Why Do My Dogs Eyes Run Brown?

Why Do My Dogs Eyes Run Brown
Have you ever noticed how many dogs have reddish brown staining of their fur ? It occurs most commonly where tears moisten the fur around the dog’s eyes or around their mouth where saliva wets their fur as well as where they lick their feet and forelegs.

What is causing the stains in dogs? This discoloration is caused by a chemical called porphyrin. Porphyrins are excreted primarily through bile and the intestinal tract, but in dogs a significant amount of porphyrin is excreted through tears, saliva and also urine, Saliva and tears contain substances called porphyrins, which stain light fur pink, red or brown.

Porphyrins are a group of organic compounds of which many occur in nature. One of the best-known porphyrins is heme, the pigment in red blood cells. If you have ever noticed a white dog that has been licking or chewing on his leg, the hair in that area will turn iron-brown in color.

The actual cause of stains is the porphyrin in the tears and saliva.
Why do stains occur in dogs? Some dogs produce excessive tears – primarily because when humans turned wolves into today’s best friend selective breeding created short noses and protruding eyes that contribute to abnormally narrow and often crooked tear ducts.

Some medical conditions that result in excess tearing and licking are associated with the excess staining but are not the cause of the stain. In addition to allergies and irritants that may cause excess licking, anatomical problems such as ingrown eyelashes, entropion, abnormally small tear duct openings and irritants such as cigarette smoke may be causes 1,

When porphyrins remain in contact with hair, particularly in white coats, for any time, the chemical stain develops.
It is virtually impossible to remove once it develops.
Is porphyrin staining serious in dogs? Fortunately, porphyrin staining is in itself a cosmetic problem and causes the dog no harm.

However, the underlying or causative problem can be significant. Eyelid abnormalities may cause significant discomfort. Excess salivation may be caused by oral discomfort such as gum disease or dental problems. And dogs that lick and scratch their faces, feet, armpits and genitals frequently are affected by allergies that can cause distress.

If your dog is experiencing porphyrin staining be sure to have your veterinarian perform a complete physical examination to rule in or out these problems. Can porphyrin staining be managed in dogs? Obviously part of the answer is preventing the porphyrin containing fluids from remaining in contact with the hair.

Regular cleaning can provide minimal help. Keeping long hair from rubbing in the eyes may also help keep the areas clean and dry. How is staining treated in dogs? Although somewhat unsightly, the staining caused by porphyrines is just that – cosmetically unsightly.

My dog’s eyes are stained with blood colored tears. What is causing the staining?
What caused my dog’s feet to be stained red?

Why are my dogs eyes leaking brown?

4) Dog eye brown discharge –

If your dog has white or pale fur, you might notice a brown stain develop around their eyes.This is because a dog’s tears contain a substance called porphyrin, which becomes a pigment of this hue when exposed to air and allowed to dry.If your dog is not in any discomfort from this, all you need to do is:

Try to wipe their eyes regularly. This will give the porphyrin no time to dry and stain their fur. You can also get a basic nutritional supplement (antibiotic-free) which reduces tear staining over time.

Bear in mind that the already-discoloured fur will take a great deal of time to grow out. Only if your dog looks to be in pain or discomfort or you start to notice redness around their eyes, should you visit your Vet.

Does dog eye discharge go away on its own?

Your dog’s eye infection won’t go away on its own, nor can you treat it from home. Untreated eye infections can spread into both eyes and even cause blindness. In very rare cases, a dog may require surgery for an eye infection.

What is abnormal eye discharge in dogs?

Common Causes and Treatments of Eye Discharge in Dogs – If your dog has clear eye discharge, chances are good it’s caused by allergies or something physical, like dust in the eye or wind blowing in the face. A watery discharge or mucus from one eye is often a sign of a foreign body, like an eyelash, while yellow-green or pus-like eye discharge could indicate a serious infection.

Always talk to your vet to get at the root cause of your dog’s eye discharge, because some problems can result in blindness or loss of an eye if left untreated.
Conjunctivitis,
Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of your dog’s eye.

There’s a wide range of causes for conjunctivitis, from allergies, injury, birth defects, and tear duct problems, to foreign matter, dry eye, distemper, or even tumors. Other signs of conjunctivitis include very red eyes, inflammation, blinking too much, squinting, crusty eyes, pawing at the eyes, or keeping the eyes closed.

To treat conjunctivitis, it’s important to learn what’s causing it. Depending on the cause, treatment can include: removing the irritant and soothing the area with pain medication; antibiotics and saline washes to manage infection; surgery to treat duct problems or birth defects; antihistamines for allergies; or other medications,

Corneal ulcers, These can be superficial or deep sores that can be painful. They may be caused by trauma to the cornea, disease, a lack of tears, something foreign in the eye and other injuries. Corneal ulcers causes red and watery eyes, sensitivity to light, squinting, rubbing the eyes with a paw, a film over the eye, and discharge from the eye.

Treatment may require surgery, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatories.
Seek medical attention for your pet right away.
Epiphora (excessive tearing).
Watery, teary eyes – resulting in stained or smelly fur and/or infected skin – can also be the result of many conditions, including abnormal eyelashes, inflammation, allergies, corneal ulcers, tumors, eye pain, and more.

Treating excessive tearing depends on what’s causing it and may include: topical antibiotics or steroids for tear duct inflammation; antibiotics and topical medication for cornea damage; or surgery for duct obstruction, ulcers, or abnormal eyelashes.

Dry eye, A sticky, tenacious eye discharge could point to canine dry eye – a failure to produce enough eye-cleansing tears. Dry eye – symptoms can also include mucus and inflammation – may be the result of distemper, injury, a knock in the head near a tear-producing gland, or the body’s own immune system attacking the tear gland tissue.

Infection is a serious risk for dogs with dry eye and can lead to painful, inflamed eyes. Ulcers on the cornea (surface of the eye) are also a serious risk since, without the lubricating effect of tears, the eyelid can scratch the surface of the eye just by opening and closing.

Treatment for dry eye depends on how severe it is and may include artificial tears for several weeks for mild dry eye; antibiotic eyedrops to help manage secondary infections; immunosuppressant drugs to help control the immune system; or surgery. Glaucoma, This condition is caused by excessive pressure in the eye and can be spotted in a few ways, including a bulging eye or eyes, cloudy eyes, and sometimes tearing.

Glaucoma causes a lot of pain; the vet may try to manage the ocular pressure with medications, but surgery may be recommended. Breed issues. Flat-faced dogs like pugs, Pekingese, boxers, and bulldogs can be more prone to eye discharge than other breeds because their flatter faces often mean shallower eye sockets and protruding eyes.

Called brachycephalic breeds, dogs with more prominent eyes may have tear drainage problems; eyelids that roll inward (entropion), causing great irritation by the lashes; or lids that don’t close fully over their eyes, a condition that can require surgery. Breeds with loose facial skin, like bloodhounds, cocker spaniels, beagles, Saint Bernards, and some terriers, are more prone to eyelids that roll outward (ectropion), as well as cherry eye, a condition that occurs when a gland in the eyelid falls out of position.

While antibiotics and steroids can help, surgery is often necessary for these conditions. These are just a few common causes of eye discharge in dogs. Because eye problems can be a sign of brain or nerve injury, infection, or other serious problems, have your dog’s eyes checked by a veterinarian to find out what’s behind your dog’s eye discharge.

How do you get rid of dog eye stains?

3. Daily eye- and mouth-hair hygiene – A quick daily “face grooming” will go a long way in keeping those stains at bay. Some tips: • Flush eyes with an appropriate canine eye-wash, such as saline eye-wash solutions or Terra Septic eye drops. • Use an eye wash wipe and rub underneath and around the eye area.

Opti-Clear and Bio True are two pre-made options; a do-it-yourself option is to mix one tablespoon boric acid powder boiled in one cup of distilled water. (Be sure to keep refrigerated, and remake a fresh batch weekly.) • Wash the muzzle hair with dry shampoo or waterless shampoo and a wet washcloth.

You may also try 3% hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel. Comb and blow-dry afterward. • Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed to avoid it irritating the eye and causing tearing.

How do you get rid of brown stains on white dogs?

Whitening Shampoos and Conditioners – Keep your dog’s coat white with Magic Coat ® Bright White Shampoo, It’s formulated with clarifying pearlescent brighteners and whiteners to remove discoloration safely, brighten a fading coat, and restore a coat’s natural shine.

It contains no bleach and has a long-lasting shea butter almond scent that will last for several days.
Remember to rinse, rinse, rinse, as failure to do so will leave the coat dull and grayish.
If the stains are very serious, get out the baking soda, a natural bleaching agent that doesn’t damage a dog’s coat.

Make a paste of baking soda and water, and brush it into the stain. Let dry and then wipe off with a damp cloth. If any stain still remains, repeat. Urine stains are particularly difficult and should be removed immediately with a damp cloth or pet cleansing wipe.