3 Ways to Manage Tear Staining on Dogs

If your dog has lighter-colored fur, you may notice stains traveling from the corners of their eyes down to around their nose. These stains could be minor or pretty dramatic, depending on your dog’s case. Tear stains aren’t painful for your dog, but it can be frustrating to see their beautiful fur discolored.

There are several potential causes of tear stains. But once you understand what’s causing your dog’s issue, you can better remove and prevent future stains.

How can you remove your dog’s tear stains?

You can remove tear stains in several ways. Below, we look at three ways to manage tear staining on dogs. But it’s helpful to have a veterinarian evaluate your dog’s tear stains so that you know if treatment is needed to address the cause.

1. Treat medical conditions

Before you start trying to remove tear stains yourself, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. If your dog’s tear stains are caused by a medical condition, like an ingrown eyelash or allergies, then it’s important to treat that condition. This will prevent stains from reoccurring. 

“The best way to remove and prevent tear stains is to treat the underlying condition if possible,” Chyrle Bonk, DVM, told GoodRx Health.

2. Use tear-stain-removal products

“There are a variety of products out there targeted at removing tear stains,” Bonk said. “These products come in the form of wipes, solutions, or shampoos.”

Tear-stain-removal products gently clean and eliminate stains. Some products are made with all-natural ingredients like vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts. And these are often a good choice for puppies or dogs with sensitive skin. There are also medicated products that may help reduce irritation and inflammation.

Bonk also said that you may be able to use a warm washcloth and a mild baby shampoo to gently remove stains. “Just make sure to thoroughly rinse out any soap,” she said.

3. Avoid irritating products

As you work to remove your dog’s tear stains, be sure to avoid using any products that could further irritate their eyes. For example, you might find tips online for removing tear stains with the products below. But these items should always be avoided:

• Makeup remover

• Milk of magnesia

• Yogurt

• Honey

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Gold Bond

• Cornstarch

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When applied around your dog’s eyes, these products can be highly irritating. Instead, stick to products designed specifically for tear stains, or products a veterinarian has recommended.

What causes tear stains in dogs?

A chemical called porphyrin causes tear staining in dogs. Porphyrins are organic compounds that stain the fur light pink, red, or brown.

Your dog naturally excretes porphyrins through their intestinal tract, tears, saliva, and urine. That’s why if your dog is white, you may have noticed a brownish stain on their leg after they lick themselves. That stain is caused by the porphyrins in your dog’s saliva.

All dogs excrete porphyrins, but some dogs are more likely to have tear stains. Below are a few common reasons your dog may have tear staining.

A lighter-colored coat

When dogs produce excessive tears, porphyrins in the tears can stain their face. The staining is particularly noticeable in dogs with lighter-colored coats.

Certain features

Tear staining can occur simply because of a dog’s natural features. Short noses and protruding eyes are common features of today’s dog breeds. Dogs with that face shape typically have narrow tear ducts, and those ducts are often crooked. That naturally leads to tear staining.

Eyelid problems

Tear staining can also result from an eyelid issue, Bonk said.

“Tear staining is often the result of an abnormality in the eyelids that allows tears to drain down a dog’s face, rather than into their [tear duct],” she said. “[Tear staining] can be due to a plugged duct or excessive looseness or tightness of the lower lid.”

Environmental or physical issue

Other physical and environmental issues can lead to excessive tear production and staining, including:

• Allergies

• Ingrown eyelashes

• Irritants like cigarette smoke

Which dog breeds are more prone to tear stains?

Certain breeds are more likely to experience tear staining than others, Bonk said. “Tear staining often occurs in brachycephalic breeds, or those breeds with short, smooshed faces,” she said. “This is due to their facial structure.”

This includes dogs like:

• Boxers

• Bulldogs

• Pugs

• Boston terriers

Other breeds that “are also prone to tear staining,” Bonk said, include:

• Shih tzus

• Lhasa apsos

• Maltese

• Poodles

• Pekingese

How to prevent tear stains on dogs

You may be able to help prevent your dog from developing tear stains in the first place by taking the following steps.

Keep your dog’s face groomed

To prevent tear stains, focus on keeping your dog’s face well-groomed. Wipe their face twice a day with a damp cloth, and schedule regular appointments with the groomer. Careful grooming can help keep your dog’s eyes from getting irritated and quickly addresses and removes tear stains that are starting to form.

Avoid using plastic food and water bowls

Use only food and water bowls made from stainless steel, porcelain, or glass. Plastic food bowls can develop tiny cracks that harbor bacteria. This bacteria can irritate your dog’s face, leading to increased tear production.

Feed them a nutritious diet

Your dog’s diet may also be important for preventing tear stains. Providing your dog with high-quality, balanced nutrition may help keep their face free of stains.

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Written by:

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a freelance writer who specializes in pet and animal topics. She studied English and music performance at Westfield State University.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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