Getting rid of the tear stains, am I doing it right? - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**Bow** · 12-10-2012, 06:24 PM

Hello everyone!

So... This is the situation: I have about 2 yo maltese girl, who moved to our house to stay just over one week ago. She is a rescue, and although her hair condition is pretty good, I want to get rid of the tear staining on the face.

Her eyes are a bit leaky, and as her facial hair is only a few inches long, the cheeks and hair under the eyes are slightly pink. As I'm going to grow her hair to the full length and get it properly white without any stains, here's my plan:

I'm going to order some Angel's Glow (by Blanc du blanc) and start feeding it to Bow as much as it says in the container. I'm not sure if I should just let it grow out and once the facial hair is long enough cut the stained ends, or just cut the whole face short once the eyes stop staining the hair.

I'm not amazingly keen on idea of having her face short, and it also worries me that the hair would be hard to keep out of her eyes as it would grow back?

How does this sound to you, how would you grow a full coat back and get rid of the stained ones?? All the other little tips you have regarding the white coat are very welcome

Thank you!

**Zoe's Mom88** · 12-10-2012, 07:05 PM

Congrats on your little rescue!!

I don't know how familar you are with Angel Eye's but it has an ingredient in it called Tylosin which is an antibiotic and not healthy to give long term. Also, cutting the hair like you said may cause it to grow into her eye and cause more of an irritation. You can trim a very little but I wouldn't really cut too much. You should get a good face wash, I use Spa Lavish Face wash and they make one for tear stains. Her face needs to be kept clean and then dry to avoid the pinkish color from forming which is yeast. After you wash her face to keep it dry you can put a little talc powder or even a little cornstarch in the area to help keep it dry. Your fluff might not have had her face washed the way it should and that is why you have the pinkish color but I am sure in time it will go away.

**WeeGrace** · 12-10-2012, 07:39 PM

Like Barbara said be careful of angel eyes spa lavish is great!! Use it. Also I wash daisy face three times a day. I use cotton wool soaked in warm water and rub the area I then comb it through with I comb so any gunk comes away with it. However I don't think her tear stains are too bad I think Daisy's are worse to be honest!!

**Ladysmom** · 12-10-2012, 08:01 PM

Here's a great article on tear stains from a vet:

A Veterinary Guide to Tear Stains

**SamiPix** · 12-11-2012, 06:12 PM

Make sure your feeding top quality food as the stains do have a connection to that on some level. Also, I've found that keeping the hair really short around the eyes and Eye Envy has worked very well. I haven't tried Spa Lavish but I've read very positive things about it and frankly I'm all for topical solutions over ingested ones.

S

**Summergirl73** · 12-11-2012, 06:52 PM

Since your new little one is going through so much with adjusting to your household etc, I think I'd hold off several months before trying the Angel Eyes. Stress can increase tear staining and the meds might be too much on her right now. There are tons of tips and tricks of other options in the meantime :-) .

**lols82** · 12-12-2012, 04:21 AM

I'm in the same boat, I just can't get rid of tear stains completely, Sammy has his face washed every night but i'm thinking of getting the Spa Lavish which I have read about on here to give it a go. I get his face hair cut when he goes to the groomers and that helps but it doesn't take it away

**Patsy Heck** · 12-12-2012, 04:26 PM

I read the article (as above) A Veterinary Guide to Tear Stains and bought the Alcon Opti-free lens solution. Jasmine's stain is almost gone. I wipe them twice a day and if I see any moisture. I should have taken before and after pics but I wasn't optomistic. But it's really worked for her.

**WeeGrace** · 12-12-2012, 04:44 PM

Patsy I wear contact lenses can it just be any solution?

**Snowbody** · 12-12-2012, 04:52 PM

Any of the eye washes for people with Boric acid in them should work. I tried everything - and I mean everything. Turns out Tyler had blocked tear ducts - though a specialist at a renowned animal hospital told me that wasn't the case. His last dental, I had them flush the tear ducts. No more tear stains after that. Not a one and I don't even have to wash his face.

Well sometimes I wash it if it gets dirty but it's never the tears anymore.

12-10-2012, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bow Newbie Dog's Name: Bow Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: UK Posts: 27	Getting rid of the tear stains, am I doing it right? Hello everyone! So... This is the situation: I have about 2 yo maltese girl, who moved to our house to stay just over one week ago. She is a rescue, and although her hair condition is pretty good, I want to get rid of the tear staining on the face. Her eyes are a bit leaky, and as her facial hair is only a few inches long, the cheeks and hair under the eyes are slightly pink. As I'm going to grow her hair to the full length and get it properly white without any stains, here's my plan: I'm going to order some Angel's Glow (by Blanc du blanc) and start feeding it to Bow as much as it says in the container. I'm not sure if I should just let it grow out and once the facial hair is long enough cut the stained ends, or just cut the whole face short once the eyes stop staining the hair. I'm not amazingly keen on idea of having her face short, and it also worries me that the hair would be hard to keep out of her eyes as it would grow back? How does this sound to you, how would you grow a full coat back and get rid of the stained ones?? All the other little tips you have regarding the white coat are very welcome Thank you! __________________

12-10-2012, 07:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zoe's Mom88 Maltese Guru Name: Barbie Dog's Name: Zoe (Kyra my Angel in Heaven) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,472	Congrats on your little rescue!! I don't know how familar you are with Angel Eye's but it has an ingredient in it called Tylosin which is an antibiotic and not healthy to give long term. Also, cutting the hair like you said may cause it to grow into her eye and cause more of an irritation. You can trim a very little but I wouldn't really cut too much. You should get a good face wash, I use Spa Lavish Face wash and they make one for tear stains. Her face needs to be kept clean and then dry to avoid the pinkish color from forming which is yeast. After you wash her face to keep it dry you can put a little talc powder or even a little cornstarch in the area to help keep it dry. Your fluff might not have had her face washed the way it should and that is why you have the pinkish color but I am sure in time it will go away. __________________

12-10-2012, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ladysmom Maltese Guru Name: Marj Dog's Name: Bailey and Lady at the Bridge Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 17,341	Here's a great article on tear stains from a vet: A Veterinary Guide to Tear Stains __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/MLadys...s/182366213341

12-11-2012, 06:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Summergirl73 Maltese Guru Name: Bridget Dog's Name: Lady Bella (and Katie & Lucky at The Bridge) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,756	Since your new little one is going through so much with adjusting to your household etc, I think I'd hold off several months before trying the Angel Eyes. Stress can increase tear staining and the meds might be too much on her right now. There are tons of tips and tricks of other options in the meantime :-) . __________________ "A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

12-12-2012, 04:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
lols82 Maltese Guru Name: Laura Dog's Name: Sammy Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 404	I'm in the same boat, I just can't get rid of tear stains completely, Sammy has his face washed every night but i'm thinking of getting the Spa Lavish which I have read about on here to give it a go. I get his face hair cut when he goes to the groomers and that helps but it doesn't take it away __________________

12-10-2012, 07:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
WeeGrace Maltese Guru Name: Grace Dog's Name: Daisy Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ireland Posts: 555	Like Barbara said be careful of angel eyes spa lavish is great!! Use it. Also I wash daisy face three times a day. I use cotton wool soaked in warm water and rub the area I then comb it through with I comb so any gunk comes away with it. However I don't think her tear stains are too bad I think Daisy's are worse to be honest!!

12-11-2012, 06:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
SamiPix Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 57	Make sure your feeding top quality food as the stains do have a connection to that on some level. Also, I've found that keeping the hair really short around the eyes and Eye Envy has worked very well. I haven't tried Spa Lavish but I've read very positive things about it and frankly I'm all for topical solutions over ingested ones. S

12-12-2012, 04:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Patsy Heck Maltese Guru Name: Patsy Dog's Name: Jasmine, Isobella, Cassie and Roxane at the bridge Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 350	I read the article (as above) A Veterinary Guide to Tear Stains and bought the Alcon Opti-free lens solution. Jasmine's stain is almost gone. I wipe them twice a day and if I see any moisture. I should have taken before and after pics but I wasn't optomistic. But it's really worked for her. __________________ The more people I meet the more I like my dog.

12-12-2012, 04:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
WeeGrace Maltese Guru Name: Grace Dog's Name: Daisy Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ireland Posts: 555	Patsy I wear contact lenses can it just be any solution?

12-12-2012, 04:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Snowbody Maltese Guru Name: Susan Dog's Name: Tyler Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 18,345	Any of the eye washes for people with Boric acid in them should work. I tried everything - and I mean everything. Turns out Tyler had blocked tear ducts - though a specialist at a renowned animal hospital told me that wasn't the case. His last dental, I had them flush the tear ducts. No more tear stains after that. Not a one and I don't even have to wash his face. Well sometimes I wash it if it gets dirty but it's never the tears anymore. __________________

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