Dog Tear Stains: Causes and When Eye Discharge Matters

Why reddish-brown tear stains form under a dog's eyes, how to clean them safely, and the eye changes that mean a vet visit today.

Quick answer: Tear stains are reddish-brown fur stains under a dog's eyes from tears spilling onto the face, most often in small, light-coated or flat-faced breeds. They are usually cosmetic but are worth a vet check; wipe and dry the fur. Any squint, pawing, thick yellow or green discharge or one red eye needs an in-person vet today, and a cloudy or bulging eye, or one the dog won't open, needs an emergency vet now.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

What causes tear stains in dogs?

Tear stains form when tears overflow onto a dog's face instead of draining through the tear ducts into the nose, and VCA Animal Hospitals explains that the reddish-brown color comes from pigments called porphyrins. The body makes porphyrins as it breaks down iron, and they also show up in saliva and urine.

Vets call this overflow epiphora, and VCA gives two causes for it:

• Too many tears: allergies, eye infections or inflamed eye linings, eye injuries, corneal ulcers (sores on the clear front of the eye), glaucoma, eyelids that roll in or out, and abnormal eyelashes.
• Poor drainage: a flat face, hair blocking the tear-duct openings, debris plugging a duct, a duct narrowed by long-term infection or allergy, or a duct opening that never formed.

The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that extra eyelashes (distichiasis) can cause tear overflow, corneal ulcers and scarring, and it calls rolled-in eyelids (entropion) the most frequent inherited eyelid defect in many dog breeds. A blocked tear duct is found and reopened by flushing it in a clinic, Merck explains.

Are tear stains a health problem for dogs?

Tear stains by themselves are usually cosmetic, but the extra tearing behind them can signal an eye problem, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists dampness under the eyes, odor, skin irritation and skin infection among the common signs of tear overflow. Kansas State University veterinary ophthalmologist Jessica Meekins has said that tear staining by itself does not cause a health problem.

VCA still recommends a trip to the veterinarian to rule out an underlying condition, even when staining comes from normal variation in eyelid shape. Staining that is new, one-sided or smelly, or that comes with red skin or a changed eye, should be checked sooner; the table below shows how soon.

Tear stains or an eye problem: how can you tell?

Tear staining under a dog's clear, comfortable eye is usually tear overflow, while one red eye, thick yellow or green discharge, squinting or pawing at the eye points to an eye problem that needs an in-person vet today. This table uses the same thresholds as the RexVet guide to red eyes in dogs.

Sign	Likely cause	Next step
Even stain, both eyes clear	Tear overflow	Clean; one checkup
Slow stain, one side, eye clear	Lid, lash or duct	Vet in a few days
Sudden wet eye, one side	Object or ulcer	In person today
Yellow or green goo	Dry eye or ulcer	In person today
One red eye, no clear cause	Irritation or glaucoma	In person today
Swollen lid or face	Sting or allergy	Today; ER with hives
Squinting or pawing	Eye pain	Same day, in person
Chemical splash	Burn risk	Flush, call, vet now
Cloudy, bulging or shut eye, unequal pupils	Glaucoma, ulcer, uveitis	ER now

• "Vet in a few days" applies only when the eye is fully open, clear and comfortable and the pupils match. Go in person today if the eye turns red or squints, or if your dog paws at it. Flat-faced breeds and young puppies with new one-sided tearing go in person today. An older dog with new one-sided tearing and a runny nose or facial swelling on the same side needs an in-person exam.
• For a squint: if your clinic can't see your dog today, or it's after hours, go to an emergency hospital.
• A swollen face needs an emergency vet now with hives, vomiting, trouble breathing, pale gums or collapse.
• For a chemical splash, flush with lukewarm tap water right away and call your vet or a pet poison line at the same time: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply) or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). Then get a vet check right after the flush, at an emergency hospital if your clinic can't see your dog now.
• "Shut eye" means an eye your dog won't open. These also mean an emergency vet now: a large pupil that doesn't shrink in light, sudden vision loss or bumping into things, blood or a white or yellow layer inside the eye, something stuck in the eye or a cat-scratch, thorn or stick injury (don't pull anything out), a dent or bubble on the eye, and new redness, tearing or squinting in the other eye of a dog treated for glaucoma.
• A painless haze that crept evenly into both eyes of an older dog over months, in a dog that still sees well, usually needs only a routine exam; a diabetic dog, or one drinking and peeing more, needs a vet within days (see cloudy eyes in dogs).

Which dog breeds are prone to tear stains?

Tear staining is common in Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Maltese, Poodles, Pugs and Bichons, where a flat face, hair close to the eyes or light fur makes overflow more likely or easier to see.

In a 2006 Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association study of 23 dogs that needed eyelid surgery for tear overflow, Shih Tzus were the most common breed. Every dog's overflow came from hairs or lashes rubbing at the inner corner of the eye or from a rolled-in inner lid, and it resolved after surgery. The study counted only dogs that needed surgery, not how common stains are by breed.

The RexVet guide to a dog squinting one eye says flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Shih Tzus should be seen right away, even for a mild squint.

What RexVet visit data shows about ear and eye problems

RexVet's study of its own video visits found that "Ear and eye problems came second, named in 22% of RexVet video visits."

How do I get rid of my dog's tear stains safely?

The safest way to lighten a dog's tear stains is the routine VCA Animal Hospitals recommends: wipe around the eyes with a warm, wet washcloth, always dry the area with a clean towel, and keep the fur near the eyes trimmed short.

• Wipe the fur around the eye, not the eyeball, and don't pry the lids open.
• Let a groomer trim near the eyes. At home, use round-tipped scissors pointed away from the eye.

VCA warns that products containing hydrogen peroxide "can cause severe damage if splashed into the eyes." Keep bleach, makeup remover, vinegar and human eye drops other than sterile saline away from the eyes too, and never pull out lashes or hairs at home.

Do tear stain supplements and powders work?

Tear-stain supplements and powders are not proven to work reliably: VCA Animal Hospitals says many remedies have been recommended but none has proven 100% effective, and some over-the-counter products have not been proven effective in research trials.

Some can also be risky: the FDA has sent warning letters, including in May 2017, to makers of tear-stain products for dogs and cats that contained tylosin tartrate, an antibiotic, used in a way its FDA approval does not cover. VCA Animal Hospitals adds, "Low doses of some antibiotics are no longer recommended due to the risk of developing bacterial antibiotic resistance."

Never add an antibiotic to your dog's food or water. As VCA puts it: "Do not use any product without consulting with your veterinarian."

Can food or tap water cause tear stains?

There is no good research showing that tap water or one specific food causes tear stains in dogs, but allergies can increase tearing, and the Merck Veterinary Manual lists eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) among the less common problems seen with food allergy. A dog with itchy skin, ear trouble or stomach upset as well as tearing may need a vet to look at allergies.

A food allergy is confirmed with a strict elimination diet chosen with a veterinarian, not with a change of water or a tear-stain supplement. For how that trial works, see dog food allergy symptoms and elimination diets.

When should you worry about a dog's watery eyes?

Any squint in a dog needs an in-person exam the same day, and thick yellow or green discharge, pawing, one red eye with no clear cause or sudden heavy watering in one eye needs an in-person vet today. Slow new staining on one side, with a fully open, clear, comfortable eye and matching pupils, can wait a few days for a vet visit, except in flat-faced breeds and young puppies.

If both eyes are only mildly red, the tears are clear, the eyes are fully open and your dog is acting normal, rinse the eyes with plain sterile saline eyewash and see a vet if they aren't clearly better by tomorrow. Flat-faced breeds, young puppies and dogs treated for glaucoma get no watch period: see a vet in person today.

Emergency vet now: any sign marked ER now in the table above or listed as an emergency under it, a squint that is getting worse, or red eyes or one-sided tearing with a nosebleed, bruising or gum spots, which can mean a clotting problem or rat poison. Keep a bulging eye moist with sterile saline and never push it back in.

In person today:

• Thick yellow-green or sticky discharge, or a dull-looking eye, which is often dry eye and needs a clinic tear test.
• Sudden heavy watering in one eye after grass or brush, which can mean a grass awn behind the third eyelid, an early ulcer or early glaucoma.
• Swelling, pain or pus at or below the inner corner of the eye, which can be an infected tear sac.
• Tearing or a squint that keeps coming back. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that fine extra lashes can be hard to see without magnification or close inspection.

Never put leftover steroid drops, human redness-relief drops or any medicated drop into a watery or squinting eye before a vet has stained it in person; steroid drops can turn a small ulcer into a deep one.

Some eye tests need clinic equipment:

Camera can see	Needs a clinic
Eye shape, eyelids	Ulcer stain test
Facial hair near eye	Tear test
Lashes that touch eye	Eye pressure
Stained or red skin	Magnified lid exam
Your photos	Duct dye, flush

When a video visit helps with tear stains

A video visit suits a dog with tear stains or watery eyes whose eyes are fully open, clear and comfortable; a squinting, red, cloudy or painful eye needs an in-person vet instead.

Not a fit for video:

• Emergency vet now: a cloudy, bulging or injured eye, unequal pupils, sudden vision loss, blood inside the eye, or an eye your dog won't open.
• Same day, in person: a squinting eye. If your clinic can't see your dog today, or it's closed, go to an emergency hospital.
• In person today: thick yellow or green discharge, pawing, one red eye with no clear cause, sudden heavy watering in one eye, a swollen eyelid or face (an emergency vet now with hives, vomiting or trouble breathing), or a red or painful eye or new one-sided tearing in a flat-faced breed, young puppy or dog treated for glaucoma. In a dog treated for glaucoma, new redness, tearing or squinting in the other eye means an emergency vet now.
• A chemical in the eye: flush with lukewarm tap water right away, call your vet or a pet poison line at the same time, and get a vet check right after, at an emergency hospital if your clinic can't see your dog now, even if the eye looks fine.
• For any red flag, or outside about 8 AM to 11 PM ET, go to an emergency hospital.

RexVet, a nonprofit online vet service, serves pets located in Florida, New York and Virginia by video visit. For a dog with tear stains and comfortable, open, clear eyes, a $64.99 live video visit with a licensed RexVet vet (a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state) is available about 8 AM to 11 PM ET. With good light and the phone held close, the veterinarian can look at eye shape, the eyelids, facial hair, any lashes visibly touching the eye and the stained fur, and can review your photos. They can then tell you whether it looks cosmetic, which home care is safe, and whether and how soon your dog needs an in-person eye exam. Book a video visit.

A camera cannot do the stain, tear, pressure, magnified-lid or tear-duct tests in the table above, so it cannot rule out an ulcer, glaucoma or dry eye; those need a clinic or a veterinary eye specialist. No prescription is promised; any medicine is the veterinarian's decision after the exam and within state law.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do my dog's tear stains ever go away?

Not while tears keep spilling onto the fur, but regular cleaning, drying and trimming keep them lighter. If a vet finds a fixable cause, such as lashes rubbing the eye or a rolled-in eyelid, treating it can stop the overflow, as eyelid surgery did in the 2006 study described above.

Are tear stains painful for my dog?

No. The stain itself does not hurt, but squinting, pawing or rubbing at the eye signals pain and needs an in-person vet the same day. Red, smelly or sore skin under the eyes is worth a vet check, because VCA Animal Hospitals lists skin irritation and skin infection among the common signs of tear overflow. A cloudy or bulging eye, or one your dog won't open, needs an emergency vet now.

Why are my puppy's tear stains getting worse?

Have a vet check it, because in young dogs a tear-duct opening that never formed or rolled-in eyelids can make tears overflow. The Merck Veterinary Manual calls a missing tear-duct opening an infrequent cause of tear overflow in young dogs. A young puppy with a red eye, squinting or thick discharge should see a vet in person today. If an unvaccinated puppy has any eye discharge with fever, cough or a runny nose, see a vet in person today, call the clinic ahead and keep the puppy away from other dogs, because distemper is possible.

Is it safe to use a tear stain remover on my dog?

Ask a veterinarian first, because VCA Animal Hospitals says no remedy has proven 100% effective and advises against using any product without consulting a vet. Skip anything containing hydrogen peroxide, which VCA warns can cause severe damage if splashed into the eyes, and never use a powder or supplement that contains an antibiotic. Gentle wiping with warm water, drying and trimming is the safe routine.

Can I use human eye drops on my dog's tear stains?

No. Pet Poison Helpline says a common redness-relief eye drop is not FDA-approved for pets and can worsen conjunctivitis, glaucoma, an allergic reaction or an eye with something stuck in it. Plain sterile saline eyewash is a safer rinse until a vet looks. Never use leftover steroid or other medicated drops before a vet has stained the eye in person. If your dog chews the bottle, go to an emergency vet now or call Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies), even with no signs, and don't make your dog vomit.

Can an online vet help with my dog's tear stains in Florida, New York or Virginia?

Often yes, if your dog is in Florida, New York or Virginia and its eyes are open, clear and comfortable. On camera, a veterinarian licensed in your dog's state can look at eye shape, eyelids, facial hair and the stained fur, then say whether it looks cosmetic and how soon an in-person exam is needed. Ulcer stain, tear, pressure and tear-duct tests need a clinic. A squinting, red or painful eye should go straight to an in-person vet, and a cloudy eye to an emergency vet now. If medicine comes up, it depends on the exam and state law, and a prescription is not guaranteed. Florida limits telehealth-only prescriptions to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled solely for fleas and ticks), with no renewal without an in-person exam. Without an in-person exam it also bars human-labeled prescription drugs, controlled drugs, and compounded antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic drugs. Many dog eye drops carry human labels, and federal rules require an in-person exam before a vet uses a human drug, or an animal drug off-label, in every state. Virginia allows an electronic exam, but the federal rule still applies, and New York's rules are not settled. RexVet is not a pharmacy, so if the veterinarian sends a prescription, a pharmacy transfer fee applies.