Removing Tear Stains from Pet Fur

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated February 17, 2009)

It is normal for pets with light-colored fur to, over time, develop dark-colored stains under their eyes. These stains are caused by the iron content in the animal's tears, which causes a "rusting" effect as the tears dry. Even those animals with darker fur get these stains; it is just simply easier to see the stains on the lighter-colored fur. This purely cosmetic problem has a very easy solution, though it does require a little work on your part.

First, you need to ensure that your pet does not actually have an eye infection. There are a number of signs that may indicate that your pet may have an eye infection. The main ones that you want to keep an eye out for (no pun intended) are if there is a thick, cloudy discharge, eyes that are frequently bloodshot, a growth on the eyelid, or a strong odor being emitted from the area of the stains. If you notice any of these warning signs, be sure to take your pet in for a check up as quickly as possible. Once any medical condition has been ruled out as a cause for the stains, you may proceed to the next step in removing the stains.

Removing the stains simply requires that there be a little haircut given to your pet. Trim around the eyes to remove the stained hair. Unless you are a very skilled pet groomer, you may want to take your pet into a trained professional. Working near Fluffy's eyes with sharp objects can be dangerous; one slip and your next stop would be to purchase a poochie pirate patch.

Once the hair has been trimmed, there are a couple of options you can use to keep the stains from returning. The first option is that you can keep the hair trimmed from that point on. This would allow time for the tears to dry without getting into the fur surrounding the eyes and thus staining them. The second option is that you can simply wipe around the eyes of your pet with a wash cloth that has been moistened with clean water. While this makes the fur wet, it does remove the tears and their iron content before they can dry and stain the fur.

One method that you may hear suggested is to apply antibiotic ointments around the eyes to avoid the stains. This really isn't a good idea and should be avoided. The reason is simple: As with most medicines, those ointments are problem-specific. If used incorrectly they could lead to eye damage for your pet.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Dealing with a Broken Windshield

Getting a ding in your windshield that transforms itself into a crack is an all too common problem for automobiles. Dings ...

Discover More

Bouvier Des Flandres

The Bouvier Des Flandres was highly utilized in World War II as a police and messenger dog. He is courageous and ...

Discover More

French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is known for his bat-like ears. He is adaptable, well behaved and affectionate, making him an ideal ...

Discover More
More Pet Tips

Chase Bad Smells from Your Dog

Dogs can pick up smells from anywhere, and especially all combined together, those smells are most unpleasant. Here's how ...

Discover More

Give Your Dog a Dry Bath

Even if you bathe your dog regularly, your dog will pick up dirt and get dirty in between (hence the regular bath times). ...

Discover More

Cleaning Dog Teeth

Cleaning dog teeth isn't exactly like cleaning your teeth in the morning. At least, it isn't without a whole lot of ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is four more than 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)