Are you struggling to remove the reddish-brown stains under your dog's eyes? Does your dog constantly have runny or gooey eyes? Does he suffer from frequent eye infections? If any of these symptoms sounds familiar to you, you're in the right place. In this post we’ll look at the most common causes of eye issues and some simple steps to improve eye health and treat tear stains naturally.
Tear stains can be caused by several factors including genetics, allergies and poor diet. The most common are:
Excessive Tear Production (Epiphora): Sometimes, tears overflow and stain the fur instead of draining properly. This can happen due to blocked tear ducts, allergies, or irritants like dust.
Porphyrins: These are natural pigments found in tears that turn reddish-brown when exposed to light and air. Dogs with a lot of tearing may have higher levels of porphyrins, leading to visible stains.
Genetics: Certain breeds, like Poodles, Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus, are more prone to tear stains due to their facial anatomy.
Diet and Water: A poor-quality diet or minerals in tap water can contribute to tear staining by affecting digestion and hydration.
Yeast or Bacterial Infections: Tear-stained areas can become a breeding ground for bacteria or yeast, which makes staining worse.
Teething: In puppies, teething can lead to more tearing. This is temporary, and tear stains often improve once teething is done.
Health Issues: Eye conditions like conjunctivitis or ear infections can cause excessive tearing, leading to stains. It’s important to address underlying health issues with your vet to get to the root of the problem.
Irritants: Environmental factors like smoke, pollen, or strong shampoos can irritate the eyes, leading to more tears.
6 Ways to Prevent and Treat Tear Stains Naturally
1. Feed a Balanced Fresh Diet
Feeding a balanced fresh food diet supports your dog’s overall health and longevity by providing the body with all of the necessary nutrients for optimal function. The absence of artificial ingredients, preservatives and cheap fillers also boosts your dog’s health and vitality and helps to prevent inflammation and many associated illnesses.
If you dog is prone to eye problems there are a number of foods you can include that support eye health. These include:
Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants, they help reduce inflammation, supporting eye health and potentially lowering tear production.
Parsley: Known for its diuretic properties, parsley helps the body flush out excess fluids, which can prevent tear staining caused by fluid buildup.
Sweet Potatoes: High in fibre and essential vitamins, they promote healthy digestion, which can help prevent tear stains linked to digestive issues.
Pumpkin: Rich in fibre, pumpkin aids in proper digestion and gut health, reducing tear staining caused by poor digestion.
Yogurt: The probiotics in plain, unsweetened yogurt help balance your dog’s gut flora, preventing yeast overgrowth that may contribute to tear stains.
Carrots: Loaded with vitamins, especially Vitamin A, which supports eye health. Chewing carrots can also help clean teeth, reducing tear stains caused by oral bacteria.
Bear + Kind’s Baby Don’t Cry Purifying Smoothie contains blueberry puree plus organic marshmallow root and eyebright to support eye health and prevent tear stains. We’ve also added whole goat’s milk and organic hemp protein for a balanced gut.
2. Gut and Immune System Support
A healthy gut supports the balance of good bacteria, which can help reduce overall inflammation in the body. Since inflammation often triggers excessive tearing, maintaining gut health can help prevent tear stains.
Imbalanced gut flora can lead to yeast overgrowth, which is a common cause of tear stains. Yeast thrives in damp areas around the eyes, and a healthy gut helps control yeast growth throughout the body.
When your dog has a healthy gut, they are better able to digest and absorb essential nutrients. Proper nutrition strengthens the eyes and skin, reducing the chances of developing tear stains.
A strong immune system helps your dog fight off infections, including eye infections that can cause excessive tearing. A healthy gut is closely linked to immune health, so feeding probiotics and gut-friendly foods can boost your dog’s ability to fend off bacteria and viruses. A well-balanced gut also helps regulate immune responses, reducing the risk of allergic reactions that may lead to tear stains.
The gut and liver work together to detoxify the body. If toxins aren’t properly filtered out, they can lead to tear stains and other skin or eye issues. By promoting gut health, you’re helping your dog’s body efficiently eliminate harmful substances.
We love Natural Pet Supplements’ Probiotic Gut Support and Immune Support Herbal Tincture to support the immune system and promote gut health naturally.
3. Hydration
Switching your dog’s drinking water to filtered or distilled water can help reduce minerals that contribute to tear staining, like iron and magnesium. Using a clean, non-plastic bowl can further support eye and skin health. Don’t forget to wash your dog’s water and food bowls every day with warm soapy water to prevent bacteria build-up.
4. Hygiene
Keeping the face and eye area clean and dry is an important part of tear stain prevention and treatment. Always use products with natural ingredients that are gentle and non-drying. Make sure you read the ingredients label before using any topical product on your dog.
Bear + Kind’s Baby Don’t Cry Purifying Collection includes a shampoo bar and face mask formulated to gently cleanse the face and eye area and to remove tear stains. Both products contain 100% natural ingredients including blueberry puree and organic marshmallow root and eyebright and are completely free from chemicals and irritants.
5. Limit Exposure to Allergens
Limiting exposure to irritants like smoke, pollen, and grooming products containing chemical ingredients and irritants can reduce eye irritation and help prevent staining. Always read the ingredient label before using a product on your dog. If you see ingredients listed that you’re not familiar with, you can do a search on www.petshampooingredientdatabase.com to find more information.
6. Herbal Remedies
There are a number of herbs that can be used to support eye health and prevent and treat tear stains. Here are a few of our favourites:
Chamomile: Soothes irritated eyes and reduces inflammation around the eye area, which can help reduce excessive tearing.
Eyebright: A common herb used to support eye health, eyebright reduces irritation and inflammation, preventing tear stains from forming.
Calendula: Known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, calendula helps soothe and heal irritated skin around the eyes, reducing tear stains.
Goldenseal: This natural antibiotic helps treat infections that may contribute to tear stains, keeping the area clean and free from bacteria.
Rooibos Tea: Rich in antioxidants, rooibos helps reduce inflammation around the eyes and promotes skin health, helping to prevent tear stains.
Marshmallow Root: With its soothing properties, marshmallow root helps reduce irritation and promotes healing of the delicate skin around the eyes.
Milk Thistle: By supporting liver health and detoxification, milk thistle can help reduce tear stains caused by toxins or poor digestion.
Oregon Grape Root: This herb has antimicrobial properties that can fight off bacterial or fungal infections, which may worsen tear stains.
Dandelion Root: A natural diuretic and detoxifier, dandelion root helps flush out toxins from the body, reducing tear stains caused by internal issues.
Here’s a simple eye rinse recipe to support eye health and prevent tear stains:
Ingredients
1 cup distilled water
1 chamomile tea bag
Instructions
1. Boil the distilled water and steep the chamomile tea bag for 10 minutes.
2. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Strain out the tea bag.
4. Use a clean cloth or cotton ball soaked in the cooled tea to gently wipe around your dog’s eyes.
Always consult your vet or naturopath before trying new remedies, especially if your dog has any health conditions or allergies.
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