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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Smelly tear stains

8 replies

milkybarsrus · 12/12/2013 16:33

My lovely little boy Shih Tzu has really bad tear staining and it's starting to smell! I try and keep his eyes clean but it's not making any difference. He is fed on Barking Heads kibble which should be colour and additive free so I don't think it's that, but when he was fed on skinners he didnt have this problem?? Also his beard is a bit stained reddish brown similar to the tear staining. I know you can buy stuff for the eyes but the reviews on them don't seem to good. So I am open to suggestions please.

OP posts:
Original poster
milkybarsrus · 12/12/2013 22:07

Any ideas please?

OP posts:
digerd · 13/12/2013 19:34

Has your vet examined his eyes for entropium?

Original poster
milkybarsrus · 13/12/2013 21:02

The vet just said that's what these type of dogs get, so I assume he wasn't worried. do you think I should go back? He's due his one year check in January, I could wait til then. Off to google entropium.......

OP posts:
Original poster
milkybarsrus · 13/12/2013 21:10

Hi digerd, I looked it up and saw some pics, but I don't think it's that. His eyes don't seem to bother him either. I may try hypoallergenic dog food and see if that helps. Thanks.

OP posts:
Redpriestandmozart · 16/12/2013 09:23

We had this many years ago with one of our poodles, the vet did a test on tear ducts to look for blockages, really he just quirted dye into the ducts and some came out of nose. He flushed them and the problem improved. My daughter is a dog groomer and gets it a lot with Shih Tzus a lot come in every few weeks just to have this sorted. She says it can be a combination of a lot of things, short noses with blocked tear ducts, eye shape, hair irritating the eyes and entropium as mentioned.

There is a product called angel eyes (look on Amazon) it's popular with Bichon & Maltese owners. Also check out Tropiclean blueberry facial scrub but it does need to be used regularly. Another tip she says is to wash and dry the stains using a small cat comb (there can be a lot of muck in the hair) and use a little vaseline on the hair to prevent it soaking again.

Original poster
milkybarsrus · 16/12/2013 16:40

Thanks for the tips red, I will look into buying the necessary stuff, hopefully it will start to get better?!

OP posts:
Aquelven · 17/12/2013 14:49

One of mine is bothered with this.
I wipe round her eyes every day with a flannel, or baby muslin, soaked in warm water to get the gunge out of the hair, sometimes adding a little Optitrex helps if her eyes look a bit irritated. She's very close to the floor so pollen can be a problem for her.
I find it helps to brush through the affected hair with a soft baby toothbrush dipped in one of the organic eye lotions for dissolving the stains. There are several & I've used a few, can't remember which I'm using at the moment as I'm not in reach of it, big white bottle bought on offer from Petcetera.

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