What causes brown tear stains on dogs' eyes and how do I clean them?

Thanks for using PetCoach. The brown tear staining is usually the result of a small infection, though if it was a sandy beach, the brown sand could also be part of it. Clean the area gently with a warm wet cloth. Usually I recommend treating with a treat, wipe, or medication containing a small amount tylosin. For example, here in US the one I use is Occubright tear stain remover (https://ocubright.com/) , though there are other supplements that may work well. The important thing to know is that this is almost never serious and usually the eyes are completely healthy. Best wishes to you and Ell!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The dark circles are staining of the fur from discharge/tears from the eye. You can get the eyes checked to make sure that they can close properly, and there aren't any medical problems that are causing Sizzy to produce more tears, or the tears to not flow down into the nose like normal. Lots of dogs however have no problems and just have tear staining, so it could be fine. I recommend discussing this with your vet next time you are there for a check up. Best of luck with Sizzy!

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!

Pets can develop tear stains due to many issues including food, water quality, minerals in the water and some dogs produce the discoloration naturally due to blocked tear ducts. Since this has just started, I recommend to have Bella checked by the veterinarian who will look for clues to a medical condition like allergies or an infection. If no medical cause is identified, you may try a product like Angel Eye which comes in wipes or an oral supplement. You can also try allowing her only distilled water. You can also try a food change to something like Nutro Essentials which has non-GMO products and no artificial ingredients. Avoid grain free diets. Any food or water changes will likely take 6-8 weeks to see any difference. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ruby. Tear staining can be common in small breed dogs. At her next veterinarian appointment, I would ask about it though. If she has an eyelash growing in the wrong direction it can irritate the surface of her eye. Allergies or and an eye infection can cause this as well. If only one eye is affected, then I worry about a scratch across her eye. If her eyes are red, the discharge is yellow or green or if she is squinting, then she needs to see her veterinarian. If it is clear discharge and the eyes are otherwise normal, then I would have it checked at her next appointment. I hope this information helps!

Thank you so much for the photos. This is actually a sign of excessive tearing. This is common for the breed, but if there is excessive liquid under the eye, then there could be a tear duct problem, however this rarely happens on both sides simultaneously, so I would have to guess that this is normal for your pet. Chihuahua's are notorious for being able to cry when they are sad or fearful, so I'm wondering if Hercules isn't feeling sentimental about your new addition to the home. Try to do fun things with him and continue to show him lots of affection so that he can adjust to the new addition. Excessive tearing can also indicate that some dust or particles are getting in the eye, causing irritation. Pet dander from the other pet could also be the culprit here. In the meantime, its best to wipe under his eyes every few days with a warm wet clean cloth to help remove any debris or gunk that can then cause skin irritation. Best of luck with your pet Hercules moving forward. Take care!

Yes this is likely normal for her. As long as she isn't squinting that eye, rubbing it, or having green/yellow discharge from that eye then I wouldn't be concerned. Also the dark brown in her fur is normal tear staining for her breed. I hope this helps.