At Home Treatments and Remedies for Tear Stains
Making changed as listed above will help prevent staining, however you will need to choose a method to remove existing stains. There are many home remedies listed with various sources, however some do not work and others can cause injury to the eyes.
What does not work:
Boric acid - A solution mix of boric acid and corn starch is often proclaimed as a cure. However if this solution is ingested, even in small quantities, it is harmful to the stomach. There is more risk if you have more than one dog, as the second could lick the face of the first.
Vinegar or lemon extract - Adding one of these to drinking water is often suggested by many sources, however we have found in our experience that most Maltipoo puppies and dogs do not like the taste and will be reluctant to drink as needed.
Powders - Cornstarch and other powders have been rumored to help, however cornstarch is not recommended...This is because it can cause irritation to the dog's eyes, thus causing more tears, which causes wet hairs, which causes bacterial infection...and the cycle begins all over again.
What does work:
Quality canine tear stain wipes. Take care in choosing your product. Some top sellers contain bleach and other ingredients that either can cause irritation or that draw out the coloring of the hairs but do not remove the bacteria that has caused the problem.
Look for a product that:
- Uses organic ingredients to combat both bacteria and fungus
- Does not contain bleach
- Does not contain alcohol (which can really dry out the hair)
- Is not an irritant to the eyes
- Is easy to apply
We list several top choices with full reviews in the
Maltipoo Special Shoppe
under 'Grooming'. And no matter which product you use, use it consistently, wiping the eye area twice per day as part of your normal routine with your Maltipoo.