Tear stains are not just unsightly on light coated dogs, they can also harbor infection causing bacteria and cause skin irritation. Removing the buildup caused by excess tear production is essential in stopping this, but regular face washing with water is not always enough. Tear stain removers are a great alternative, but with so many available on the market, which do you choose for your pet pooch? Our panel of experts and dog lovers have put together this list of the best dog tear stain removers to help you make the right choice for your dog.
A Quick Overview of Our Favorites
Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover | Buy on Amazon | 4.1 |
Best Natural | Bodhi Dog Tear Stain Remover | Buy on Amazon | 3.8 |
Recyclable Packaging | Petpost Tear Stain Wipes | Buy on Amazon | 3.7 |
Best for Sensitive Eyes | Arava Pet Eye Wipes | Buy on Amazon | 4.1 |
Budget Pick | Burt's Bees For Dogs Tear Stain Remover | Buy on Amazon | 4.0 |
Easy to Use | Angels' Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes | Buy on Amazon | 4.0 |
Premium Pick | Eye Envy Tear Stain Remover Solution | Buy on Amazon | 4.2 |
Best Safe | Cliny Pet Eye Cleaner Lotion | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
Great For All Breeds | Squishface Wrinkle Paste | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
The 16 Top Rated Dog Tear Stain Removers
1 Best Overall: TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover
- Free from harsh chemicals
- Offers a refreshing blend of ingredients that soothes and balances the skin
- Safe to use on dogs and cats of all ages and skin types
- Soap and paraben-free
TropiClean Tear Stain Remover is a soap-free facial scrub that removes tear and beard stains from your dog’s coat without lightening the hair. It contains all-natural ingredients and is designed to be gentle but effective on all skin and coat types. The entire SPA range includes botanical extracts and aromatherapy to create a calming and enjoyable wash or bath time for your pet pooch.
2 Best Natural: Bodhi Dog Tear Stain Remover
- Lightens stains and prevents discoloration
- Professional grade quality
- 100% natural ingredients
- Suitable for puppies and kittens
This tear stain remover from Bodhi Dog works to lighten areas that are already stained and to prevent future staining through regular use. By using the eye stain remover in this way, you are able to stop the buildup of residue that can form over time and reduce the risk of infection from the bacteria contained within this buildup. The solution can be used on sensitive skin without irritation and contains only natural ingredients. The formula contains no harsh chemicals, bleach, alcohol, or parabens, and is completely SLS, MEA, and DEA free.
3 Recyclable Packaging: Petpost Tear Stain Wipes
- Recycled packaging
- 100% money-back guarantee
- 100% natural ingredients
- Able to remove both tear and stain at a go
These Petpost Tear Stain Remover Wipes are ideal for regular use. The proven formula contains no antibiotics, bleach, or other harsh chemicals. They can remove even the most stubborn stains and help prevent future staining, even on white fur. The wipes are made from soft cotton and remove the need for measuring caps and the potential for spillages. They also make it much easier to wipe the faces of young puppies who are not very good at staying still. While disposable, the wipes are made in an environmentally conscious manner and use recyclable packaging.
4 Best for Sensitive Eyes: Arava Pet Eye Wipes
- Anti-allergic properties
- Fortified with essential vitamins and oils
- Soothes itchy eyes
- Virtually chemical-free and non-toxic
The Arava pet stain remover is a carefully formulated preparation to ensure your pet’s fur, skin and body remain clean, tidy, dry, and healthy all the time. Special ingredients such as aloe vera and chamomile ensure that it has what it takes to solve all teary problems. In preparing all Arava Pet products, the well-being of your pet is a top priority. Arava pet eye wipe removes all types of ugly dirt, crust, and discharge from cats, dogs, and kittens. It is made from natural products and is carefully formulated to prevent tear stain infections and irritations. This formulation gives the quickest and easiest way to treat sleepy eyes, soothe itchy eyes, and prevent allergies.
At the end of the day, it leaves the pet’s eye area healthy, clean and dry. It is fortified with vitamins D, E, B5 as well as other organic extracts such as Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Lion’s tooth and Eyebright. It is rich in sulphur, sodium, magnesium and calcium. Prepared for the sensitive eye, it is soft and gentle on the eye and is virtually chemical free and absolutely non-hazardous and so is suitable for kittens and puppies. The constituent ingredients reduce inflammation in the eye caused by blepharitis and protect the eye from insect bites and parasites.
5 Budget Pick: Burt’s Bees for Dogs Tear Stain Remover
- Free from fragrances, colorants, and harsh chemicals
- Suitable for puppies
- 100% natural ingredients
- Vet recommended formula
Burt’s Bees for Dogs Tear Stain Remover is made with natural ingredients that work together to remove the particles that cause tear staining on the fur around your dog’s face. Made with the highest quality chamomile, the tear stain remover is gentle and safe, as well as being pH balanced for dogs. The product is also cruelty-free, so you can do what’s best for your dog secure in the knowledge that other animals were not harmed in the production of the product.
6 Easy to Use: Angels’ Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes
- Requires no rinsing
- Free from bleach and harsh chemicals
- 100% natural ingredients
- Can be used daily
The presoaked stain wipes from Angel’s Eyes contain Juniper Berry oil to help remove tear stains naturally and gently. The wipes are safe to use on puppies from 12 weeks of age and can be used daily to keep the area around the eye-clean. The wipes can be used without the need for rinsing and regular use can reduce the risk of itching and eye irritation. If any residue from the stain wipes is left around the eye area after use, it can be simply wiped away with cotton wool or a dry towel to ensure that nothing is wiped into your dog’s eyes.
7 Premium Pick: Eye Envy Tear Stain Remover Solution
- Two-step application for effective results
- Especially works perfectly on light-colored animals
- 100% natural ingredients
- Able to remove both tear and stain at a go
The Eye Envy Pet Eye Stain Remover offers the preferred solution to all forms of stains arising from eye tears, mouth saliva, and urine discharges. It is very mild on the skin but very tough on the stubborn eye and tear stains. It is very ideal for small animals such as kittens and puppies. By the time it is done, your pet’s appearance is transformed into a glowing pleasant, and hearty outlook. It follows a two-step application procedure of liquid and powder, and is prepared for external use only and not to be ingested.
The ingredients used in its preparation are 100% natural and environmentally friendly and are free of hydrogen peroxide, steroids, antibiotics, bleach, and all forms of harsh chemicals. It is, therefore, great for small pets such as kittens, puppies, and ferrets. It is ideal for a poodle, Samoyed, Bichon, Maltese, and other light-colored animals. Other preparations remove the teary mucus but leaving the stain behind, but not so with Eye Envy, as it completely wipes all stains clean. It is safe and effective when stored at room temperature. It comes in a 237 ml bottle.
8 Best Safe: Cliny Pet Eye Cleaner Lotion
- Safe for use on dogs and cats
- Only needs to be applied once or twice a week for healthy eyes
- Contains taurine, which can help with eye restoration
- Relieves eye puffiness and irritation
Working as a natural eye infection treatment and pet eye wash, Cliny’s Eye Cleaner Lotion is a 2-in-1 formula that you can use on your dog’s eyes. It’s also suitable for cats, which makes it a great and gentle tear stain remover to have in your home if you have several pets. Cliny’s is a number one recommended brand, and is used by veterinarians to assist with removing tear stains, cleaning around the eye, and refreshing the eyes of dogs and cats.
But what makes this the best dog tear stain remover for your pup? Well, Cliny’s formula contains panthenol with silver ions. While panthenol promotes wound healing and softens your dog’s skin, the silver ions have an anti-bacterial affect. When this is combined with the boric acid in the formula, you gain an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, healing eye lotion that works as a natural tear stain remover.
9 Great For All Breeds: Squishface Wrinkle Paste
- Start to produce rapid results within a day or two
- Restores wrinkled skin
- Provides a soothing effect for itchy skins
- Adapts very well to sensitive skin
The Squishface aims straight at all fungi and bacteria that threaten your pet’s health and at the same time, resolves all itchy and wrinkling skin. It works excellent on delicate pet skin and removes and cleans wrinkles, tears stains, and tail pockets on the body of dogs leaving behind its characteristic fragrant scent. Made from full complement zinc oxide and natural coconut oil, it enables the quick healing of red chapped skin and will restore any oozing patches of skin, and keeps all bacteria and fungi at bay.
It resolves all itching problems soothes irritated and infected skin and is very suitable for the most delicate pet skin, producing results within 24 hours. It also works great on dogs especially those with typical widespread wrinkles on the body. For best results, simply clean the affected area and apply fresh Wrinkle Paste once a day and results will start showing within 24-48 hours. Continue application for another 5-6 days. The ingredients are largely derived from plants and so this makes the paste most appropriate for delicate skin.
10 MOKAI Facial & Tear Stain Cleansing Wipes
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Confronts all stubborn stains
- Moisturizing ability
- Comes in a convenient tub for easy wipe removal
For best results in removing and cleaning all manner of secretions from the eye, body or urine area, the MOKAI offers the most effective method of solving the problem. Every stubborn stain succumbs to MOKAI’s highly effective active ingredients to achieve a lasting solution. The MOKAI eye and tear stain wipes are a revolutionary product made with high-quality ingredients extraction of which will not cause any harm to the environment. The guiding philosophy is to improve the quality of life for pets in an environmentally friendly manner. Having a water-based formula, its soft tissues removes and cleans the tear stains found in the eye area of cats, dogs, and other pets.
Any unsightly and stubborn tear stains are easily eradicated and lightened by this formulation if it is used consistently. It also removes eye discharge and cleans saliva. It contains aloe vera and other gentle proteins, mild enough to be suitable for kittens and puppies. The MOKAI pet tear stain remover will moisturize your pet’s skin and restore it to its natural setting. It contains neither bleach nor antibiotics and possesses a gentle fragrance. It comes in a tub, similar to what pertains to baby wipes, and can be removed one at a time. It is the preferred choice for pet groomers and veterinarians.
11 Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse for Dogs
- Great for dogs with sensitive eyes
- Includes Borid Acid, which helps prevent and fight eye infections.
- Treats eye irritation
- Effective during allergy season
Dog owners looking for gentle tear stain products might like to try this Eye Rinse for Dogs by Nutri-Vet. By regularly treating your dog’s eye using this eye rinse, you’ll be able to avoid new tear stains on your dog and reduce tear stains that they already have. The ingredients in Nutri-Vet’s Eye Rise formula can cleanse and soothe the eyes of even the most sensitive dogs, all while fighting infections and clearing irritations away.
While some tear stain removers only remove existing stains, Nutri-Vet’s product slows down the formation of new tear stains, leaving your dog with bright eyes and no eye irritation. Keep your dog’s eyes free of infection with this gentle eye rinse product.
12 Vet Classics Tear Stain Supplements
- Soft chew supplement, which can be easier for elderly pets to take
- Suitable for dogs and cats older than 12 weeks
- Supports the immune system
- Remove tear stains from the inside out!
Rather than a lotion or wash, these supplements from Vet Classics are soft chews that are suitable for dogs and cats over the age of 12 weeks. Vet Classics boasts a Tylosin-free formula that can assist in the elimination of tear stains and prevent new tear tears from forming with its gentle formula. Pet parents who have dogs and cats at home are more likely to benefit from a product like this, rather than buying separate products for their pets.
There are no harmful chemicals in this product and it’s usually only available through veterinarians, so pet parents can be sure that it’s a quality product that can reduce the appearance of red stains on their pets. Unlike other tear stain products, Vet Classics also targets saliva stains, and you don’t need to spend time cleaning your pet’s face. Just feed them the recommended dose of the supplement each day, and see their little face become stain free.
13 Beloved Pets Eye Cleaner Lotion
- Provides gentle eye infection prevention
- Made from natural ingredients
- Clears up tear stains by using the product just twice a week
- Eases inflammation of the eye, soothing red and sore areas
Part of the “Stop Problem” line of the Beloved Pets brand, this Eye Cleaner Lotion is perfect for the gentle eye care of your pets. It’s an all-natural solution using ingredients that promote healing and soften the skin around your pet’s eyes, which can help clear up tear stains, remove dirt, and more. You can easily apply this kind of eye cleaner lotion with a cotton pad or wash cloth, carefully cleaning around your dog’s eyes to soothe away irritation and inflammation.
Beloved Pet’s lotion reduces the risk of eye diseases in pets, and has plenty of great ingredients to keep your dog’s eyes and surrounding areas healthy. For example, one of the active ingredients is Taurine, which is known to promote the restoration of the eyes and the retina. There’s also Sodium Chloride in this product, which is a well-known antiseptic.
14 OPULA Dog Eye Wipes
- 300 wipes per container
- Pet-friendly, high-quality cotton wipes
- Pre-soaked for quick application
- Gets rid of any unpleasant smell lingering on your dog’s face
A different and more convenient way to clear up your dog’s eyes, OPULA has a tub of Pet Eye Wipes that are the perfect solution for a busy household. When you’re using a product to clean up your dog’s face, spending time finding a suitable wash cloth is time that your dog might use to get away from you. Not all adult dogs are going to be happy that you’re trying to clean their face, after all!
With OPULA’s product, you get ready-to-use wipes that are made by dousing tear stain remover over cotton pads – similar to quick-use products that you can get for cleaning humans! The soft, cotton wipes are made of a high-quality cotton material, so they won’t drag on the skin and hurt your dog.
15 Miracle Care Eye Wash Pads
- 90 pre-soaked eye wash pads
- Created for quick eye washing
- Also available as an eye drop formula
- Soothes eyes while gently cleaning
Another product that uses pre-soaked cotton pads is Miracle Care’s Eye Wash Pads for dogs and cats. These eye care pads are made with an irrigation formula, conveniently pre-soaked for use as quick tear stain removers. There are just six ingredients contained in the solution that covers these stain removers, so dog owners can be sure that they aren’t using any harmful chemicals on their pup.
Using eye wash pads like these ones from Miracle Care couldn’t be more simple. Just take one clean pad from the container, which will already be moist and soaked in eye wash solution, and clean carefully around your pup’s eyes. With repeated use, you should see a different to your dog’s bright eyes in a matter of weeks.
16 Arava Bio Tear Stain Cleaner
- Includes natural ingredients and dead sea minerals
- Nourishing dead sea minerals help remove existing stains around the eyes and mouth of your dog
- Naturally hypoallergenic formula
- Use daily for the best results and completely clear fur in up to 12 weeks
A beautifully packaged tear stain cleaner from Arava. This product has the ability to eliminate tear stains, saliva stains, and prevent more stains from occurring on your dog’s face. It’s certainly one of the best stain removers out there, crafted with amazing natural ingredients such as Euphrasia, Wild Yam, and Sophora. It contains 26 different dead sea minerals, has no hazardous chemicals in its makeup, and it’s safe for kids to use if they want to help clean up their pet’s face.
While some stain removers don’t remove stains permanently, the results from using this Tear Stain Cleaner is said to never fail to deliver. It may take up to 12 weeks for stains to completely clear from your dog’s fur, but once they’re gone, you can continue treatment to ensure they stay away for good. Stain removers like this are perfect for keeping to-hand if you have several pets at home, and Arava even offer pet eye wipes for maximum tear stain removing results!
The Best Dog Tear Stain Remover: Buying Guide
As well as knowing which products are the best, it can help to know more about the reasons why you may need to consider such a purchase. Tear stains are common in many breeds but what causes them, how can you prevent them, and why are some breeds more susceptible to staining than others? In this buying guide, we look at these and other questions and provide answers that help you to make better-informed choices for your canine companion.
What Are Dog Tear Stains?
Dog tear stains are the red-brownish stains that appear mainly on light-coated dogs. They are most common around the eyes but can also appear around the muzzle and between your dog’s toes. The staining is a result of excess tearing. As well as being unsightly the tear stains can also encourage the buildup of bacteria, cause irritation and even result in infection.
What Causes Excessive Tearing?
Tears are, as with humans, part of the eye’s natural defense system. When the eye is irritated or has something lodged in it, it produces tears to try and remove the particles or irritations. Occasionally, the irritation is not easy to remove, and more tears are produced. This can lead to excessive tearing and further complications. As well as dirt, dust, and other debris becoming lodged in the eye, there are numerous reasons why your dog may develop excess tearing, including:
- The shape of the eye
- Puppy teething
- Blocked tear ducts
- Ear infections
- Allergies
Excessive tearing may also be a sign of an underlying health condition that is not directly related to the eyes. If your dog develops excessive tears for the first time, you should consult your veterinarian to rule out underlying health issues before beginning treatment with a tear stain remover.
How to Prevent Dog Tear Stains
Once underlying health conditions are either ruled out or are under treatment, you can begin to look at ways of removing existing staining and preventing future staining. Regular grooming, using your chosen tear stain remover is an essential part of this, but it is not the only course of action you should take.
General Health Checks
If the excessive tearing was caused by an underlying health condition, then ensuring that you maintain your dog’s general health, have regular checkups, and treat problems quickly helps to prevent future occurrences of excessive tearing.
Check Food Quality
Food quality can affect many aspects of your dog’s health, from their internal health to their teeth, coat, and skin. If the food is of poor quality it could be full of fillers and low in the nutrients, proteins, and vitamins your dog needs. This affects the ability to fight infection. Dog’s can also form allergic reactions to some of the ingredients used as fillers, including wheat, corn, and animal by-products. Allergic reactions are one of the main causes of excessive tearing.
Check Water Quality
Ensuring your dog always has a source of fresh, clean drinking water is also important. If they are relying on less than clean sources, such as puddles or drains, this could be causing a buildup of bacteria, which in turn is causing excessive tearing. If you are providing fresh water and are still noticing problems, check their water bowl and look for and where possible remove other water sources they may be accessing your garden.
Take a look at our article on Dog Water Fountain.
Regular Facial Checks and Grooming
Daily visual checks of your dog’s coat and particularly their facial area can help prevent a buildup of staining. Clean the eye area regularly, ensuring to flush out eyes if your dog has been in contact with potential allergens. For example, if you have been on a walk through a wooded area, in long grass, or through the mud. These are home to many potential allergens and bacteria.
Keeping Facial Areas Dry
All bacteria love damp, warm areas to grow in and the areas around your dog’s eyes and muzzle are perfect breeding grounds for the bacteria that encourage staining and further tear production. You can help to prevent this by keeping your dog’s face dry.
Which Breeds Are More Prone to Tear Stains?
While all dogs can be affected by tear stains, they are much more obvious on light-coated dogs. They are also present more often in small-breed dogs. Tear stains are most common in those breeds where the shape of the eye socket prevents proper drainage of tears and other fluids down the throat. The breeds most affected by tear staining are:
- Pekingese
- Poodle
- Boston Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- Pug
- Maltese
- Havanese
- Bichon Frise
- Lhasa Apso
While you cannot complete irradiate tearing, by combining good hygiene, regular grooming, and looking at potential causes, with a quality tear stain remover, you can reduce the effects of tears on your dog’s coat. By choosing one of the tear stain removers discussed here, you can be assured that you are choosing one that is gentle and caring towards your dog’s coat and overall health.
Our Top Pick
Our top pick is the TropiClean Spa Tear Stain Remover. This efficient product offers the most popular and preferred solution to all forms of stains arising from eye tears, mouth saliva, and urine discharges. Its 100% natural ingredients have been carefully formulated with both adult and younger pets in mind. Rest assured your puppies and kittens can safely utilize this product without adverse effects. The refreshing blend of coconut, vanilla, and blueberry work in sync to remove both dirt and tear stains. Your pet’s appearance is transformed into a glowing pleasant and hearty outlook.