Dog's Help

Do you have a light colored or a toy dog? If yes, then chances are that you are dealing with the problem of tear stains. Here is all that you need to know about the problem to deal with it better.

Know the cause
Knowing the cause is half battle won. This holds true for the problem of tear stains as well. If you know why your pet is getting tear stains, then it will be much easier to deal with the problem.

Though there are several factors that can be responsible for tear stains, it is excessive tearing that counts the most. If your pet dog tears way too often, the moisture from excess tearing collects around the eye. This excessive moisture makes the area surrounding the eye a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.

Genetic factors may also be responsible for excess tearing in dogs. There are several dog breeds who have a head shape and eyes that obstruct the tear ducts. Since the tear ducts are blocked, the excessive tears flow on to the hair that surrounds the eye.

Some dogs also deal with excess tearing due to hair in the eyes. The hair surrounding the eyes can cause irritation which in turn can lead to tearing. Sometimes, excessive hair around the eyes can also scour the moisture from the eyes, which can make the problem worse.

Dealing with the problem
How you choose to deal with the problem of excess tearing in your pet depends primarily on the cause of the problem. For instance, if your dog suffers from excess tearing due to genetic factors, then keeping tear cleaners handy will solve the problem.

Trimming the hair around your pet's eyes also proves to be of much help in avoiding tear stains. Make sure that the hair are cut to the minimum length possible and they do not irritate the eyes.

Give your pet dog filtered or bottled water. A high mineral content in drinking water can also be responsible for the problem of tear stains. It is good to give your pet boiled water that has been cooled down to adequate temperature.

You also need to be careful about the bowl in which you feed your dog. Stainless steel bowls are a better option than ceramic bowls, if your dog has been dealing with the problem of tear stains. Unlike ceramic bowls, stainless steel bowls do not develop scratches and are less likely to harbor bacteria. This reduces the chances of any kind of tear stains.

You also need to be extremely careful while shampooing your dog. Some chemicals and shampoos that find way into your dog's eyes can be responsible for excessive tearing. This can again lead to tear stains.