, or reddish eyes, you should be concerned about eye irritation. In these situations, you must schedule your dog's veterinarian visit as quickly as possible. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, irritated eyes can have an ocular problem that could impair vision. Uveitis, infections, and damage to the cornea will require close observation and intensive treatment.
Dogs with allergies may also experience red, inflamed eyes. Dog allergy eye is typically brought on by environmental allergens like grass, pollen, or air pollution. It will be necessary to treat the allergy by avoiding allergens, taking a bath, or using allergy drugs. If the dog's allergies are managed, the excessive ripping and subsequent staining ought to go away on their own.
Your dog will require surgery to repair entropion, the inward curling of its eyelids, or ectopic eyelashes, and misplaced lashes that rub on the cornea. The general practice veterinarian is most likely going to execute these relatively simple treatments. The tear staining ought to fade away after the dog's swelling goes down and they have fully healed from the surgery.
Diagnosis of Dog Tear Staining
If abnormally extensive tearing is the cause of the tear staining, the underlying problem needs to be resolved. To find out what causes the severe tearing in the dog's eyes, a vet can examine them. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, corneal fluorescein staining, and Schirmer tear tests will probably be necessary for the diagnosis. Following a conclusive diagnosis, the tear staining problem should be resolved with the right medical intervention or surgery.
Treatment
Your dog will be put under general anesthesia by your veterinarian if they think your dog's nasolacrimal duct is obstructed. They will then use flushing and tiny surgical instruments to clear the obstruction. Nasolacrimal ducts that have narrowed due to injury, illness, or long-term irritation can also be widened with this treatment.
It is more difficult to treat the problem if the dog is showing tear stains because of the regular tear flow caused by their anatomy. Continuous low-dose antibiotic delivery is one successful therapeutic strategy. Even though this method works well to lessen tear stains, it is not advised because it can result in the development of deadly antibiotic-resistant germs.
How do you stop tear stains on dogs?
Probiotics, along with basic hygiene, have been the most successful combination I've found in my practice. Using a moist washcloth, gently wipe the dog's face and the region beneath their eyes once a day, at the very least. This keeps the dog's face free of tears and accumulated debris before staining from tears can happen. To remove the stains from the hair, just a small quantity of hydrogen peroxide can be administered to the area where the tears were made. To prevent tears and other debris from getting trapped in the hair, it's also beneficial to keep the fur on the face and near the eyes as brief as possible. Your doctor may suggest a high-quality probiotic for your dog.
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