Dog Community

Red Tear Stains

Posted : 12/29/2006 3:44:14 AM

Tasha has red tear stains around her eyes. I read that feeding 1/2 a tums twice a day will the help the ph balance and prevent this but how can I clean the stains that are already there? And does anyone have any other ideas on how to prevent it? I read something about giving antibiotics but that doesn't really make sense to me since from what I read it's caused by yeast and not bacteria.

Cheryl

Posted : 1/2/2007 9:30:15 AM

Have you taken Tasha to a vet yet? I'm sure they can answer most of your questions. I wouldn't give my dog Tums or any over-the-counter people meds without consulting a vet first.

Sherrie Porter

Posted : 1/3/2007 1:51:20 PM

The vet I worked for suggested eye drops with boric acid as an ingredient. I've used it with marginal results. But my dog's eyes were staining because his tear ducts were too small. I had them surgically corrected and the staining eventually went away just with time and lots of wiping and cleaning. But if the eyes are constantly tearing due to some other reason, you may have a bit of a struggle on your hands. Products from petstores like Petco and Petsmart were also just marginally helpful. But this is just my experiences. Hope it helps!

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 1/4/2007 3:22:00 PM

There are several other things you can try. Good quality food is one. Make sure you get a food with no dyes - many supermarket foods have dyes that can end up in the tears. Soemtimes a food with no grains may help. Also, try giving her bottled water. If you have a hard water the minerals may end up in her tears.

dvet

Posted : 1/4/2007 4:35:34 PM

the tears can be perfectly normal...the red ness come from their contact with air causing them to oxidice (oxidise ?? what ever) and turn red with contact to the air.. you can use all sorts of tricks to reduce the tears but tearing is normal...I found the best for my clients was to advise them to wipe the tears off the coat at least once a day...But , I guess, whatever works and you are happy with you do,....

Lilea Storm

Posted : 1/5/2007 6:11:03 PM

ORIGINAL: dvet

the tears can be perfectly normal...the red ness come from their contact with air causing them to oxidice (oxidise ?? what ever) and turn red with contact to the air.. you can use all sorts of tricks to reduce the tears but tearing is normal...I found the best for my clients was to advise them to wipe the tears off the coat at least once a day...But , I guess, whatever works and you are happy with you do,....

Ok, I was under the impression that its always something bad and that the redness is caused by yeast. I'm glad that isnt necessarily true, her face does not smell bad or anything. I do wipe the tears away several times on some days. I ordered crystal eyes online because I read a post by another member that said it works really good. As long as the staining doesnt mean anything bad then it doesnt bother me that much. She's eating IAMS right now and is trying Maxximum Nutrition next and I don't see any artificial colorings in either. I guess it could be the water because she didn't have staining in her old home.

Debbie R

Posted : 1/5/2007 7:20:27 PM

I agree with dvet of course, but I also know that with Brando when his teeth are bad, and sometimes not obviously to me or the vet, it turns red, once his teeth are treated no red.

sweetbon

Posted : 1/6/2007 2:40:14 PM

Zoe has this problem. It started after she got spayed and had gotten and vaginal infection. I think if was from the antibiotics. I don't know. She has been on NB Sweet potato and fish, is drinking bottled water since Aug/06.

She just had her annual check up with booster shots, and I mentioned it to the vet again, and her eyes are tearing extra amounts. She looked at her eyes and showed me that her lower eyelids rolled in, causing irritation to the eyes.

So, Zoe will be getting surgery soon to correct this, as well as getting her tear ducts cleaned out to make sure they aren't plugged.

dvet

Posted : 1/6/2007 8:46:44 PM

Re.Debv's statement: " I agree with dvet of course".. I have to say that I know as well as anyone elwse that I am not, by any means, always right.. I like to think that I am close and my 50 yrs a vet as "learned": me something...But anything I say or state can always be up to scrutiny and corrections..

re the excessive red ness from teeth is due to the nasolacrimal duct...the crude comes up from the mouth throught this duct and out the eys...gross but it can also be a cause for bacterial color staining....