What are tear stains?
Tear stains are the dark brown and/or reddish discoloration around a pets eyes. The technical term for tear stain is epiphora. There are several causes and contributing factors to tear staining. Tear staining can be traced to health and diet, as well as genetics. Most veterinarians agree that face staining results from excessive tearing. The damp face hair is a breeding ground for bacterial and yeast growth. The most common is Red Yeast which is often associated with reddish brown facial staining, and which may emit a moderately strong odor. Another common contributor to tear staining are Porphyrins. Porphyrins are a class of water-soluble, nitrogen based biological pigments that circulate in your pets serum and bodily fluids. These pigments are found in tears and in the presence of light contribute to the dark staining.
