DoctorPup Complimentary Service

Tear stain and odor

Q: I had my mostly white with some brown spots bernedoodle for about 9 months now, she has this liquid that is coming out of her eyes that is staining the hair between the eyes and nose area. The main problem is that this area has this bad smell to it. We had tried using some products (ie eye drops and wipes) that are recommended, but they don't seem to be working. As of right now, we are using a warm cloth to wipe that area, this kind of helps remove the smell but only for maybe an hour or two. Are there any recommendations to what we can give her to help with this smell?

A: You may find some of these suggestions helpful and you might want to ask your veterinarian if he supports the use of Tylan for this Tear staining is caused by a reaction between the chemical nature of the tear, bacteria and the proteins in the hair. The chemical makeup of tears varies from dog to dog, that is why some white dogs have no problem and others do. There are cleaning type products available but they rarely work. The most reliable products are added to your puppies food and act by changing the makeup of the tear. These products can stop further staining but the already stained hair has to grow out which means you must use the product for a month or so before you see the full benefit. Two of the more commonly used products are "Angel Eyes and White Eyes" There are also several herbal products now available. These products are safe to use and will work for the majority of affected puppies.