Total Pooch Dog Supplements, Tear Stain Removers, De-wormers, Tylosin for Dogs and other great products.
Related Articles
Tear stains aren’t the end of the world but to a Maltese, they can be very annoying. Having a few unsightly streaks run down that perfect coat ruining it, can make any dog owner frustrated. Luckily, tear stains aren’t that big of a deal. There are several tips and tricks you can follow to get rid of them and even prevent tear stains from forming in the future. Here’s everything you need to know.
Allergies
If you really want to fight tear stains, you need to first make sure you eliminate all the causative factors. One of the main contributors to tear stains is allergies. If you think there’s a chance your Maltese might be allergic to something, then you might want to retearsexamine its surroundings. Allergens can be irritating to your Maltese’s eyes, causing it to tear up. When this happens several times, the excessive amount of tears leads to staining. By removing all potential allergens from your pup’s surroundings, you can eliminate tear stains.
Hydrogen Peroxide
One of the most popular homemade remedies you can make in a matter of seconds is a hydrogen peroxide and cornstarch mixture. All you need is a tablespoon of each. Mix those in with some water, adding gradual amounts until you reach a nice, thick, paste-like consistency. Once it’s ready, apply the mixture to the tear-stained area around the eyes. Give it some time to work through the stains and dry up. After that, rinse it out or wipe it off with a damp towel. Make sure to stay away from the eyes because the mixture can be a bit irritating.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another popular solution for Maltese tear stains is apple cider vinegar. All it takes is a teaspoon of the vinegar added to your dog’s drinking water. The apple cider vinegar works by modifying the pH levels of your pup’s tears. The new pH level makes it hard for bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to survive and grow. In other words, apple cider vinegar protects your Maltese from infections. Since infections are one of the top causes of tear stains, vinegar can prove a powerful tool in fighting those annoying streaks.
Apple cider vinegar might be simple and effective, but there’s one thing you should be aware of: it tastes horrible. Your Maltese might not like the new water’s taste. If you find your dog isn’t drinking as much water as it used to, you might want to cut back on the vinegar a bit. Start with a very small amount, less than half a teaspoon, and then ease your way up.
Diet Changes
The kind of foods you’re feeding your Maltese can also contribute to your tear stain problem. If you’re used to giving your dog foods full of carbs, chemical additives, artificial colors, and meat by-products, then tear stains are pretty much unavoidable. They tend to overload your pup’s system and cause several changes to its body. Instead, you want to opt for high-quality, premium, whole-diet foods.
Grooming
The amount of fluff your Maltese has could very well be a contributing factor to its tear stain problem. Think of it this way, what would happen if something got in your eye? You’d immediately start scratching and rubbing it, right? It would become red and start tearing up, too. Well, that’s exactly what would happen if your pup’s fur got out of control. It would cause constant irritation and the tears would be endless. Excessive tears would eventually lead to tear stains.
Regularly trimming your Maltese’s hair could go a long way in preventing tear stains. Keep that fluff under control.
Bowls
Don’t be surprised if your pup’s food and water bowls are the reason it’s getting tear stains. As a caring dog owner, you’ve probably made sure your Maltese’s food and water bowls are BPA-free, right? But there’s one thing you might have missed. Plastic and rubber bowls can contribute to the tear stain problem even if they’re BPA-free.
The problem with these kinds of bowls is that they contain dyes and chemicals that are bad for your pup. Tear stains might not appear immediately, but after a few weeks, months, or years, the problem will become pretty evident. Does this mean you should throw out your bowls and go back to good old hand-feeding? Well, that’s an option if you want to have some fun with your Maltese. But if you just want to prevent tear stains, stainless-steel bowls will do the trick.
Daily Cleaning
It doesn’t matter how hygienic your Maltese is and it doesn’t matter how often you clean its coat. You need to pay extra care to the areas around the eyes. Have a pack of wipes with you throughout the day and whenever you get a chance, wipe away any signs of pigmentation. If you’re always one step ahead of tear stains, your Maltese won’t have to worry about a thing.
Chamomile
This one’s a favorite of Maltese lovers around the world. Chamomile tea can be used to get rid of tear stains and also pamper your pup. How does it work? Well, the secret lies in chamomile’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The former helps get rid of any kind of organism that might be causing infections and irritation. The latter helps soothe away anything that might be causing your Maltese to tear excessively.
Put these two amazing qualities together and you’ve got one hell of an anti-tear stain remedy. The great thing about chamomile is its simplicity. Just make a regular cup of chamomile tea and let it settle down to room temperature. After that, soak some up into a cotton pad. Use that to wipe away all the tear stains and to soothe your Maltese’s irritation.
Conclusion
Tear stains are really easy to treat. You just need to know a few good remedies. The tricky part is making sure they never come back to bother your Maltese. If you really put your mind to it, you’ll never have to worry about those dark, reddish-brown streaks again.
