Petaware™ wishes to encourage the responsible pet owner to have a better understanding of tear staining and ocular discharge in animals; recognize why your pet has it, and know how to control it effectively. To do otherwise would be simply treating the signs of the underlying problem and not managing it correctly. The caring pet owner should address all health, environmental, and dietary matters for optimal care;

Tearing
There are several possible reasons for unnecessary tearing, but none are directly responsible for the stains. Staining is a by product created by the moisture from increased tearing flowing through the hair below the eyes. The constantly wet facial hair is a breeding ground for bacteria. The tear ducts become filled with bacteria that react to incoming light and release a brownish/red secretion into the tears;

Ear Infections
Extra care needs to be taken in drying your pet’s ears after bathing.  Many dogs/cats have a lot of hair inside the ears' which can cause infection. You can gently pluck them with tweezers. 
However, as you may imagine - animals aren't too keen on this. That leaves you with the option to trim inside the ears with a blunt-nosed scissors (same used for the babies’ nails), or specifically requesting your groomer to do it;

Genetics
Many dogs/cats have a genetic sensitivity in the ear drums.  Any water remaining in the ear Will most likely cause an infection;

Cutting Teeth
Excess tearing often occurs when puppies/kittens cut their first teeth. To make matters worse, at this same time the puppy/kitten’s hair is growing just long enough to stick into their eyes; causing irritation that might increase tearing.
When cutting their permanent adult teeth, usually between 5 to 8 months of age, the adjustment of the structure of their mouth and facial bones will pressure the tear ducts and increase the tearing. The many dogs/cats that have had no previous staining problems are prone to developing staining during this time.
Dogs/cats of any age with teeth or gum problems are likely to produce more tears, increasing the stains;

Allergies 
Many dogs/cats can be susceptible to allergies coming from the environment. Many pet owners have reported that their animals had sparkling clean faces and suddenly became tearstained after being exposed to smoke, too much wind or over-zealous central heating/air conditioning.
Try to keep your pet from situations where they are exposed to eye irritations. A common example is letting your dog hang his head out of the car windows while you drive. This practice exposes their eyes to a multitude of possible contaminants and irritants.It is also important to be careful when bathing, as shampoo in the eyes can cause irritation.
Some pet owners use a little protective ophthalmic ointment– or sterile mineral oil – around the dog’s eyes as protection when bathing. You can find these products in the eye care section of most drugstores and pharmacies.
Having the corners of your pet's eyes mucus-free is a protection from catching infections. Bacteria often feed on mucus and can migrate to the eye area.  Using any good quality eyewash is a handy way to keep your pet’s eyes free of dirt;

Water
The drinking water in many areas has a high mineral content. If a pet splashes while drinking water from a wide dish, getting the mouth and beard wet, the minerals may cause staining and the moisture may breed bacteria, leading to stains. Placing your pet on purified commercial water and training them to drink from a dripping bottle will help eliminate both of these problems;

Food
Diet can play a significant role in ocular discharge and tear staining. Many pet owners find that feeding their animals a dry kibble with no preservative, fillers or additives will boost their resistance to inflammatory reactions therefore an aid to stain free faces. Many commercial pet foods also contain meat pulp added with artificial colors that can stain the hair around the mouth.  If that is your case, the alternative is to keep your pet’s face in a “wrap” while eating. With all food types, it is important after each meal to remove any residue or partially digested food that remains stuck in the hair when washing the face;

Fleas
Another potential source for staining is fleas. The instruction on most flea shampoos is to start shampooing from the head down. This is because fleas also need moisture to survive and stay mostly around the head, next to the wetness of the eyes.  The constant and vigorous scratching is the pet’s way to relieve the itch resulting from the excrement (digested blood) the fleas' leave behind, likely to cause an infection.
Another problem that comes with fleas is the ear mites they carry. Ear mites can cause severe eye/ear infections resulting in tearstains. (See above). You must ask your vet how to keep fleas under control;

Blocked Tear Ducts
Some animals might have clogged tear ducts, which need to be irrigated by a vet. An evaluation made by an ophthalmologist veterinary concluded that up to 20% of small dogs, such as Maltese, Bichon Frisé, Poodles, Cockers and Terriers, may have this dysfunction of their lachrymal glands (tear ducts) requiring them to be *surgically corrected. Blocked tear ducts typically have no bearing on preventing or causing stains or ocular discharge, but they should be monitored for the health and well being of your pet;

Sudden abnormal increase in tearing
If your pet has significantly increased tearing added to acute staining or clumping of the facial hair around the eyes and a runny nose, you need to go immediately to your vet.
These symptoms are signs for “epiphora”, the medical term for abnormal excessive tearing of the eye. “Epiphora” is caused by a variety of conditions that affect tear production, tear flow, or the function of the eyelids. *The treatment for “epiphora: varies according to the recognition of the underlying cause.
*The wise course of action is to obtain a second opinion from another reputable professional. 
 
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