🐶 Keeping Your Pup’s Eyes Free from Tear Stains

Does your pup have reddish or brownish stains around their eyes? These tear stains are a common concern for many dog owners, especially for breeds prone to excessive tearing. While they’re usually harmless, they can be a sign of underlying issues like allergies, irritation, or diet imbalances. Sometimes, they also appear more prominently as our pups age and start to grey, as our editor is experiencing with their nearly 10-year-old Puggle.

This newsletter will explore what causes tear stains, how to prevent them, and the best ways to safely clean and care for your dog’s eyes. Let’s keep those adorable faces stain-free and looking their best! 🐶✨

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — Tips to Prevent Tear Stains in Dogs 🐾

Tear stains are a common issue that can affect your dog’s appearance and comfort. These reddish-brown streaks around their eyes are often caused by excessive tearing, trapped moisture, or even underlying health issues. We can’t guarantee these tips will totally eliminate them, but hopefully, they’ll help your pup be more comfortable and looking their best!

Here’s how you can help prevent them

Keep the Face Clean

• Gentle Wipes: Use a soft, damp cloth or pet-safe eye wipes daily to gently clean the area around your dog’s eyes.

• Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, make sure the area is completely dry to prevent bacteria and yeast from thriving.

Watch Their Diet

• High-Quality Food: Provide a balanced, high-quality diet with minimal fillers and artificial additives, which can contribute to tear production.

• Filtered Water: Offer filtered water to reduce minerals that may contribute to staining. Remember to wash your pup’s bowl! Try to do this at least once a week.

Manage Tear Production

• Grooming Regularly: Trim fur around the eyes to prevent irritation and trapped moisture.

• Check for Allergens: Identify and reduce allergens in your dog’s environment that may cause excessive tearing.

Be Proactive with Eye Care

• Tear Stain Removers: Use vet-approved tear stain removers or natural remedies to help lighten existing stains.

• Vet Visits: If tear stains persist or worsen, consult your vet to rule out underlying health issues such as infections, blocked tear ducts, or dental problems.

With these simple steps, you can help your pup stay clean, comfortable, and picture-perfect! Though we think even tear-stained dogs are beautiful just the way they are!

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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Blue Ridge Beef - Puppy Mix for potential salmonella.

• Hollywood Feed - Carolina Made Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• Gaines Family Farmstead - Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• ANSWERS - All beef and chicken dog foods for potential listeria and salmonella.

The Smile Section

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendation — Tear Stain Prone Breeds

Certain dog breeds are more prone to tear stains due to their facial anatomy, coat color, or predisposition to excessive tearing. Breeds with shallow eye sockets or prominent eyes, such as Shih Tzus, Maltese, Poodles, and Bulldogs, often experience tear stains because tears can easily overflow onto the face. Dogs with white or light-colored fur, like Bichon Frises or Cocker Spaniels, tend to show tear stains more prominently, as the pigments in the tears can discolor their coats.

Treats

• 🐶 A Touching Reunion! Read all about a pup who traversed NYC and was reunited with its family.

• ✍️ Curated dog content: I Love Every Dog creates adorable, heartwarming, and real daily content about dogs, like this post about silly cats fitting in with dogs.

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!