Tears are the body’s natural lubricant, which helps keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Tears also help wash away dust, bacteria, and other particles that might otherwise irritate your eyes. The problem is that sometimes tears don’t do their job. Instead, they can get trapped around the eye or seep out of the corner of the eye (called Chihuahua tear stains). And when this happens, it can make you look like you have dirt on your face – even if you just got back from a walk in the park! So what causes tear stains in Chihuahua?
There are several different things that cause tear stains in Chihuahuas, such as allergies, infections, an abnormal buildup of pigment around your dog’s eyes (which is not actually dirt, but this is how it appears), hormonal changes, or even something as simple as your dog’s facial structure. All dogs produce the pigment melanin in their tears, which can end up coloring the fur around their eyes.
If your dog has dark skin around its eyes, it may not be able to clean itself effectively, and bacteria can accumulate there. Also, certain breeds are more prone to tear staining than others, including Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Shar Peis, and other brachycephalic breeds – all of which have relatively small snouts harder for them to clear out the eye area completely.
If you have any more queries and need explanations about the problem you are dealing with, do read the article. I promise it will help you understand how minimalistic issue tear stains are in most cases.
What Causes Chihuahua Tear Stains?
Tear stains aren’t usually harmful, so you don’t need to worry about causing any damage by cleaning them off – just annoying!
There are a few different things that can cause tear stains in dogs:
Allergies
Dogs can develop allergies to anything from pollen to food. Several things can cause this, including food, environmental allergies in Chihuahuas (such as pollen or dust), or contact allergies (such as new shampoo).
Allergies can cause the eyes to water, leading to tearing stains. If your pup has red and itchy eyes, he may be allergic to something.
Trust me; allergies are no fun for anyone – humans or dogs! Talk to your vet about testing and possible treatments if you think your Chihuahua may have allergies.
Do you know what things your dog should avoid? Puppies are especially prone to allergies since they haven’t had a chance to build up immunity to all the things they may be allergic to. If your Chihuahua is a puppy with tear stains, allergies may be the cause.
Infections
Bacterial and viral infections can cause watery eyes, which leads to staining. Eye infections are common in dogs and can cause discharge, inflammation, and even blindness if left untreated.
Common infections that lead to watery eyes include conjunctivitis (pink eye) and adenovirus. If your dog is experiencing watery eyes, take them to the vet to rule out an infection.
Tear ducts
Blocked tear ducts are one of the most common causes of tear stains in Chihuahuas. The tear ducts are the small tubes that carry tears from the eyes to the nose.
When they become blocked, the tears can’t drain properly and end up spilling over onto the dog’s face. This can happen when the ducts are congenitally (birth) defectively small or if they become blocked by debris, infection, or tumors.
Some Chihuahuas just have naturally weepy eyes due to their tear duct configuration. This is not a medical problem but can lead to staining around the eyes.
Pigment Buildup
Some dog breeds have an abnormal buildup of pigment in the corner of their eyes, leaving behind dark – sometimes rust-colored – marks when tears dry up there. It’s not actually dirt or anything you should try to clean off your pup’s face; it’s just excess pigment!
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a common eye infection in dogs that can cause tear staining. Bacteria usually cause this, but a virus or an allergy can also cause it.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis include red, watery eyes; squinting; and discharge from the eyes. Your dog may also rub his eyes a lot.
If your Chihuahua has been rubbing at his eyes or is looking “glassy-eyed,” he may have conjunctivitis. It causes the membranes around the eyes to become irritated and inflamed. This can be a sign of a corneal ulcer as well.
Bad Diet
Your Chihuahua’s diet can have a major impact on his health. For example, dry foods are not very tasty, so dogs might only eat them if they are incredibly hungry or have medical problems that make chewing difficult.
This can lead to “food allergies” or malnutrition, which could cause tear stains.
Diet Changes
Switching your pup’s food around constantly will sometimes do it – constantly changing brands and types of dog food often leads to irritated eyes.
If you’re switching foods, introduce the new food gradually over several days in case your pup is sensitive to one (or more) ingredients.
Normality For Bulged Eyes
Dogs with large, bulging eyes like Pugs and Shih Tzus tend to develop staining around the edges of their eyes because they produce more tears than other breeds. This is normal for them!
Injury
An injury to your dog’s eye can cause bleeding or discharge, leaving rust-colored stains on his fur. If you suspect an injury, take him to the vet right away!
Blocked Tear Ducts
Some dogs are born with tear ducts that don’t drain properly. If the blockage is right at the edge of the eye, you might see tears in just one or two specific spots around your dog’s eyes.
If it’s in the middle of his face, he’ll look like he has runny makeup on. This can cause staining all over his fur. This condition does not usually affect vision and may go away by itself. Still, you should take him to a specialist for an examination if you notice he is developing tear stains.
Glaucoma
This severe eye disease causes the eyeball to swell, distort, and lose its shape. The cornea can also become cloudy and scarred.
Many dogs with glaucoma will develop tear stains because their eyes do not drain properly and build up tears (which can then irritate the eyes).
Inflammation or Infection in Eyes
If your Chihuahua’s eyes are swollen, red, or irritated-looking, or he has been discharging tears or pus from them, you should immediately take him to the vet.
This could be a sign of conjunctivitis (also called pink eye). It is caused by bacteria getting into the eye area. It normally clears up on its own, but it’s important for treatment if it’s not clearing up because it could lead to a corneal ulcer.
If he has an actual infection in his eyes, the discharge will be pus-like and probably yellow or greenish rather than blood-red-like tear stains. An eye infection can also cause swelling around the eyes. Your pup may hold one of them shut if there is pain.
Unfiltered Water
Do not use unfiltered tap water if you’re adding water to your Chihuahua’s food bowl. Tap water contains minerals and chemicals that irritate the eyes and cause staining. If possible, only give him filtered or bottled water to drink and rinse out his food and water bowls every day.
Entropion
This is a genetic disorder where the eyelid rolls inward, irritating the eye as it rubs against it all the time. The dog appears as if he is constantly winking because of this condition. In addition, it can lead to excessive tearing up and dark stains around his eyes due to blocked tear ducts.
Why Does My Dog Have So Much Eye Discharge?
There are a few things that can cause excessive eye discharge in dogs:
Infections or allergies
Dogs with allergic reactions to pollen, food, or other irritants might develop an irritated and weepy infection around their eyes.
In this case, you should take them to the vet for treatment. If they don’t improve with medical treatment, it’s time to switch foods! A puppy with chronic discharge may also need his tear ducts opened if he produces too many tears.
Corneal ulcers
If your pup has a bacterial or fungal infection on his cornea, it might cause him to produce excessive amounts of discharge. This is a serious medical condition and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Conclusion
If you’ve ruled out all of the medical reasons for your Chihuahua dog’s tear stains and excessive eye discharge, then his weeping eyes are probably just a normal variation! As long as there isn’t any pain or discharge other than what you see in the corner of his eyes, this is no problem.
Just be sure to keep those tear stains clean!
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