What causes Tear Stains?
What causes Tear Stains?
Tear stains are normal for some breeds of dog, it is believed to be caused by a yeast known as Red Yeast. This is common in dogs with white or lighter fur, and very prevalent in small breed dogs.
A dog can live problem free with tear staining. Whilst it may look bad, it does not hurt the dog at all. If you show the dog you will need to remove the staining and there are many products out on the market that can help with this.
Some suggested causes of Tear staining are below but there are many more:
- Clogged or Shallow Tear Ducts
- Excessive Tearing
- Cutting Teeth
- Water: Water with high mineral levels causes staining
- Food: Diet can play a significant role in tearing. Many commercial foods contain additives, preservatives and food coloring. This could lead to staining.