How to Get Rid of Tear Stains on Dogs

Does your dog have dark, crusty stains under his eyes? Find out why dogs get tear stains and learn how to get rid of tear stains on dogs and keep them from coming back.

Lots of dogs get tear stains, but they often go unnoticed until they become a problem. In the beginning, tear stains may just look like a small area of damp fur under the eyes, but they can build up over time to cause irritating and unsightly stains on the fur. 

A regular and consistent dog grooming routine is one of the best ways to monitor your dog's eye health and catch issues early, but understanding what causes dog tear stains in the first place can help you prevent them from becoming a problem again. 

What are Dog Tear Stains?

Tear stains are red or brown markings under the dog's eyes. In the early stages, tear stains are easy enough to wipe away with a dog face wipe, but over time, these stains can dye the fur and prove difficult to get rid of. 

Identifying tear stains is pretty simple, but that doesn’t really explain what they are. So what are dog tear stains? 

We call them tear stains because they are caused by your dog's tears. Tear stains are fluid from your dog's eyes that have leaked down onto the fur and discoloured it. 

Can Dogs Cry Tears?

Yes, they can, but not the kind of crying we associate with sadness. Your dog’s eyes, just like your own, create a saline-like fluid that lubricates the eye and helps to remove debris or other dog eye irritation. 

Normally, small ducts in the corners of the eye drain out this fluid once it has done its job, but when there is too much fluid or the drainage system isn’t working correctly, the tears have nowhere to go but down. 

This moisture saturates your dog's fur, just like your tears would streak down your face if you were to cry. 

Dogs with chronic eye irritation often produce extra tears to flush debris from the eye. This is more than the tear ducts can remove and would produce constant tear stains.

Which Dogs Are More Prone to Tear Stains?

Some dogs get them, some don't, but what makes some dogs more prone to these unwanted streaks? 

Your dog’s eyes naturally clean themselves, but certain traits can make tear stains more likely. The first thing to look at is which dogs are more likely to get tear stains.

Here are some other traits that may make your dog more likely to suffer from tear stains:

• • White or light-furred dogs, like the ones mentioned above
  • Dogs with protruding eyes and congested nasal passages, like Pugs and Bulldogs
  • Dogs with long facial hair, like Schnauzers
  • Dogs prone to eye infections or cherry eye, like Boxers
  • Wrinkly dogs, like Shar Peis

Research your dog's breed to find out if they are predisposed to tear stains or eye problems. 

Tear stains aren’t always caused by breed traits. Internal health factors can also play a role. Some health conditions, like allergies or disease, can contribute to dog tear stains. Understanding why dogs get tear stains will be the first step towards treating and preventing them.

Dog Breeds Prone to Tear Staining

Certain breeds are more likely to deal with tear stains, often because they have more than one of the breed traits that make them more susceptible. These breeds will likely need daily face cleaning, a good diet, and may benefit from supplements that help to minimize staining from their natural tear production.

My Dog Has Tear Stains. Should I Be Worried?

Well, it depends on the actual cause. 

Staining commonly occurs due to an excess of porphyrin, a pigment that is naturally present in the dog's tears, saliva, or urine. Usually, it is the result of the porphyrin pigment in a dog's tears that causes these red/brown stains. In this case, your dog won't feel any pain, and it isn't harmful to your dog's health. 

Tear stains can become uncomfortable when the excessive tearing on the face leads to bacterial growth and infection. Additionally, dried tear stains can lead to a crusty build-up on the fur that can be itchy or irritating for your dog. 

Regular cleaning is very important when managing tear stains in dogs. 

What Causes Dog Tear Stains?

While any dog can get tear stains, several factors can make them more noticeable or more frequent. These usually fall into three categories: medical conditions, environmental triggers, and diet-related factors.

Unlike the breed factors above, these causes are often temporary or can be corrected by lifestyle changes and appropriate vet care.

Medical Causes

Though the tear stains or excessive pigment aren’t typically painful or dangerous for regularly groomed dogs, they could be a symptom of a bigger health issue.

Here are some medical conditions that could contribute to tear stains on dogs:

• • Dog Eye Infections:  An infection in or around the eye could lead to excessive tearing and darker or more prominent tear stains. Brownish or goopy discharge is a good indicator of an issue. Talk to your vet about appropriate treatment and keep the face clean and dry to reduce staining, especially on light coloured fur.
  • Ingrown Eyelashes: Also known as Distichiasis, it is a condition in which the dog's eyelashes grow abnormally, which will irritate your dog's eye. The lashes will irritate the eye and lead to extra fluid production to reduce irritation, causing more and more tear staining over time. Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, and Shih Tzus, are a few of the breeds that are more prone to this condition.
  • Entropion: Another possible eye condition that will cause excessive tearing is called entropion. This is a condition that causes the eyelid to roll inward. This will cause significant tear staining, but more importantly, it will be very irritating and could damage the eye. Talk to your vet immediately if you suspect any eye conditions.
  • Teething: During the puppy teething process, between 3 weeks and 7 months, you may witness tear stains around the pup's eyes. Actually, during these 6-7 months, a heavy amount of water can be discharged from the puppy's eyes because of the pressure on the tear ducts, which causes tear stains. 

Environment

Health conditions aren't the only cause or catalyst of tear staining in dogs. External factors, like their environment, can affect your dog's eye health. It's important to assess your dog's environment for possible irritants before you start trying to treat tear stains.

Take a look at a few environmental factors:

• • Smoke: Smoke and other air pollutants may be the major reason for excessive eye discharge from the dog's eye, which can result in tear stains. It can be any smoke from the indoor fireplace, cigarettes and marijuana, or industrial smoke if you live near an industrial area. Wildfire season can be especially tough on some dogs, so make sure to keep them indoors if the smoke is really bad.
  • Wind: If you live in a particularly windy city, you may find your dog's tear stains are worse after spending time outside. Strong winds can force tear production, and the wind can blow small debris and bacteria, irritating your dog's eyes.
  • Sun: Extreme brightness from the sun can also encourage tear production. This can be worsened by water or snow that reflects the light back up from the ground. You may find your dog squinting more when the sun is bothering their eyes.
  • Environmental Allergies: Dogs can get seasonal allergies like pollen and hay fever. Just like humans, this can lead to watery, itchy eyes, inflammation, and other skin issues.

Diet Matters

What you put in your dog will affect what comes out of them. As the foundation of their health, their overall diet can have a significant impact on all aspects of their health. Quality, quantity, and balance matter.

Check out the most common dietary contributors to tear stains:

• • Poor Quality Food: Dogs with persistent tear staining will benefit from a higher-quality diet. Less processed and more natural foods lead to better digestion and nutrient absorption. Raw dog diets are a great example of a natural and highly digestible dog food diet that can help your dog better break down and utilize nutrients and boost the immune system to fight off bacteria contributing to eye infections in dogs.
  • Food allergies: Allergic reactions to certain foods and ingredients can result in inflammation or irritation. General skin issues are common, but the reactions aren't always isolated to paws and bellies. Addressing allergies through diet and digestion is the best way to alleviate symptoms.
  • Minerals in Drinking Water: Higher amounts of iron and other minerals in the water may also be the reason for the dog's tear stains. If you suspect the water has high amounts of iron or other minerals, get the water tested by a reputable water testing lab, and if found, consider giving your dog distilled, bottled water, or reverse osmosis water.

How to Get Rid of Tear Stains on Dogs

There are several causes of tear stains, but the best ways to get rid of tear stains are usually universally effective. But remember, if there are serious issues with your pup's eyes, such as red and goopy dog eyes, an infection, or an excessive eye discharge, you should get it treated by the vet first.

If the stains are just the result of an excess of porphyrin or non-medical conditions, you can use a tear stain remover for dogs to clean up their face and prevent future staining.

Before trying to remove these stains, make sure you have ruled out medical and environmental factors. Here’s a quick checklist.

✔ Get your tap water tested. If it contains high levels of iron and other minerals, you should switch to distilled or bottled water for your dog.

✔ Talk to your vet about the tear stains and have them rule out possible medical conditions. 

✔ Consider your dog's breed and any physical traits that could contribute to tear staining.

✔ Assess your dog’s environment and look for possible triggers. Avoid smoking, incense, air fresheners and other possible irritants for your dog’s eyes. 

✔ Monitor your puppy throughout the teething process. Connect with your vet to make sure your dog is teething normally. 

If all the issues on the checklist are addressed, it's now time to find solutions for your dog's tear staining. Check out these 5 tips for how to get rid of dog tear stains:

1. Clean Your Dog's Face Daily

Some amount of tears is inevitable, but if you diligently clean your dog's face and keep them dry, then the tears will not cause staining or irritation. Use a pet wipe or a damp, soft cloth to spot-clean their face as needed. 

2. Trim the Fur Around Your Dog's Eyes

Trimming your dog's facial hair can help prevent staining, but it's also a quick fix for removing already-stained fur. It’s a temporary solution, but it can help remove the stains and allow you to clean their face better each day.

Make sure the dog or puppy is calm and settled down while you trim the hair, or you may hurt him instead. If you aren’t comfortable doing this yourself, connect with a local groomer to help you. 

3. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Some home remedies suggest diluted hydrogen peroxide to lighten stained fur, but it must be used very carefully. Add 1 and a half teaspoons of Hydrogen Peroxide to a 4-ounce glass of water. Stir the solution, and your homemade eye stain remover is ready. 

Now, apply it under your dog's eyes using a cotton ball, and when it's dried, wash and rinse it with warm water. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild form of bleach, so make sure you do it carefully, so as not to get any in your dog’s eye or let them consume it. 

Keeping the fur around the eyes clean is easier when it’s part of your regular grooming routine. Learn more in our guide to DIY dog grooming. 

Best Dog Tear Stain Solutions

Tear stains can be stubborn, especially once the fur has already discoloured. While grooming and addressing the underlying cause of excessive tearing are the most important steps, the right products can make cleanup much easier.

Dog tear stain removers are designed to gently break down stain-causing particles and keep the fur around your dog’s eyes clean and dry. Some work as topical solutions that clean the fur directly, while others support eye health from the inside to help prevent future staining.

Below are a few effective tear stain solutions to help manage existing stains and keep your dog’s face looking fresh.

Best Dog Tear Stain Removers

Topical tear stain removers are one of the easiest ways to manage staining around your dog’s eyes. These products are typically applied with a cotton pad or wipe and help break down stain-causing particles while keeping the sensitive eye area clean.

Many formulas include gentle, pet-safe ingredients like chamomile, aloe, or mild cleansers to remove buildup without irritating your dog’s skin.

Earthbath Eye Wipes

Tear stain removers and eye wipes are one of the easiest ways to manage mild staining. Earthbath Pet Eye Wipes are a gentle, eye-safe product that can be used to wipe away light staining and clean away bacteria, debris, and excess moisture on the fur under their eyes. These wipes are non-toxic and chemical-free and have no side effects on your dog's health. They are easy to use and hypoallergenic. 

Burt's Bees Tear Stain Remover

A topical tear stain remover, like Burt’s Bees Tear Stain Remover, helps to break down and remove stain-causing particles in the fur. It’s also pH-balanced to prevent infection and skin irritation. Saturate a make-up pad or cotton ball and use it to wipe down the under-eye fur.

Enviro Fresh Tear Stain & Saliva Cleaner

Enviro Fresh Tear Stain Cleaner is an easy-to-use cleaner made from natural plant extracts that is designed to handle discoloration caused by tear stains or saliva, and is especially effective on light-coloured fur. It's a non-irritating formula that can fade stubborn staining with consistent use.

Best Tear Stain Supplements for Dogs

In some cases, tear stains are linked to internal factors like inflammation, allergies, or bacteria. Tear stain supplements are designed to support your dog’s eye health from the inside, using ingredients that help reduce staining over time.

These supplements often contain antioxidants, herbal ingredients, or digestive support to help balance your dog’s system and minimize the conditions that contribute to tear staining.

Pet Eyez Tear Stain Treats

For dogs that have tear stains caused by bacteria build-up, Pet Eyez Tear Stain Treats is a good choice.  These freeze-dried lamb treats are formulated with antioxidants, vitamins, and natural ingredients that help combat the bacteria and inflammation often linked to tear stains.

Naturvet Tear Stain Plus Lutein Soft Chews

NaturVet Tear Stain Soft Chews with Lutein are designed to support eye health and help reduce the appearance of tear stains in dogs. These soft chews contain ingredients like lutein, cranberry, and omega fatty acids to help support healthy tear ducts and reduce staining over time.

Be wary of tear stain aids that contain antibiotics unless prescribed by a vet. They can be effective but can have side effects and aren’t designed for long-term use. Talk to your vet if you aren’t sure which tear stain supplements will be safest for your dog.

Dog Tear Stains FAQ's

My dog's eyes discharge a lot of fluid. Why?

It could be because of an infection, an allergy, smoke, a foreign object in the eye, or any medical condition. If you are unable to figure it out, you should immediately see your vet.

My dog's allergies cause eye infections. How can I manage this?

To cope with the dog's eye allergy, you have to know the exact cause first. The common causes of eye allergy in dogs are dust, smoke, dander and hair, mould, grass pollen, fleas, and even some medications. There could be some other causes too. So, it is important to get rid of such allergens from your home and then get your dog treated by the vet.

What are the common symptoms of infections in a dog's eyes?

Although your dog may show a plethora of symptoms, the most common are:

• • Red or pink eyes
  • Excessive water discharge
  • Yellowish, thick and smelly eye discharge
  • Excessive blinking
  • Excessive rubbing of the eyes
  • Swollen eyes

All of these symptoms can be witnessed in one or both eyes. If you see any of these symptoms, it’s time to call your vet.

How to clean tear stains on Poodles?

You can trim the fur around your Poodle's eyes or use hydrogen peroxide to clean tear stains. Stain remover wipes are also effective in cleaning tear stains under the eyes of various breeds. The same is in the case of other dog breeds.

What are the types of dog eye discharge?

There are different types of eye discharges, and each of them may have a different cause. These types are:

• • Watery eye discharge: It may be due to an allergy, a foreign object in one or both eyes, a wound, or tear duct blockage. Certain breeds are also prone to watery eye discharge due to anatomical abnormalities.
  • White discharge: The common causes of white eye discharge are allergies, dry eyes, or conjunctivitis.
  • Yellow or greenish discharge: A bacterial infection or corneal ulcers could be the possible reason for yellow or green discharge from a dog's eyes.

Which dog breeds are more likely to get tear stains?

You can expect every dog to get tear stains under its eyes, while certain breeds such as Shih Tzu, Pug, Poodles, Cocker Spaniel, Maltese, Boston Terrier, and several others, may suffer from tear stains.

Can dog eye infections spread to humans?

Yes, several eye-related conditions can be transferred from dogs to humans and humans to dogs. So, if your dog has an eye infection or discharge, you should avoid having direct contact with your dog. Similarly, if you have an eye infection, like pink eye, you should be careful while your dog is around.

Can dog food cause tear stains?

Yes, certain foods or some ingredients in food may be the culprit behind dog tear stains. In such a case, try switching your dog to some other food or talk to your vet regarding the best diet for your dog.

Prevention is Key

Daily grooming is the best way to prevent tear stains on dogs. Develop a routine for cleaning and checking your dog’s eyes and face for anything out of the ordinary. Preventing a problem is always better than treating it after the fact. 

Dog tear stains are something you should not ignore, as they may be a sign of a serious health problem. In worst-case scenarios, they may also lead to partial or complete blindness in dogs; it's rare, though.

If you find your dog developing tear stains under the eyes, pinpoint the actual cause first and then treat it accordingly. In most cases, it is not a life-threatening condition, nor does your dog feel any pain.

Don’t forget to schedule regular vet checkups, as your vet is trained to identify health issues early and recommend the best and safest treatments.