Dogs can develop staining under their eyes and on their body where they have been licking. This is due to porphyrins. Porphyrins are the byproduct of red blood cell destruction and contain iron. They are found in the gastrointestinal tract, urine, saliva and tears which is why the pet can develop staining under the eyes from tearing and any part the pet has been excessively licked.
Let’s look at tear staining first. Dog and cat eyes can tear excessively and cause staining for many reasons. Let us examine the pathway tears take. Pic from VCA Hospital
Tears are drained from the eyes through the nasolacrimal system and go into the sinus cavity and then down the throat. That is the reason we get a runny/stuffy nose when we cry. Some breeds are predisposed to have problems with this system due to shallow eye sockets or eyelash/eyelid abnormalities - any brachycephalic breed, breeds prone to eye abnormalities, or breeds with long hair around the eyes. It also seems like every white pet gets some staining! Darker colored pets also develop staining but you just can’t see it as well. Epiphora, or excessive tearing can be caused by several things, conjunctivitis (an infection of the pink tissue around the eyes), glaucoma (painful increase of pressure in the eye), eyelash or eyelid problems such as entropion (when the eyelids fold inward and eyelashes scratch the eye), clogged ducts, or allergies. If your pet suddenly has excessive tearing and also squinting or rubbing the eye, please see your veterinarian because there may be an injury to the eye.
What can I do about the staining?
The first thing is to narrow down what is causing the tears to spill out. Your veterinarian is the best equipped to help you with this. There are tests to see how much the eyes are tearing, if there is an injury such as an ulcer on the eye, or if glaucoma or conjunctivitis is present. They will tell you if the eyelashes are rubbing on the eye (entropion) or if the tear ducts are clogged or if the pet is suffering from allergies. Once the underlying cause is found and treated, the problem may resolve. Some pets may need their tear ducts flushed out periodically under general anesthesia.
If there is no treatment, like for allergies or a surgery that is not performed, it will be up to the pet owner to keep the area around the eyes clean and dry. Cleaning the area at least twice a day with a product made for this purpose or baby shampoo and water can help immensely. Just make sure to dry it also. Keep the hair around the eyes short to make cleaning and drying easier. Some say that a probiotic can help as well as supplements that are marketed for tear staining. Just stay away from any long-term use of low-level antibiotics because that can cause a drug resistant strain of bacteria to form around your pet’s eyes, making treatment difficult and expensive. Be on the lookout for Tyslosyn, which is used to be an ingredient readily found in these supplements but is not FDA approved and has mostly been removed.
Why does my pet have other areas that are rust stained also?
As mentioned before, the staining is due to the porphyrins in the saliva. Any area that is repeatedly licked, most often the feet/legs and the rear, can start showing staining. People in vet med and groomers often ask owners if the pet has been licking an area because we see the staining and an owner may not be aware of the problem. Pets will lick an area for a few reasons: irritation, parasites, a wound is present, the area is painful, allergies, but also because of stress, anxiety or boredom. Again, finding the underlying cause and treating it can alleviate the staining involved.
The fur is actually stained and it will not just wash out. Once the cause has been treated, the hair will eventually grow out enough that the staining can be cut off and not be visible. As with most health issues, prevention is the best thing. Addressing the staining is not just for cosmetic reasons, but also for the health of the pet. The area around the eye can become raw and infected if it is not cleaned and dried regularly. Allowing the area to be moist and the debris to add up can cause some pretty significant sores. Excessive licking of an area can lead to sores and infection in those areas too. Don’t ignore the staining, see it as a sign of a problem.
About Lisa
Lisa Herbold, ICMG,MPAe,MGBS,CAH,PGC,FFC,PTI, likes to meld her knowledge as an educator and groomer with her knowledge as a veterinary technician to better educate groomers on the health needs of pets. Her goal is to improve how groomers are trained to handle health concerns and emergencies, thus making grooming safer for the pet