If you don’t already know, I am a very proud mother of the World’s cutest little angel from heaven, Coconut.
She is a Maltese and is honestly the sweetest, most loving soul I have ever encountered. I can’t even imagine what it feels like to be a mother of a human child, and the love you have for your baby.
She is 5 years old now, and I have managed to keep her tear stain free for most of her life. When I first got her, she began to develop tear stains. I read online about different things to try (Angel Eyes etc), but I also read that some of the “quick fixes” out there can actually be dangerous for your dog.
The last thing I would ever want is to harm Coconut so that she could look more aesthetically pleasing, I would never forgive myself. So, I decided to take her to the vet and discuss the issue with him.
This was years ago, so I’ll try and remember what he said was causing the staining, but from what I recall the vet told me that it was some sort of a reaction internally in her body causing a certain kind of tear (I believe he used the word “yeast” lol) that then leaves stains.
He said rather than trying a medication type fix, I should try changing what she puts IN her body as that may change the chemical balance of her tears. Here were his recommendations:
1. Bottled Spring Water: Coconut’s vet stated that tap
water is full of chemicals, chlorines and the like in order to clean it and make it suitable for consumption, and those chemicals may be responsible for the tearing. Instead of giving her tap water, he suggested I only give her bottled water, and even more specific, only natural spring water (some bottled water is really just glorified tap water, it’s “purified water”).
I immediately made the switch, and Coconut exclusively drinks Natural Spring Bottled Water to this day.
2. Change her Food: Because the Vet said the tear stains start as a chemical reaction internally, he suggested I switch her food. He said that every dog is different and will react differently to different foods. The brand he suggested I try for her is called “Royal Canin.” You can get this pet food at any Petco or PetSmart location.
I immediately made the switch to Royal Canin, and Coconut still eats this food to this day. Well, it’s her exclusive dry pet food anyway, we have incorporated fresh cooked chic
ken breast, rice etc into her diet, but as far as processed pet foods, she uses this brand exclusively.
3. Wipe her eye area Daily: Lastly, Coconut’s Vet suggested I buy face wipes for dogs (or use a warm wet towel), and wipe her under eye 1-3 times daily. All dogs tear from there eyes, so if you’re cleaning it daily, there will naturally be less buildup.
I initially went out and bought fancy dog wipes, but gave up on them after before the pack was even finished. I find a slightly wet napkin works best. I wipe coconut’s under eye area once a day, usually in the morning since that’s when she has eye boogers.
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These changes alone cleared up the tear stains Coconut had, and she has never had a problem with them since. One time I changed her food because the she got sick and needed to eat special food from the vet for a month, and sure enough she began to get red tear stains during that time.
Once she was able to switch back to her regular diet, they cleared up. Because of that experience, I agree with the Vet 100% when he said it’s due to a reaction internally and diet plays a huge role.
If your dog suffers from tear stains, hopefully these tricks will work for you like they have for Coconut. If you don’t have a dog, or don’t like dogs, let me just say, I was NOT an animal person either once (I wasn’t allowed to have pets growing up, so I was very uncomfortable around animals). Then, I got a dog.
Word’s cannot even begin to describe how much I love Coconut. She has brought so much love and happiness to my life, I would give up everything I own for her.
I hope these tips help you if your dog suffers from tear stains. If you have any tips of your own on how to clear a dog’s tear stains, comment them below so that you can help others as well.
xoxo
Lilly Ghalichi Mir
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Omg my maltese always has tears this is the best advice ever!!! You’re amazing thank you so much!!! Xoxoxo boos
My Maltese is everything as well! (She’s taken a bit of a backseat since I had my son; something I swore would never happen). She’s 11 and never had tear stains bc someone told me once to cook for her!
Once a week I make her a batch of veggies meat and brown rice. I also feed her salmon treats bc malties have issues with joints.
I was told the dye in dog food can come out in their eyes. Thanks for the tips! Xx