Light fur with tear stains -
advising adopters that "looks can be deceiving"

One of the frustrations for workers in the animal welfare community is that “looks can be deceiving” and in many cases an animal with a wonderful nature is overlooked by potential adopters due to his or her looks.  One of the issues that is off-putting but should not be is that of reddish brown tear stains on the fur of white or light furred animals.  This problem affects both dogs and cats, pure and cross breeds, and is particularly prevalent in bulldogs, Bishon Frise, Cocker Spaniels, King Charles Cavaliers, Poodles, Himalayans, Persions and Scottish Folds - to name but a few!  Potential adopters should be informed that in most cases these stains are quite normal and can be simply and easily dealt with once the new pet has been taken to his or her new home.

All healthy cats and dogs produce tears on an ongoing basis to help keep their eyes healthy, clean and well lubricated.  Unlike humans, the tears of cats and dogs are not clear because they contain pigments called porphyrins which are the usual cause of the common reddish/brown stain.  In most cases regular cleaning with fresh water is sufficient to remove the stains and keep them under control.

There are however instances where the stains will be caused by medical or environmental conditions and in these situations the pet should be taken to a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.  Problem tear stains appear to occur mainly in animals which are producing too many tears.  There are many potential causes including:-

Genetics
Cutting Teeth
Blocked Tear Ducts
Eye irritations
Ear Infections
Allergies

Other possible causes of the reddish/brown staining include:-

Fleas and ear mites
Mineralized water
Food

Having ascertained what the root cause of the problem is the veterinarian should make a recommendation on treatment and may give some suggestions with regard to how to clean the fur around the face. There are numerous cleansing solutions that are sold through pet specialty retail stores, on-line pharmacies and in some cases may be made by the new pet parent at home.  Given the close proximity to the eyes pet parents are advised to follow the instructions carefully.  Additionally If clipping hair around the eyes is recommended it would be wise to seek the assistance of a professional groomer.

Dependent upon the root cause of the tear staining there are some ongoing maintenance recommendations that may prevent the re-occurrence of the problem as follows:-