Expert: Jennifer Fry - 6/26/2004

Question
Our 3 month old Shetland Sheepdog bitch has clear eyes that appear normal. However the left eye is sensitive to light and wind, and her eye tears. The tears appear normal, the eye doesn't itch or look red or inflamed. It just tears, often. Someone suggested opthalmic ointment "bacitracin-neomycin-polymyxin" which we tried once. No effect. They eye still teared as usual. It does not tear all the time. While in doors it seems to be as dry as the right eye, but the tear stain is evident. Our vetinerian (who treats our horses and goats) suggested that the tear duct may be blocked. I don't understand if it is blocked, shouldn' it have the opposite effect and be dry? Please help! Thankyou, Linda

Answer
The tear duct may be blocked (the part that drains the tears), it could be an allergy or an infection or just excessive tearing.  Only one application of the eye ointment would not have been enough to clear up an infection in the eye if that is the case.  I would flush the eye well with saline and consider an herbal supplement called eyebright or follow some of the below suggestions in the information on Tear Staining.  BEST WISHES!


Tear staining is a common occurrence in small breed dogs, such as the Maltese. Light colored dogs are particularly vulnerable to this condition. The easiest way to treat the dog coat is to first find the underlying cause for excessive tearing.


WHAT IS TEAR STAINING?
There are several causes and a few different theories as to what tear staining really is and how it occurs.


EAR INFECTIONS ... Rampant ear infections can be the cause of excessive tearing and staining. Dogs prone to ear infections, especially long eared breeds, should have their ears bathed and dried weekly. Use ear drying products, if necessary to keep the ear canal dry and free of debris and bacteria causing agents.


GENETICS ...  Genetics can play a significant role in excessive tearing. Much like large breed dogs often inherit hip problems, smaller breeds tend to have difficulty with low level infections and tear ducts.

ALLERGY ... Eliminating the cause of excess tearing is the easiest ways to stop staining. Owners of dogs with long hair should be certain to brush and bathe their pet frequently to remove pollens, allergens and debris from their coat. Allergies and irritation is another cause of tear staining.


BLOCKED TEAR DUCTS ... Clogged tear ducts are a common health concern of small breed dogs. Veterinary opthamologists estimate that as many as 20% of all small dogs are born with lower tear ducts that are partially blocked or closed. Veterinarians can easily treat this problem by surgically opening the ducts or irrigating them.


EXCESS TEARING ... Most veterinary eye specialists believe that the actual cause of tear staining is excess tearing. When the face fur is wet from excess tearing, it is a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. One of the most common forms of yeast infections in small breed dogs is Ptyrosporin or "Red Yeast." Red Yeast causes a dark, reddish brown stain to appear just below the dog's eyes. This is not a dangerous condition, and is one that can easily be treated with low level antibiotics or eye creams.


TREATMENT
While cosmetically, it's not necessary to remove the stains from your dog's face, those that suffer from allergy, infections or irritation would benefit from treatment. There are several options available:


TETRACYCLINE ...  Tear staining can be completely eliminated by putting small dogs on a ten day treatment of low dose tetracycline. Pets that suffer allergies, irritation or infection often benefit most from this treatment. Do not use this treatment on puppies, as tetracycline has been shown to cause teeth staining.


LIQUID EAR DROPS ... For dogs with frequent ear infections, ear drops (made with gentamicin sulfate) work wonders at clearing up the infection and eliminating the stain.


EYE DROPS ... With pets that simply excrete too many tears, a drying formula helps to control staining. Many over the counter and prescription remedies are available in drop, ointment and liquid form.


ANTACID ... An antacid (Calcium Carbonate) is not only a good source of calcium, but also helps to change the tear's PH level, keeping the production of yeast and bacteria better under control. Give small breed dogs 1/2 tablet, twice a day. (250mg)

ADD SOME FAT ... Omega3 is a fatty acid supplement which has been used successfully to treat tear staining in dogs with allergy and irritation problems. Omega3 can be purchased in pill form and added to food or bought as a food supplement. Tear staining will clear in as little as 7 days.

COLLOIDAL SILVER ... This over the counter eye drop works like an antibiotic and dog show circuit runners swear by it. Product is used, as needed, to clean up stain and help prevent further staining.

WHITE VINEGAR ... One teaspoon of white cidar vinegar can help to control excessive tear staining. Add vinegar to dogs drinking water. This works much the same as the antacid treatment, in that it changes the PH in your dog's system.


REMOVING STAINS ... If you have only minimal staining, it is possible to physically remove them from your dog's coat. However, remember that the underlying problem still needs to be treated.

HOME MIXTURE ... Use equal amounts of Milk of Magnesia, corn starch and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Brush paste on to dog's face, and work well into the stain. Allow paste to dry overnight. Wash out in the morning and condition. Repeat for several days until stains have disappeared.


BAKING SODA TO THE RESCUE ... A mixture of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 baking soda works wonders when it comes to whitening coats. Make a paste and work into fur. Let the paste set for 5-10 minutes and wash and rinse thoroughly. Lemon juice can irritate your animal's skin, so be sure to rinse well. Follow procedure with conditioner.