It’s an undeniable fact that red and brown tear stains are something that you won’t like to see on your dog. However, have you ever wondered what are the reasons for developing such a condition? Well, French bulldog tear stains can occur for a number of reasons. Let’s find out the most common causes!
French bulldog tear stains- what are the causes?
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Porphyrin
A chemical called porphyrin causes the discoloration under Frenchie’s eyes and around its mouth. A porphyrin naturally occurs in a dog’s saliva, urine, and tears and it’s actually the main reason for colored stains arising. They are usually brown, light pink and red.
It should be noted that there are many types of porphyrins. However, HEME is one of the best-known. The pigment HEME can be found in Frenchie’s blood cells and presents the main culprit for developing stains. The dark stains can also occur on Frenchie’s paws due to licking. In some cases, this type of condition is not alarming. However, I need to note that excessive licking can lead to severe hair loss and developing infections. Red, swollen, and itchy paws are often the signs of an underlying allergy. Therefore, any strange dog’s behavior should be prevented on time.
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Epiphora
The second cause for developing French bulldog tear stains can be found in the inability to drain tears properly. Epiphora or excessive tearing occurs due to a blocked tear duct or an allergen. The clinical signs include dampness, brown-reddish stains, and even skin infection. You can diagnose the epiphora if you notice your Frenchie’s face is always damp, and you see the tears rolling off your dog’s face. The leading causes of epiphora are conjunctivitis, eye injuries, abnormal eyelashes, and entropion or ectropion.
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Allergy
Frenchies are notorious for their tendency to show allergy to certain ingredients they eat. They have sensitive digestive systems and should not eat the food rich in artificial ingredients, by-products, and grains. Besides itchy and inflamed skin, watery eyes, and sneezing ae one of the most common issues. In case you are not sure what diet to choose for a Frenchie, I recommend you to read the following article about the BARF diet for French bulldogs.
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Shallow eye socket in French bulldogs
Shallow eye socket may be the next cause for tear stains. Brachycephalic breeds such as French bulldogs, pugs, and Boston terriers are on a higher tendency to suffer from watery eyes. Their eyeballs are big, while the eyelids may be unable to close fully. As you can guess, this may lead to a sort of discomfort, dry eye, and irritation.
How to get rid of French bulldog tear stains?
In case you own a light-colored Frenchie, the tear stains can be more visible. On the other hand, dog owners of dark-colored Frenchies should always examine the dog’s eyes for epiphora. Although the French bulldog tear stains often present a cosmetic issue, I recommend you to take your little gremlin to visit a vet. After the vet determined the cause, you can start with the treatment of facial staining. The following French bulldog tear stains remover is effective, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and cleansing action to prevent bacterial infections in the eye.
In case your furry gremlin developed tear marks, I advise you to use it 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time, you can wipe the tear marks with cotton ball rinsed in water. If your French bulldog tear stains are deep, my recommendation is to perform cleaning with this solution four times a week. After two weeks or regular usage, your Frenchie will surely get rid of tear marks.