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When red blood cells are naturally broken down by the body, a chemical substance known as porphyrin is left in the bloodstream.
Porphyrins are excreted primarily through bile and the intestinal tract, but in dogs a significant amount of porphyrin is
excreted through tears, saliva and also urine.
Porphyrin is an iron-containing substance. If you have ever fed your baby an iron-fortified formula, you know about
those burp stains being problematic, and those stains are nearly impossible to remove!
All dogs have this same iron-staining problem caused by their tears, saliva and urine, but of course
it is most noticeable on light colored dogs. If you have ever noticed a white dog who has been licking or chewing on his
leg, the hair in that area will turn iron-brown in color as well. These iron-related stains intensify/darken
in the presence of sunlight.
When my bitch who is cream colored was nursing her litter, I could see where the saliva of the puppies
had stained the hair around the nipple area to a rusty brownish tint.
I have heard many causes attributed to tear staining, everything from beet pulp in dog food to yeast and bacteria as
the culprits. However, these are not the causes of tear staining. The actual cause of stains is the tears themselves.
Some veterinarians may not be familiar with the actual cause of these stains; or may consider this problem purely
a cosmetic concern. Medical reasons for excess tearing should be ruled out by your vet....blocked tear ducts, eye infections,
entropion (inward rolling of the eyelid), allergies, cold weather, wind and anything irritating to the eyes stimulates
tear production and can result in staining.
Young puppies will tend to produce more tears when they are teething. When the dog reaches maturity, tear staining should
lessen. However, some dogs may produce more tears than others.
Iams company addresses this issue on their website They have had people asking about beet pulp in dog food
as a cause of tear staining. However, beet pulp is not the cause of tear stains. Beet pulp is not even red in color!
It is white.
The best remedy is to keep the area clean and dry, and out of sunlight. My mother-in-law religiously uses Visine
drops for her cream pom, and his tear stains have disappeared. Some sources advocate the use of distilled drinking water.
Some have found giving Tums (calcium tablets) to be helpful. On the Coton de Tulear list I subscribe to, one members swears
by Vitamin C in the drinking water. She has done personal research and says that the vitamin C alters the body pH, with interferes
somehow with the porphyrin pathway.
Low-dose tetracycline also blocks the pathway whereby the porphyrins do not enter the tears and saliva. However,
use in young dogs is not recommended due to the side effect of discoloring the permanent teeth.
There is a company called "Eye Envy" that sells medicated pads to wipe the area, then there is a powder which is
applied. I had some success using their products, but regular use is required and results won't happen overnight.
There are companies who sell some EXPENSIVE concoctions (Angel's Eyes is one of them), that contain low doses of the
antibiotic Tylan. This will work the same way as Tetracycline, and prevent the staining. It is supposed to be safe even in
young dogs and does not discolor the teeth. You can go to one of the veterinary websites and buy Tylan powder which you add
to their food, just a pinch daily.
Usually as dogs mature their tearing problem will diminish. Staining can also occur around the mouth (from saliva)
and areas which contact urine.
You could try using something in the coat which would repel or lessen saliva contact, perhaps powder or a cream of some
type. My friend with a Maltese uses a paste made of half boric acid, half cornstarch. Put it on, let it sit for a few minutes,then
wipe off. After a couple days the stains will abate. Whatever you do, if you decide to use this paste, DO NOT get it into
the eyes. And, do not use it routinely, as it will dry and burn the coat. Some show people do resort to half-strength hydrogen
peroxide to remove the stains. When used frequently, this will dry the coat and make it brittle.
Diligence in keeping the affected area clean and dry is the most effective treatment!
Copyright 2005. This article may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without express written consent of
the author.
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