What Causes Tear Stains in Dogs (and How to Treat Them)
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You've noticed the rusty marks under your dog's eyes, and wiping them does not seem to shift anything.
Tear stains are the reddish-brown marks below a dog's eyes, left when tears overflow onto the fur and pigments called porphyrins darken in the air.
They're one of the most common things pet parents ask us about, and one of the most misunderstood.
The reassuring part is that staining is almost always cosmetic. The cause is usually something you can see on your dog's face.
I'll cover what tear stains are, what causes them, how to treat them safely, and when to see a vet.
- Dog tear stains are the reddish-brown marks under a dog's eyes, caused by a natural pigment called porphyrin that darkens once tears sit on the fur.
- Facial shape and tear drainage cause most staining in dogs, and diet is rarely the trigger.
- A dry rust-coloured stain points to porphyrin. A darker, damp, smelly stain points to yeast, and the fix starts with keeping the area clean and dry.
- Stained fur on a dog grows out rather than washing off, so expect several weeks before the face looks clear.
- See a vet if your dog's staining appears suddenly, affects one eye only, or comes with squinting, redness, or yellow or green discharge.
What Are Dog Tear Stains?
Tear stains are the reddish-brown marks below a dog's eyes, left when tears overflow onto the fur and pigments called porphyrins darken in the air.
Porphyrins are iron-rich pigments the body makes and passes out in tears, saliva, and urine. When tears spill onto the fur and sit there, those pigments slowly turn a rusty reddish-brown in the air. That is why white and light coats show staining most, while it can hide on darker dogs.
Reddish stains versus dark, smelly stains
The colour and feel of the stain are a clue to what is going on.
A reddish or rust-brown stain is usually porphyrin from overflowing tears.
A darker brown, damp, or smelly stain often means a yeast overgrowth in the wet fur, which needs a slightly different approach, focused on keeping the area clean and dry.
Telling the two apart helps you pick the right fix, and it is something most guides gloss over.
What Causes Tear Stains in Dogs?
Tear stains form when tears overflow onto the face, and the most common reasons are a dog's facial shape and how well their tears drain, not their diet.
Eye and eyelid shape
The shape of the eyelids and sockets can let tears spill onto the face instead of draining away. Dogs with prominent eyes or shallow sockets overflow more easily, so the tears end up on the fur rather than in the drainage system.
Blocked or narrow tear ducts
Tears drain from each eye into the nose through the nasolacrimal duct, and when that drain is narrow or blocked, tears spill onto the face instead.
Tear duct disorders can be present from birth or develop later after infection, a foreign object, or injury. Some small breeds are born with ducts that are unusually narrow. In others, the drainage opening itself never formed properly.
From the outside, you see a constant wet track down the face. The watering is continuous, and one eye is often clearly worse than the other. That asymmetry is a useful clue, because pigment problems tend to affect both sides evenly.
Breed and facial hair
Light-coated, hairy-faced breeds show and trap staining most, including the Maltese, Cavoodle, Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Bichon Frise. Flat-faced French Bulldogs and Pugs tend to tear more because of their shallow sockets. Long hair around the eyes makes it worse, wicking tears onto the face and holding moisture against the skin.
Eye irritation, allergies, and infection
Anything that makes the eyes produce more tears can add to staining, including allergies, dust, ingrown lashes, and infections. Less obviously, dental or mouth problems and ear infections can play a part too.
Allergies in dogs usually show up as itchy skin rather than watery eyes. The link to staining is indirect: an itchy dog rubs their face, the eye waters in response, and the marks follow.
Yellow or green discharge sits outside all of this. That points to infection and needs a vet.
Teething in puppies
Puppies often stain more while they are teething, as the nearby tissues are briefly inflamed. It usually settles on its own as they mature.
The diet and water question
Diet's role in tear stains is widely overstated online. The porphyrin that causes the colour comes from the body, not mainly from food, so changing the diet rarely clears staining on its own. A complete, quality diet supports overall health, but a "miracle" tear-stain food is not a fix for the underlying tearing.
There is one real but narrower way diet can matter. A food allergy can leave a dog itchy and rubbing at the face. That irritates the eye area and keeps the fur damp, which feeds staining. What a food allergy does not usually do is make the eyes water like hay fever does in people. Dogs tend to show food allergies in their skin, not their eyes.
Itchy skin can also be a reaction to something in the environment, like grass or pollen, not just food. If you suspect a food allergy, confirm it with a vet-guided elimination diet, not a food switch made on a hunch.
Porphyrin is a normal by-product of the body breaking down old red blood cells, and it comes out in the tears whatever a dog eats. That is why diet changes and "tear-stain supplements" so often disappoint. The better first step is to work out why the eyes are watering, and to rule out a medical cause, rather than reaching for a powder.
Breeds Most Prone to Tear Stains
White and light-coated small breeds show tear staining most, because the facial shape that causes tear overflow tends to arrive packaged with a coat that shows every mark.
The breeds that present most often are the Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise and Cavoodle, along with Poodles, Pekingese, Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Cocker Spaniels and West Highland White Terriers.
How to Treat and Reduce Tear Stains
Most tear stains are managed with gentle daily cleaning, a tidy trim, and keeping the area dry, not with a miracle cure.
Clean the area daily
Wipe the stained fur each day with a pet-safe eye wipe or a warm, damp cloth, always working away from the eye rather than towards it. Daily cleaning stops fresh porphyrin and moisture from building up, which is what lets the stain set.
Keep the facial hair trimmed
A regular trim or groom around the eyes keeps long hair from wicking tears onto the face and holding them there. For hairy-faced breeds, a groomer can keep the area neat and short.
Keep the fur dry
Pat the area dry after cleaning, and after meals and drinks, since damp fur is what lets yeast take hold and darken the stain. Keeping it dry is half the job.
Check the food and water bowl
Your dog's muzzle dips into the bowl at every meal and drink, so the bowl is worth a look. Plastic bowls can aggravate the skin in some dogs and hold onto grime that keeps the muzzle damp and grubby. A stainless steel or ceramic bowl, washed daily, is the easier choice for a face prone to staining.
Vet-safe products to use
Gentle, purpose-made tear-stain cleansers and eye wipes make daily care easier and are formulated to be safe near the eyes.
Fido's Tear Stain Remover
A gentle cleansing solution for tear and saliva stains, safe to use around the eyes and mouth.
Why our vets recommend it: it lifts staining without harsh chemicals, which suits daily use on sensitive faces.
Petkin Eye Wipes
Pre-moistened wipes for quick daily cleaning around the eyes.
Why our vets recommend it: the wipes make consistent daily cleaning simple, which is the habit that keeps staining down.
"Pleasantly surprised by the Petkin Eye Wipes' ability to clean up the tear gunk of my pooch. Much better than other products I have used. Will buy again."
Erich B.
Vets Love Pets Customer
What not to use
Skip the OTC antibiotic whitening powders that promise to clear stains from the inside, as these have contained antibiotics such as tylosin that are not approved for this use and should not be given without a vet. Never use peroxide, vinegar, or human makeup removers near a dog's eyes. If a stain will not shift, or it keeps coming back, the answer is to find the cause with your vet, not to reach for a stronger product.
"Most tear staining I see is a grooming question, not a medical one, and a daily wipe with a tidy trim handles it. What I do want to check is the dog whose staining turns up suddenly, or who is squinting or rubbing at the eye. That is when the tears are telling us something, and the eye itself needs a look."
Dr Jack Ayerbe OAM
Veterinarian & Vets Love Pets Partner
When to See a Vet
Tear staining is usually cosmetic, but see a vet if it appears suddenly, changes, or comes with signs of eye discomfort.
Staining that is new or has appeared suddenly in an adult dog
Squinting, pawing at the eye, redness, or swelling
Yellow or green discharge, or a strong odour
One eye affected far more than the other
A consult for watery eyes is usually straightforward. Your vet will check tear production, put a dye in the eye to look for surface damage and to confirm the duct is draining, and examine the lids and lashes properly. Where a duct is blocked, flushing it clear is a common next step.
Tear Stain FAQs
Why does my dog suddenly have tear stains?
Sudden tear staining in an adult dog usually means something has increased their tear production or blocked the drainage, such as an allergy, an irritant, an infection, or a blocked tear duct. Because it is new, it is worth a vet check rather than just cleaning. Bring any squinting, redness, or discharge to their attention.
What food causes tear stains in dogs?
No single food reliably causes tear stains, despite the popular claim. The porphyrin pigment behind the colour is made by the body, not the diet, so food is rarely the real driver. A complete, quality diet supports overall health, but changing food alone rarely clears staining.
How do dog groomers get rid of tear stains?
Groomers reduce tear stains by trimming the hair around the eyes short, cleaning the area with pet-safe products, and keeping it dry. They lift and manage the staining rather than bleaching it away. The colour fades as fresh, unstained fur grows in.
How do you remove tear stains from a white dog?
On a white dog, wipe the area daily with a pet-safe eye wipe or warm damp cloth, keep the facial hair trimmed, and dry the fur afterwards. The existing stain fades gradually as the fur regrows, so consistency matters more than any single product. Avoid peroxide or human whiteners near the eyes.
Are dog tear stains harmful?
Tear stains themselves are usually harmless and cosmetic. The thing to watch is the damp fur, which can develop a yeast or skin infection if it is never cleaned or dried. Staining that appears suddenly or with eye discomfort can also signal an underlying problem worth a vet visit.
What to Do Next
For most dogs, tear stains are a cosmetic, manageable thing, kept in check with steady daily cleaning and a tidy trim around the eyes. The signals that change that are sudden onset or any sign of eye discomfort, which deserve a vet rather than a stronger cleaner. Gentle, consistent care is what keeps a light-coated face looking its best.
Veterinarian & Vets Love Pets Partner
BVSc
Dr Jack Ayerbe OAM is a distinguished Geelong veterinarian with over 50 years of experience, the founder of Newtown Veterinary Practice, and a dedicated advocate for animal welfare and ethics.
More articles from Dr Jack AyerbeReferences
VCA Animal Hospitals on tear stains, porphyrins, and tear-duct drainage, an international veterinary hospital network
VCA Animal Hospitals on yeast (Malassezia) dermatitis, which develops in damp skin and fur
The US Food and Drug Administration on unapproved tear-stain products containing the antibiotic tylosin
VCA Animal Hospitals on plastic food and water bowls aggravating skin in some pets
VCA Animal Hospitals on allergies in dogs, which present as itchy skin and are tested with an elimination diet
