24/03/2014
Dog's Eye Care
Your Dogs's eyes should be checked daily and cleaned of any mucus and foreign matter that may have collected on the inside corners. It is normal to find a little bit of matter on the inside corners of the eyes from time to time. This type of matter can be cleaned simply by moistening a cotton ball with warm water and dabbing carefully at the corners of your Dog's eyes. Be sure to never rub over the actual eye with the cotton, as the fibers could scratch them.
Flushing Out Foreign Matter
The easiest way to flush out any foreign matter that you may see, such as a loose hair or a small speck of dirt, is to use a canine eye wash as such Eye Brite or Opticlear. Products such as these also help to clean the eyes and to treat minor infections or irritations. To make it easy on your dog, raise their head slightly, gently open the lower lid and then drop the fluid into the eye. Use dry cotton to absorb the excess moisture that floats to the eye corners, being careful not to touch your dog's actual eyeball.
Tear Stains
It is not uncommon ''White and light colored'' dog to have tear stains. This is a staining of the fur, around the eyes, which is caused by a discharge from the tear ducts. Some owners mistakenly believe that the stained hair is a "darker coat" color that has grown in. This is never the case. If your dog has brownish/reddish color under or around the eyes, it is not supposed to be there....And should be taken care of.
What causes tear stains on dogs? There are actually many elements that can make this happen: heredity, allergies, improper grooming, improper feeding, infection of the tear ducts, distichiasis (an abnormal extra row of eyelashes on the upper or lower lid), trichiasis (ingrown eyelashes) entropion (eyelids that turn inward), conjunctivitis or even teething (you may notice that after your dog's done with teething, that they no longer get stains).
How To Correctly Remove Tear Stains
Daily attention to the eyes and the hair under them is the best way to control staining. If any discharge, which may be a clear color at first, is cleaned up, it will not have a chance to gather on the coat, build up and then cause the stains. There are 2 steps that should be done to rid your dog of tear stains:
1. You (or a professional dog groomer) should carefully remove the stained hair with clippers. (Or as much of it as possible, don't worry, it will of course, grow back)
2. After this trimming has been done, do a daily cleaning of the area with a tear stain removal product....You will find many in pet supply stores and one is just as good as the other. Do remember that this must be applied carefully only under and around and not into the actual eye(s) of the dog.
