Causes & Solutions To Unsightly Eye Staining

Professional groomers are often asked how to remove those awful eye stains that some light-colored dogs are prone to. These dogs are easy to spot, with their raccoon-like masks around their eyes. There are dozens of products on the market that claim to take these stains away with regular usage. Be forewarned; they do not work. Unfortunately, there is no magic potion that will remove the dark stains from around a pet’s eyes.

Many different breeds suffer from excessive eye drainage. It is more noticeable with lighter-colored dogs because of the hair color change that takes place. The telltale reddish-brown stain is easy to spot, but hard to cure. As in many things, prevention is the name of the game.

First, it is important to rule out any health problems that may be causing the eye irritation. The purpose of tears in a dog’s eye is to cleanse and lubricate the eye. If there is excessive tearing, this may be caused by a medical condition that would need care from a veterinarian. The first step in solving this dilemma is to rule out any health reasons for the tearing.

The reddish-brown stains are caused by iron in the dog’s system. It actually dyes the hair that color, just like a rust stain you might find on a recently laundered piece of clothing. These stains can show up not only around the eyes, but around the dog’s mouth, too, or also in any area that he might be licking excessively. The saliva acts like the tears, staining the rust color permanently onto the dog’s coat.

One of the easiest ways to reduce staining is to give the dog only distilled water to drink. This is an old trick used by many white poodle breeders to reduce the staining problem, and it is usually very effective. Filtered water will not work; it must be distilled water, and it must be given to the dog consistently.

Other things can contribute to staining also. Some of the inexpensive commercial dog foods contain high levels of food coloring, which can also add to the staining problem as well. Feeding a premium quality food with fewer dyes and preservatives can sometimes dramatically reduce the staining.

In addition to the unattractive appearance of the staining, often the eye matter collects and dries around the dog’s eyes, leaving a hard lump in the corner of the eye. Not only is this unsightly, but, if left untreated over time, it can become quite odorous and the area around the eyes can become infected. This can be horribly painful for the animal, and usually means a trip to the veterinarian for oral and topical antibiotic treatments.

Finally, there are other common sense issues that can indeed help with the staining problem. Keeping the dogs face clipped short is an obvious solution. If the hair around the eyes is short, the tears then don’t have anything to cling to. Also, wiping the dog’s face two or three times per day with a warm washcloth will do wonders in reducing the amount and severity of the staining.

Shannon Lynnes Heggem is an international speaker with a strong background in the pet care industry.

In the 1990′s, she established an upscale boarding resort and grooming spa in Havre, Montana. She then founded the Fast Track Institute of Pet Careers, a vocational school focused on pet-related careers.

Shannon quickly became one of the top experts in the pet care industry, as an educator, business consultant, speaker, and contest judge. She was the first Certified Master Groomer in Montana, and went on to become a Certified Kennel Operator. Only four people in the world actually hold both of these certification titles!

In 1998, Shannon’s life was forever changed when she narrowly escaped death. She was viciously attacked in her kennel by a Rottweiler, and amazingly, survived.

Since then, Shannon has overcome incredible obstacles to continue her life’s journey. The trauma was a turning point for her; she has now dedicated her life to writing and speaking, to help motivate others to succeed beyond their own experiences.