Tear Stain Study Preliminary
Results
Health
Alert!
If you're
using antibiotics to control tear stains (and you may
be without realizing it), or if you're using products
that merely keep tears from staining hair, then your
dog's tear stains may not only return with a vengeance
with discontinuance of the product, your dog's
undiagnosed health
problem may also worsen. Please, please, don't sell out
your dog's health for beauty! Help is on the way!
We received more than 700 completed surveys from people
who had dogs with a current or former tear stain
problem. We also asked them to fill out surveys on other
dogs in their household who did not have a
tearing problem. We are currently analyzing those
surveys.
Because certain breeds tend to tear (and show staining)
more than others, we had a
disproportionately large number of
Maltese and Bichon Frise
represented, although many other breeds were
represented.
We are currently evaluating the results of the study and
hope to have results soon. We will then be consulting
with holistic veterinarians on remedies.
Although our analysis is not complete, one
thing we know for sure: this is a health problem,
not merely a cosmetic problem. Because of this, no one
solution will work. Please don't cry. We don't want to
have to worry about YOUR tear stains.
Here are a few of the things we learned.
(Note: this was not a scientifc study.)
51.4% of participants said that tear staining began
before 1 year of age and continues to present.
More than 90% had tears that were brown, reddish or
almost black. A few had yellow or green tearing
(generally indicating infection). A few had clear
tearing (not usually indicative of infection). 55% said
the staining was moderate to very unsightly.
Among treatments,
antacids (like Tums) and eye drops
were the least affective.
(If your vet prescribed antibiotic drops, please
continue them through the full course.)
Almost twice as many people (41.4%) said that
a change of water
did NOT help
as said it DID help (24%). Whether it helps tears
or not, it is still better in some areas to give
purified or spring (not distilled) water. Distilled
water is "dead," with no minerals. It is not recommended
for overall health.
71% said commercial products applied externally did NOT
clear up the problem; 31.4% said they DID work.
Obviously, these products must be continued indefinitely
and do not address any underlying causes.
42% didn't know if the products they were used to clean floors were safe for dogs.
Dogs eat off floors. They lick paws that trot across floors. Please check for
products for CHILD SAFETY and get rid of ones that don't
qualify. It may not help tear stains, but it will
definitely help your dog.
58% had NOT had their
vet check
their dog's eyes. Of the dogs checked, most were given
only a cursory look by non-specialists during annual
exams. A few were told that very tiny hairs around the
eyes caused the tearing. (I was told this about my dog
Chiclet, but most of the time she doesn't tear so I've
done nothing about them. Removal would require anesthesia.) Obviously,
longer stray hairs that can be trimmed away during
normal grooming should be removed. Just don't point
scissor points at your dog's eyes or body. Some vets said tear
ducts were "small" or "blocked." Other vets said: "White
dogs just do this." That's not very helpful. It's
also untrue. It's also true that non-white dogs tear;
you just don't notice it.
If you're using antibiotics for tear stains, but no
particular bacteria has been diagnosed by your
veterinarian, it is our opinion, and the opinion of
every vet to whom Mom spoke, that you should stop (after
finishing one full course).
Indiscriminate antibiotic use leads to
antibiotic-resistant bacteria (putting your dog at
danger for future infections). It also kills the good
intestinal bacteria which is necessary for good health.
Ask yourself: what horrible infection does my dog have
that requires long-term antibiotic use? When have YOU
ever taken a long, weak course of antibiotics instead of
a strong, limited course? Would you take antibiotics
non-stop yourself with no proof that you have an
infection, and specifically the
particular infection that antibiotic treats, and without
proof that long-term use is safe?
How do you know if a product you're using contains an
antibiotic?
Manufacturers are tricky: commercial products often
don't advertise that an ingredient is an antibiotic,
probably because they fear it would scare you away--as
it should! Our
advice: Do a "Google Search" of the product's top two or three
ingredients--especially the ones you don't recognize.
You'll have your answer in a flash. Tylan and tylosin
are antibiotics. One more thing.
Natural does not mean safe. Arsenic is
natural. Be careful what you put in your dog!
Stay tuned
for more information....
Jan Rasmusen
Author, Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care
WINNER, Ben Franklin Award for the Best Health Book of
any kind
WINNER, USABookNews Award for the Best Pet Health Book
Recommended by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical
Association Journal & the Animal Protection Institute
