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What to Know About Dog Tear Stain Removers
While mostly an aesthetic problem, dog tear stains can be a frustrating thing for many white-breed dog owners. Though not always 100 percent effective, tear stain removers can help significantly reduce the appearance of brown-reddish marks while being safe near your dogs eyes. Here's what to consider before choosing one.
Type
The major types of cleaners are liquids, wipes, and powders. The variety you opt for is dependent on your lifestyle and what's easiest for you.
- Liquid: Acting similarly to makeup remover, the liquid remover usually requires some sort of application with a cotton ball and may involve a bit of soaking or light rubbing. Some are also rinse-free, making it easier to deal with a fussy dog.
- Wipes: These pre-soaked pads are very easy to use. You'll just need to wipe the affected area with the pads to remove any sightly marks. They do tend to be a bit more expensive than other removers and need to stay closed tight or it will dry out.
- Powders: Some cleaners come in a powdered form that can be applied to your dogs face as well to help brighten the area and dry out the spot to prevent bacteria and more tear stains from appearing.
Ingredients
Because the solution with be near your dog's eyes, look for natural, non-irritating ingredients like lemongrass, coconut, and aloe. Avoid harsh chemicals like alcohol and sulfates, and try to find a non-sudsy, no-rinse formula thats less likely to get into your dog's eyes.
Scent
Perfumes and fragrances can be overwhelming to dogs and potentially irritating. Some removers are more naturally scented like vanilla or lavender while others are odorless. But if you can smell anything harsh, your dog certainly can.
Effectiveness
Note that the effectiveness of a stain remover depends a lot on the color and type of coat your dog has. Lighter fur may show the tear stains more strongly and thicker coats can be harder to clean. Regularly cleans will provide your best results, and when in doubt you can always trim the reddish fur to remove it.
Also, look for a cleaner that will prevent future stains to make the cleaning task less difficult moving forward.
Trimming the area will immediately remove any stains. But if you don't want to cut down their fur, using a canine eye wash will clean the area and reduce the appearance.
Most of the reddish-brown discoloration isn't permanent, though left untreated, they may be harder to remove. They can also indicate an underlying health issue.
Some people recommend using a teaspoon of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your dog's water to increase the acidity of your dog's body pH, which will reduce staining overtime.
