Is Iams dog food bad for tear staining?
Hello! I have 3 dogs- and Aussie, Cocker mix and a Shihtzu. Long before I worked for The Iams Company I have fed Iams, and only one dogs has tear stains, Stan the Cocker. He is also an OCD licker, so where he licks, he has this staining. This is a huge misconception and a question that we get often due to misinformation. There are no artificial colors or dyes in Iams foods. The color change you describe might be due to a reaction of sunlight with a compound in the tears and saliva called porphyrin. Porphyrin turns red when light hits it. Therefore, the hair around the eyes, muzzle and anywhere the dog licks may turn red. It is most noticeable in white dogs, especially Poodles and Bichons. This type of reddening occurs throughout the hair shaft and, because this effect is topical, groups of hairs will be similarly affected. The color change can be blocked by certain antibiotics, reducing or eliminating the stains. You will want to discuss this with your veterinarian for more information
