How to solve severe tear stains in dogs

When we look around the lively and bright eyes of dogs, surrounded by dark tears, our hearts are inevitably filled with heartache and worry. The once cute face of the dog seems to have lost its former radiance due to the severe tear marks. As the closest companion of dogs, we are eager to find a solution that will allow them to bloom with pure smiles once again.

1、 Dietary Factors: Exploring the Source

Diet plays a crucial role in the formation of tears in dogs. If dogs consume high salt, high oil foods for a long time, or if the nutrition in the food is unbalanced, it may lead to worsening tear marks. High salt foods can increase the physical burden on dogs, and excess salt is excreted through tears, leading to the formation of noticeable tear marks over time. Some dog food contains a significant amount of additives and preservatives during processing, which may also irritate the dog's body and be reflected in tear stains.

I once met a dog owner whose dog had severe tear stains. After inquiry, it was found that the owner often feeds the dog some human food, which has a salt and oil content far exceeding the dog's needs. After adjusting to low salt, nutritionally balanced dog food and eliminating the feeding of human food, the tears in dogs gradually decreased. Therefore, choosing a high-quality, low salt, and nutritious dog food for dogs is the foundation for solving the problem of tear marks. You can check the ingredient list of dog food and choose products that mainly use natural ingredients and have a salt content between 0.5% and 1%. At the same time, it is important to ensure that dog food contains sufficient nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin C that are beneficial to the eyes.

2、 Eye Disease: A Health Alert

Eye diseases are one of the common causes of severe tear stains in dogs. Conjunctivitis, keratitis, entropion and other diseases can cause excessive secretion in dogs' eyes, leading to the formation of tear marks. When dogs suffer from conjunctivitis, they may experience redness, swelling, and itching in their eyes. They may unconsciously scratch with their paws, which not only exacerbates inflammation but also causes more secretions to accumulate at the corners of their eyes, forming dark tear marks.

If you find that your dog frequently blinks, has red eyes, and has a lot of eye droppings, be sure to take it to a pet hospital for examination in a timely manner. Veterinarians will conduct professional examinations to determine the type of eye disease in dogs and provide appropriate treatment. Antibiotics eye drops and eye ointment may be used to treat inflammation, or surgery may be performed to correct issues such as eyelid inversion. During the treatment process, the owner should strictly follow the doctor's advice to administer medication to the dog and prevent the dog from scratching its eyes to avoid affecting the treatment effect.

3、 Facial structure: special troubles

Some dogs are more prone to tear marks due to the unique facial structure. For example, small dogs such as Pomeranians, Bichon Bears, and Poodles have large and protruding eyes, and their lacrimal glands are closer to the surface of the eyes, making it easier for tears to flow out. In addition, their nasolacrimal ducts are relatively narrow, making it difficult for tears to flow out and leading to the formation of tear marks.

For this type of dog, daily eye cleaning is crucial. Every day, use a clean wet towel or pet specific eye cleaning wipes to gently wipe around the dog's eyes, remove secretions, and keep the eyes clean. Pet specific eye care solution can also be used. According to the instructions, regularly drip it into the dog's eyes to clean and moisturize them. In addition, trimming the hair around the dog's eyes appropriately to avoid eye irritation can also reduce the production of tear marks.

4、 Environment and Daily Care: Care for Details

The environment in which dogs live can also have an impact on tear stains. If there are many allergens such as dust, pollen, and hair in the environment, it is easy to irritate the dog's eyes, leading to increased tearing and worsening tear marks. Maintaining indoor cleanliness, regularly cleaning, using air purifiers, and reducing allergens in the environment can effectively alleviate the problem of tears in dogs.

In daily care, it is also important to pay attention to the dog's lifestyle habits. For example, providing clean and sufficient drinking water to dogs to maintain their body's water balance can help reduce tear stains. Avoid keeping dogs in dry and hot environments for extended periods of time, as this can make their eyes even more uncomfortable. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the emotional state of the dog, as excessive stress may also affect the endocrine system and worsen tear marks. Accompany dogs more, play and interact with them, and keep them in a happy mood.

The serious tear stains on dogs are an issue that requires our attention. By adjusting diet, treating eye diseases in a timely manner, paying attention to facial structural characteristics, and taking good care of the environment and daily care, we can definitely help dogs alleviate the problem of tear marks. Dogs give us unconditional love and companionship, and we also need to be careful and patient to take care of every detail of their health. Let's work together to give our dogs bright and clear eyes again, bloom with the purest smile, and accompany us through more wonderful times.