Tear Stain Treatment – Top Health Today

There a number of possible causes of tear stains in pets. Stains, especially in dogs, tend to be reddish in color and emit a bad smell. Learning to understand the health condition of your pet is very important. Possible causes include eye or ear infections, genetic predisposition; infection due to yeast or it could be drinking water that contains high mineral content. Similar symptoms can also be seen if your pet has its ear ducts blocked or is suffering from certain allergies.

If the condition looks severe, it is advisable to seek advice from a professional pet groomer near you or better still, you should consult the nearest veterinarian. They will be able to identify possible causes and recommend appropriate medication. Note that extra eyelashes may curl and begin rubbing on the pet’s eye. If you discover that the problem is due to irritation or infection in the ear; then it is possible your pet is ailing from something that’s much deeper inside the body. In dogs, for instance, eye stains may be an indication of multiple issues that has to do with the overall health of your pet. If indeed you find that the ears are infected, let your vet know of it so he/she can prescribe proper medication such as antibiotics.

Managing pet’s tear stains

If you own a pet at home, it is customary to provide the right amount of foodstuff which should be of high quality as well. Ensure that your pet’s food does not contain high levels of sugar content, salt or chemical preservatives. Consider giving your dog canned foods that offer optimum nutritional value.

Your next concern is to address the kind of liquid you give to your pet. Tap water, for instance, may contain a number of minerals that might not augur well with your pet. It is known that high presence of copper and iron in drinking water do cause tear stains in your pet. In order to avoid mineral water, try using distilled water instead.

Numerous products are available in the market today; each of which claiming to offer the best solution for pet eye stains. Most of the products contain certain percentage of antibiotics. Unless you are dealing with a specific condition that you aware of, it would be advisable to discuss with your vet about extended medication which you may not have control over. Different pets react differently to antibiotics.

Using Natural Remedies

There are two, easily implementable home remedies to your pet’s eye stains. This is the way to do it:

Add one teaspoonful of vinegar to your pet’s bowl of water. Keep on adding little drops until your pet is able to react to the taste. The purpose of adding vinegar is to alter the PH level of the water.
Add a ½ teaspoonful of cream cheese to your pet’s meal daily. This should clear tear stains in a couple of weeks.

It is always advisable to check with your veterinarian so as to rule out issues such as allergies or other infections that may be responsible for eye stains on your pet.

Pets such as dogs and cats give us companionship and are a valuable addition to the family, giving the home an all rounded and aesthetic feel that is appealing to our own sense of being. It can therefore be quite disconcerting to see something happen to our beloved pets, as if often the case with white dogs. In dog breeds such as Brichons Frises and long snout dogs like poodles and cocker spaniels are predisposed to developing tear stains. These are reddish discolorations just below their eyes, around their snouts and even in between their toes. Most of the time, these stains are not serious though they are unsightly and might ruin the aesthetic appeal of your pet.

The following are some of the things that you can do to fix and prevent these tear stains from appearing on your beloved dog:

Consult your favorite vet for a qualified opinion on your dog’s tear stains

Epiphora is the medical term describing the tear stains that develop under the eyes, on the muzzle and in between the toes of your white dog. These tear stains come about as a result of excessive production of tears, a deficiency in the natural drainage mechanism of tears or a mixture of the two. In other cases, it might be the hallmark of a serious disease or infection, which is why a visit to the vet is necessary to know the exact nature of the situation.

Epiphora presents in two forms: acute and chronic. Acute cases are usually in response to the sudden introduction of an irritant to your dog’s eyes. Chronic cases of epiphora will lead to constant irritation and frequent moisturizing of the skin under the eyes. This is bad as it will lead to a breeding ground for many microorganisms responsible for causing disease.

Herbs

When your vet declares that the cause of the tear stains is a simple inflammatory process that is not serious, you can then resort to using herbs that will counter the process of inflammation. Such herbs include chamomile which has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula is another herb that you can use to ward off harmful microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) that can lead to the development of serious infections.

White vinegar

The addition of white vinegar to your dog’s drinking water can help prevent future episodes of epiphora. This is due to the fact that white vinegar alters the pH of the tears that will be forming in your dog’s eyes. The tears with altered pH will prevent the formation of yeast colonies and the formation of a suitable environment for harmful bacteria and viruses. If possible, the addition of Tums which is an antacid will also help in changing pH levels.

Keep your dog’s eyes clean

Other preventive measures for dealing with tear stains on your white dog include cutting the hair around the eyes of your dog with scissors. This will help by removing a possible eye irritant in the form of small hair follicles that may get into the eyes and cause excessive tearing. The use of an ophthalmic ointment on your dog’s eyes just before bath time may also be protective.

How to Treat Your Pets Tear Stains