help for eye stain

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Archived Message

help for eye stain
by Jeannie and Ellii
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
help for eye stain Hello! I kow this topic is in the archives, and this very thing has been discussed, but I wanted to add my name and experience to the problem of eye staining. I had read in the archives that Tetracycline was good for eye stain problems. Well, I checked with my Vet and she said that I shouldn't give it to Ellii until all her adult teeth were in because it can cause the adult teeth to turn bright yellow and stay that way! So I used all the other suggestions in the archives to try to help her eyes stop running. None of them worked and I must say that I was pretty discouraged about it. I had pretty much resigned myself to looking at my pretty little girl with orange eye rings. She turned 1 year old on March 15th, and I had her in for her normal check up and asked the Vet about it again, and asked her to make sure all her adult teeth were in. She said yes and gave me some Albaplex #10 to give her, 1 1/2 tablets twice a day. I gave it to her for 5 days. NO MORE ORANGE EYES. I swear. It has been 4 weeks now and her eyes will run a little, (like any dogs eyes) but it is crystal clear. This is the first time I have seen her with a white face. I haven't used anything on it at all. I am so excited about it that I just had to write in. I don't like the idea of giving anything unnatural or chemical to my sweetie, but if this "cured" whatever was going on (bacteria??), I am happy I did. I wouldn't do it if I had to continue giving it to her, but the one time seemed to do the trick. Hope this helps someone else!

DISCUSSION:

Jeannie,I have never tried to stop the tear stain. But, after my kids are graduated next week and the party's over, etc etc., I am going to dote time and money on Cubbie to clear up his eyes and the sore that won't heal. I haven't had the extra money until now. I will definitely post the results. I can't wait......only a few more weeks!
Felicia & Cubbie

Thanks! I am counting down the days until Sophie turns a year old! Unfortunately, it is not until December. My poor baby has such terrible stains, the worst I've seen on any so far. Hopefully, flushing will help when she is spayed. I'll have to add this to my list of "Tear Stain Miracles" so I can remember the name for my vet. So happy for you! It sure would be nice to see Sophie with a white face. Hers are so bad her face is beyond orange. It's brown! :-(
Carrie

Jeannie, I'm writing down that name now and will ask my Vet about it next visit. That would be great. Thanks.
Robin D.

Hi Jeannie! Is this product an antibiotic? My oldest malt Bianca has an orange face. I've tried everything to no avail. My vet refuses to prescribe antibiotics for her tear stains. He said she'll become immune to the antibiotic and if in the future she ever needs it that it won't work. I disagree with him. If she was on the antibiotic for months or years maybe--but he is an old fashioned vet and will not give me my way on this one. I'm tempted to call another vet and ask on the phone before I get there if the vet will prescribbe antibiotics or not. I'm happy for you that your baby has no more tear stains! Take Care!
Angel

Hi,Like most of you, we have never seen Baby with a white face. Her tear stains were making her eyes as well as her mustache orange. Well, I read somewhere on a post that the water quality may have something to do with it. We have well water and we have a Culligan water system attached to the kitchen sink that filters the water & I've started giving the dogs their water from that faucet. After a few weeks of using this water, her eyes have cleared up. There is very faint stains on her eyes, but nothing like she had before. I'm convinced the water had something to do with it.
L:ydia/Pepper/Baby

Jeannie, when I first got Baxter, I called him Pink Cheeks. It wasn't bad like I've seen on other maltese, but actually kind of cute. As he got older, it wasn't so cute. Anyway, he got an ear infection (probably from me not drying his ears properly after a bath). Anyway, over the next several months, he was on three different kinds of antibiotics trying to clear up this ear infection. By the time it was over and the infection gone, so were the tearstains. Baxter was two last January and to this day, his eyes are beautiful. I do daily cleansing (missing a day here and there) with Collyrium.
Marie

Hello,Thank you, thank you thank you. This has given Pepe and I such grief. We are off to the Vet, first thing Monday morning thank you, thank you.
Paula

I have put off responding to this thread as I was hopeful that someone more experienced than me would say something. So here goes... I want to note right up front that all of us have to make choices for our pets which others might not agree with, so I don't mean to criticize anyone. But, if you are on the fence on this issue, I think it is wise to consider not only alternatives, but consequences. Angel, I have to agree with your vet and applaud him for taking a stand even if it means losing a client. Too few vets have this type of integrity. Before switching vets, you should talk to him about why he feels this way. You might get some valuable information. There have been so much written lately about the overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals and how this overuse contributes to resistant strains of e-coli, salmonella, etc, as well as birth defects. Antibiotics are powerful drugs which are highly effective in dealing with infections that respond to no other treatment. If you choose to use antibiotics for what I consider to be cosmetic reasons, you are taking the chance of compromising your dog's immune system -- he/she might be less able to deal with infections naturally and the potency of antibiotics when really needed might be decreased. I think it is wiser to try everything you can first and then make the decision. My Lucca's tearstaining increased lately and I realized that it was due to my recent addition of raw, pulped carrots to his food. I removed the carrots and, voila, no more tearstain. Try filtered/bottled water, change your brand of dog food (check ingredients lists for dyes), use an air cleaner in your home, etc. Also keep in mind that some dogs do grow out of it. If nothing works, so what? This is the way I look at it -- having to clean my pup's face daily versus compromising his immune system. It's an easy choice for me.
JoanG

My friends Ashley and Sarah have a maltese dog named Missy that is 1 year old and has a perfect white face and isn't on any antibiotics for tearstaining!
Sapna

I think Joan has the right idea. Really look at what you are feeding him. Now, please realize I am NOT talking from experience here, as I have never had a white dog before, and as you know, am not expecting Ahzsa until July, but I've been told not to feed anything red (including liver, treats, etc.) so maybe you might want to try eliminating those foods before you try the antibiotics. I AM a little confused about the carrots though. I thought they were so healthy!
Isabel

Isabel: Yes, carrots are healthy. Unfortunately, I overdid it and carrot juice made his face the most hideous orange color. There are lots of other vegetables that are good for Lucca. I just must remember not to use carrots exclusively and in large amounts. By the way, I am also excited about your Ahsza (did I spell it correctly?) and hope to see her prancing on the streets of NYC this fall (after she gets her final shots).
JoanG

I'm with JoanG on this one. But as she says, it is a personal choice so just be aware of the possible consequences before you take the decision. Every time you (or your dog) take a course of antibiotics you are selecting out resistant strains. This has 2 main consequences: Firstly you decimate the all the susceptible bacteria - including beneficial ones - this can allow resistant strains to take a hold (which can come back to haunt you or your dog in old age in the form of constant urinary tract infections which no longer respond to antibiotic treatment). Secondly, you are contributing to the global pool of resistant bacteria, which increases chances of re-infection (especially if you have no natural immunity because antibiotics have been doing all the infection fighting). If one of the Beasties had a nasty bacterial infection I would be the first one asking the vet for antibiotics. But please think carefully about possible repercussions if the use is purely for cosmetic reasons. I know that most people who are thinking of trying the antibiotics only plan to give one course, just to see if it works. Many people say that tearstaining clears after a single course, in which case it is unlikely there will be a long-term harmful effect. But repeated courses of antibiotics, which may be necessary to achieve that white face, just don't make sense. I wonder what effect all the antibiotics which are currently given to poultry and other livestock to make them grow are going to have on us, years down the track. Makes you want to be a vegetarian (almost!). BTW Joan, interesting thought about the carrot as a cause of staining, we may try a carrot-free diet for a week to see if there is any difference.
Deanna (Moose & Squirrel)

I did call a new vet and took Bianca in yesterday and he gave her antibiotics to use for a very short time. She won't be on them for very long. He thinks she has bacteria and NEEDS them! Joan G.- I would not compromise my dogs immune system either. There are a lot of people on this forum who have used antibiotics with great success for tear stains. How do you think I found out about it? I learned it on here. I never knew the staining could be bacteria and antibiotics would clear it up. I don't care if my dog was purple and had three eyes--I wouldn't love her less. The point is--you feel I'm doing this for cosmetic reasons and compromising her immunity--I'm not. Did I say that? She does have an infection and it is being treated. I am a good mother to my girls and I would never, ever risk their immunity for cosmetic reasons--EVER!! If one of my girls ever became really ill, and I didn't have a ton of money at the time, I would sell my soul if it meant saving them. My girls are my heart and I could go on and on but I must respect the rules so I'll leave it at that!
Angel

I have never heard of the antibiotics for the tear staining, I have tried a penny in her water ,I am not sure that worked. I have tried only using bottled water for her drinking water. I am not conviced that worked either. I have also tried 1/4 of a Tums a day. I think,the best cure is a bath and a good grooming!...
emily price

Angel -- I wasn't going to respond (Jay's advise about not having to have the last word), but your reaction really affected me and I feel badly about it. I did not intend to criticize you. I am sure you are a very good mom to your pup. I just wanted to articulate a different point of view that I personally believe in. I understand how frustrating it can be to see ugly stains on those beautiful white faces and be compelled to do something about it. As I said at the beginning of my post, we all try to do the best for our pets. I realized, after re-reading it, why you might have thought the whole post was intended for you. My only message to you was to reconsider your feelings about your former vet. I think that he was attempting to give you good advice. I know there are many vets who prescribe antibiotics at the drop of a hat. I admire one who does not.

Bottom line is make the best decision you can after considering all sides. I do not mean to make anyone defensive about their choices on this issue.
JoanG