Why does my dog have brown stains on her back and how to clean them?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Juliette! There is pigment normally present in tear film and saliva. If she is having excessive tearing and is either using her paws to rub her eyes (like a grooming cat) or is licking her paws that can explain the discoloration. The most common reason for a sudden onset of excessive tearing and licking of the paws is allergies (allergies can start anytime). You are right that the tear staining can be normal in some breeds and there is nothing that can be done. I would get Juliette in to your Vet for an evaluation of her eyes and skin. Watch her closely to see if she is pawing her face or is licking her feet. If the staining is on her back feet then you have your answer, she is licking them. Your vet can prescribe medications for her eyes and something to stop the itch. There are not products that work consistently to remove the staining. You will have to stop the inciting cause then wait for the hair to grow out and get her groomed. I wish you the best!

The brownish-red discoloration on your dog's face looks most like salivary staining. The enzymes in the saliva interact with the fur, causing this type of reddish-brown staining. Salivary staining generally occurs when a dog licks a particular area excessively, like the paws or groin, or when they drool a good bit. It's especially noticeable in white dogs, like your adorable pup. Some dogs may drool excessively if they're nauseous, so keep a close eye on your dog for changes in their appetite, vomiting, or lethargy, as these could be signs of a medical issue. If your dog is otherwise doing well, allergies are often to blame (particularly this time of year). You can try bathing your dog with a gentle oatmeal shampoo. It's best to seek veterinary attention if you see this discoloration elsewhere on the body, as this indicates that your dog is itchy if they're licking a lot, and would likely benefit from additional treatment. I hope that everything goes well!

It's a little odd that it is only on one side of the belly/leg. The rust color looks like saliva staining from your dog licking more frequently. The brown spots are likely clogged pores. I would work with your vet to treat itching (making sure he is on a good-quality flea preventative), food allergies, atopy, etc. You can also ask for a benzoyl peroxide dog shampoo to help flush the pores.

The red stains are likely saliva staining from excessive licking. This is commonly due to skin infection or allergies. Place an e-collar (cone) on Chunk to prevent licking and see your vet for an exam to diagnose the underlying cause. There are products than are purported to remove such stains easily but I have yet to see one that works as well as advertised.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the photos, the discoloration looks like it is caused by salivary enzymes from chronic licking. This can be due to an underlying skin infection or environmental/food allergies. Your vet can rule out these conditions with some skin samples and possibly a food trial. I hope this helps!

The brown spots look a bit like flea dirt. If Nala isn’t already in a good-quality monthly flea preventative, then fleas are probably the cause. The red spots look like the start of a pyoderma. you can try a medicated shampoo like the one I can link below, but if it isn’t showing signs of improvement in a week or so, she should get checked out by a vet. If she is licking, then she needs to wear an e-collar until it is resolved. Dechra Mal-a-ket Formulated for Dogs, Cats and Horses Antibacterial and Antifungal Shampoo 8oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AT4CVLC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XwrsFbEYGHFMW

This brownish discoloration of the skin and hair is usually caused by saliva staining - the saliva has chemical compounds in it that turn brown when exposed to air. Most of the time, when a dog's paws look like this, it's a sign that they have been licking or chewing their paws excessively. It's likely that Rocky has allergies causing this problem - either food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked when you're able to, so that he can get started on appropriate treatment to keep him from continuing to chew at his paws. Once he stops licking and chewing, the brown staining will gradually resolve on its own. In the meantime, you can also try a whitening dog shampoo to see if this helps - this probably won't completely get rid of the stains, but may help to make them less noticeable.