What Causes Tear Stains?

If you're a pet owner, then you've no doubt noticed the occasional tear stain on your loved one’s fur. But what causes these stains, and can you prevent them from occurring? In this blog post, we'll answer some questions about tear stains.

What Are Tear Stains?

Tear stains are streaks of pigment that form beneath a pet's eyes. They are caused by the accumulation of tears, mucus, and debris in the area around the eyes. They can be caused as a result of excess tear production. Tear stains can range in color from light brown to black.

Tear stains are often a cosmetic problem and are not serious. Most of the discoloration of the fur is not permanent, although stains that have been neglected for a long periods of time will need to be grown out and trimmed before disappearing completely unless they can be removed with a stain remover, by a veterinarian or by a pet groomer.

What Causes Tear Stains?

There are a few different things that can cause tear stains in pets. One possibility is that your pet has an underlying health condition, such as allergies. They may be squinting, rubbing, or sneezing often causing their eyes to water more than usual. Another possibility is that their tear ducts are not draining properly. For cats excessive tear stains may mean bacterial infections, tear duct blockages, allergies, or other eye conditions. Excessive tear stains for dogs could mean that your dog could have ingrown eyelashes, an ear infection, abnormal small tear ducts, or an eye infection. Pets that have long hair on their face may also have additional tear stains because their hair may be getting in their eyes causing irritation.

Preventing Tear Stains

If you want to prevent tear stains from happening in the first place, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure that your pet's face is clean and free of any debris that could be irritating their eyes. You should also regularly trim the hair around their eyes so that it doesn't get too long and start covering their vision. If you notice that your pet's tears are starting to stain their fur, you can also try wiping them away with a damp cloth as soon as possible. You can also talk to your veterinarian, change your pet’s diet; or their source of water (maybe try bottled water or filtered water instead of using tap water from your faucet). You can also try changing your pet’s plastic bowl (which can harbor bacteria if they are not cleaned properly) to a stainless steel or porcelain bowl.

However, if your pet’s tear stains are not excessive and mostly cosmetic then you can help eliminate them on a daily basis. Tap the button below to see which products we have reviewed that may help you remove your pet’s tear stains or prevent them from occurring.