The reddish-brown tear stains coming from your young dog’s eyes aren’t always just a cosmetic issue—they could indicate underlying eye health issues or lead to skin inflammation. Find out why your dog might have these tear stains and how to get rid of tear stains on puppies and young dogs.
Why does my young dog have tear stains?
The reddish brown color of tear stains comes from an iron-containing pigment in the tears called porphyrin. When the body breaks down red blood cells, porphyrin is released and excreted in several bodily fluids, one of which is tears.
Tear stains are more noticeable on dogs with light fur than on dogs with dark fur.
The good news is that most young dogs with tear stains don’t have an underlying health issue causing the tear stains. In most cases, the tear staining is simply a result of their facial conformation. However, tear duct abnormalities, excessive tear production and illness can all cause tear stains, as well.
Facial conformation
For most dogs (and humans), tears travel through a duct called the nasolacrimal duct, which connects the inner corner of the eye to the inside of the nose. This is why your nose gets runny when your eyes water. Our canine family members have this same duct on each side of their nose.
However, dogs with short noses, large eyes and flat faces (brachycephalic) are more likely to have tear stains on their face because the tears spill over the lids rather than traveling through the nasolacrimal duct. Examples of breeds with this facial conformation include bulldogs, boxers, Pekingese and pugs.
Tear duct abnormalities
Abnormalities in the tear ducts could prevent tears from flowing down the nasolacrimal duct. For some dogs, the nasolacrimal duct is obstructed because of their facial conformation, but hereditary defects can also cause the duct to be obstructed. Other causes of tear duct obstruction include eye inflammation, eye infection, tumors (uncommon in young dogs) and foreign material stuck in the duct.
Excessive tear production
Some conditions may cause the young dog to product more tears than normal, causing some of the tears to spill over. Potential causes of excessive tear production in young dogs include infections, allergies, glaucoma and eyelashes or fur rubbing on the cornea.
Illnesses and infections
Illnesses and eye infections can cause tear staining due to excessive tear production. They can also cause the tear duct to become obstructed if there’s enough swelling. In some cases, ocular discharge can be mucoid or contain pus, which can contribute to staining.
Dogs could develop significant eye discharge with upper respiratory infections like canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). Signs to watch for include:
- Yellow or green discoloration of eye discharge
- Nasal discharge
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
Why you shouldn’t ignore tear stains on young dogs
Although tear staining usually occurs due to the shape of a dog’s face and head, tear staining sometimes indicates an underlying eye health issue. If this is a new issue for your young dog, you should seek veterinary attention to rule out a blocked nasolacrimal duct, eyelash abnormalities and eye infections.
Tear stains on the dog’s face can also lead to local skin inflammation and infection (dermatitis). The moisture in the area will encourage infections, which can cause itchiness and pain for your dog.
How to get rid of tear stains on young dogs
Your veterinarian is your best source for how to remove puppy tear stains. You’ll want to consult with your veterinarian first to ensure there is no underlying health issue causing the tear stains on your young dog.
In the absence of a known underlying cause, you can clean around your dog’s eyes with pet-friendly eye wipes and washes. You can also use a warm washcloth and baby shampoo to clean the tears away. Do not put any cleansers or drops in your dog’s eyes without first consulting your veterinarian.
If you’re noticing that the skin underneath the tear stains is red, swollen or smells bad, check in with your VCA care team to rule out a skin infection.
How to prevent tear stains
For dogs who have tear stains due to their facial conformation, you can’t prevent tears from spilling down their face, but you can take steps to reduce the staining.
Keeping the fur trimmed around the eyes prevents tear buildup and can also prevent fur from rubbing on the eyes. It will also make cleanup easier.
Gently clean the area around the eyes with a warm washcloth at least twice daily, or you can also use vet-approved wipes.
There are supplements that claim to reduce staining by reducing porphyrin in tears, which would cause the tears to have less of a reddish brown discoloration to them. If you intend to try one of these products, speak with your veterinarian to see if it may be beneficial for your pet.
Find out more about the causes and treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in dogs.
