Tear Stain remover

Jolly44

Can anyone help me find a safe remedy for removing tear staining on a gold coloured long haired dog please?
My pet is almost 14 years old and has started to develop cataracts. One of her eyes 'weeps' constantly and as a result over the past few months one side of her face is now a dark brown colour - totally different from her coat colour and quite noticeable.
I know you can buy 'over the counter' potions but I do not know of any successes amongst the people I have asked who have used them. I read about a borax and peroxide DIY concoction but I think that is a big risk to use just in case the dog moves and gets some in her eye!
Any help would be appreciated!

chris_n_tj

We have a white dog and all we use to clean his eyes is Optex and make up pads.
Have a word with your Vet as its usually a yeast infection that causes most tear stains.
Other than that just keep her eyes clean, the staining doesn't really bother our pets its us humans that worry xxxx

teddysmum

One of my cavaliers used to have tear stains, from a very early age (it appears to be genetic, as his mum was the same).


I tried lots of over the counter products, but none worked, though one from US, which can be bought from a certain UK seller, was recommended in a dog magazine article by a westie owners club. However it was very expensive, as postage was high and the container was only the size of a single pot of eye shadow.


In the end, I found that keeping his face clean with warm water on kitchen roll (not cotton wool as the fibres can get into the eyes) and carefully drying,worked just as well. (Other owners of the breed, whose dogs had Izzy's problem, agreed, too).


However,I wouldn't think that cataracts would cause tear stains (Both my dogs 12 and nearly 13 have them and so do I, but no tears).


I would ask my vet to check for infection, especially if the stains are a little smelly.

sangie595

I would agree that you should consult your vet if you are guessing that the tears are caused by cataracts - there are other, more obvious causes. But the main risk of tear stains is not the discolouration - it is the potential for fungal or other infections. To reduce this risk (after seeing a vet to be sure there is no other underlying condition), use 15 - 25 g of eyebright herb and 15 - 25 g of chamomile herb (equal amounts of each) in 500ml of boiling water; infuse and strain and put in a sterile container. Use as an eyewipe around the whole eye area. It won't reduce the discolouration overnight, but anything that does is likely to be harmful. What is does do is gently clean and leave a residue of antiseptic, anti-inflammatory treatment which will keep infections under control.

Add a teaspoon of white vinegar to the dogs drinking water - over a period of time this will change the dogs tears pH and can stop further tear stains from forming. It won't harm the dog at all.

Jolly44

Thanks chris n tj
I never considered trying Optrex! I bought some recently so I can try it first. Thanks. Sue

Jolly44

To Teddy'sMum

Thank you for the info particularly the kitchen roll tip!
We have taken her to the Vets about this and he said not to worry about it as it is not sticky or smelly, He did not prescribe anything for the condition - but as I said before it looks so odd with one side of her face being dark brown! It is only us who are worried about it she doesn't seem to mind at all. I'll try the washing and drying after I've given the Optrex a go.

Thanks, Sue

Jolly44

Thank you sangie595
See my reply to TeddysMum about the Vet.

I have a herb garden but unfortunately do not grow either of the herbs you have recommended. Can fresh herbs like these be purchased at this time of the year?

I am very interested in natural remedies so thank you again. Sue

sangie595

Jolly44 wrote: »

Thank you sangie595
See my reply to TeddysMum about the Vet.

I have a herb garden but unfortunately do not grow either of the herbs you have recommended. Can fresh herbs like these be purchased at this time of the year?

I am very interested in natural remedies so thank you again. Sue

You are best obtaining them dried - it's easy to do and you can keep them fresh by properly storing them. Eyebright isn't easy to get hold of fresh now - it's popularity means that it is becoming rare, and organically farmed supplies are available, high quality, and not from dubious sources! Similarly, to grow good quality chamomile in the quantities you could use it in is not very easy in a home garden unless you have loads of space. There are good quality farmed products available on the internet that make it all a lot easier!

sangie595

PS - I missed the kitchen roll tip before. Check that what you are using is ecologically produced. Most white "paper" - tissues, toilet roll and kitchen roll, are that nice white colour because they put bleach in the process! I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't put something produced with bleach near my eye, and I wouldn't put it near my dogs eye either. Too much risk of getting it in the eye instead. Eco products don't use bleach. Save the normal kitchen roll for the kitchen!

Watto30

Something that really helped mine was using eye drops from p.a.h called belphar then followed by using p.a.h eye wipes which come in a tub with blue lid, I would literally use the drops then wipe the tear stain with the wipe and you could see brown residue on the wipe, it took a few weeks but did clear it, also I believe switching to grain free food has also helped

teddysmum

You can see the brown residue on any damp wipe (with water or any other liquid), as the most recent ooze will not have set, but the dried on stain is usually permanent.