Epiphora (Tearing) Remedies

| Modified on May 22, 2017
Do you have a pet who always seems to be crying?  Well, maybe not exactly crying in the sense that someone would if they had been hurt in some way, but certainly in a way that causes the animal to constantly have runny or weepy eyes?  If so, your pet may suffer from a condition called epiphora.  This type of problem is most noticeable on pets with a white coat, as the excess tears tend to stain around the eye area. 

Epiphora happens when there is insufficient drainage of tears from the eye and is sometimes caused by the tear ducts located next to the nose becoming blocked.  Most commonly affected are those breeds of animals who have flat-faced features such as a Persian cat or a Pug dog.  Additionally, toy breeds (such as poodles), and large dogs with droopy eyelids (such as certain breeds of hounds) are more susceptible to the problem than what other dogs might be.

Although this is not generally a serious condition, it can cause a certain amount of discomfort to your pet and you may often see them trying to paw at or wipe away the excess tears on their own.  Administering oral dosages of Euphrasia is a natural treatment and should help you to be successful in easing some of the discomfort and anxiety your pet may be experiencing as a result of those excess tears.




Apple Cider Vinegar

2 User Reviews
5 star (1) 
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1 star (1) 
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Posted by Mrsg (Jupiter, Fl, USA) on 06/13/2013
★★★★★

I have a white Maltese who had red tear stains around her eyes. I read that adding ACV to her diet would help. I put about 1/4 tsp in her food and also add to her water. I notice a considerable difference and helps maintain her face cleaner.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Liliana (Pembroke Pines, FL)
★☆☆☆☆

I used Vinegar (with the mother) in the water for poodle tear stains. It did not work. I put half a tea spoon in the bowl of water for a 10 pounds poodle for about 3 months. The tear stains are as bad as when I started. I clean his face every day.


Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Shirley (mid-west, Missouri) on 07/21/2007
★★★★★

I have two tiny toy poodles and both would get the tear stained eyes. The little white one always had problems with itchy skin too. So I began about a year ago adding apple cider vinegar to their drinking water. They haven't had either of these problems since.

A word of caution, vinegar can remove the enamel from their teeth, the same as it does for people. I have always added 1/8th teaspoon of baking soda to one-teaspoon vinegar before I add it to their water. Let the vinegar/baking soda mix sit until the fizz stops then add it to the water.

I could have missed it but I didn't see anyone saying they were doing that mix. We don't want to fix one problem while causing another.


Apple Cider Vinegar and Green Beans

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Jinny (Sydney, NSW Australia) on 07/17/2006
★★★★★

My maltese puppy Haru began having bad tearing and stains at about 6 weeks, he also had brown ear dirt. I read on the net that ear infections and tear stains were related, anyway I got stuff from the vet to clean the ears and ear mite stuff from the pet store. Although the ear cleared up the tearing was still there. Then I read on the net about ACV and green beans. I add a tiny bit to his water every day and mix green beans (about 4beans) into his meals htrough a mixer. I think ACV definitely cleared his alkaline system, especially since before he left a very slimyness to his bowl.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil and Crushed Garlic

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Elaine (Chicagoland, Illinois) on 04/24/2007
★★★★★

remedy for excess dog tearing stains : My dog had horrible tear stains. I tried cleaning his face everyday; it would not come out.So I just gave up on washing his face. I started adding apple cider vinegar, extra virgin coconut oil, and crushed raw garlic to each of his meals. I originally did this so he could lose weight, and help prevent fleas. He is losing weight slowly. Plus the tear stains that were stuck on his entire face are 90% gone. buddy loves the way it makes his food taste. I just small amounts of the three remedies and mix well in his food.

Replied by Marge
(Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
01/09/2010

We have tried Apple Cider Vinegar in our dogs drinking water but that didn't work for tear staining.. We have had them drinking bottled water for some time now but the staining remains.

We are very interested in the post where Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil and Raw Garlic were added to the Dog's daily meals which eliminated tear staining.

We would like to know the amounts to add to our dogs meals. They weigh 18 pounds and are fed 1/3 cup of food twice a day.

Thank you very much


Filtered Water

2 User Reviews
5 star (1) 
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1 star (1) 
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Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 01/07/2009
★★★★★

My friend Sam from Marietta, GA called me the other day to tell me about his 2 year old dog, a bishon frise, who had ongoing discharge from her eyes, causing her white fur to turn dark brown (as is common with that breed). Apparently they started putting their extra bottled water in the dog's water bowl instead of tap water. Within a few days they noticed that she was no longer having a discharge from her eyes. Another 2 weeks of bottled water and the fur around her eyes was back to its beautiful white. To make sure it was really the bottled water curing her of this issue, Sam switched back to tap water. Immediately the dog started having the same goopy discharge from her eyes. We think it's either chlorine or fluoride in the tap water causing the problem, perhaps both.

Replied by Dianna
(Austin, Tx)
01/07/2009

wow - this is interesting. i have a female rat that has had irritated eyes off an on. at first i was using tap water in her water bottle and then had switched to bottled water. her eyes had not been bothering her. the other day i put tap water in her bottle again and just noticed the eye problem again. i have since changed the water back to bottled!!! wow! thanks!
djh/texas

Replied by Yvonne
(Lancaster, Pa)
01/17/2010
★☆☆☆☆

We have a 4 yr.old male maltese and he has very bad tearing/staining from his eyes. I have given him filtered water and/or distilled water since he was a puppy but it has not seemed to help. I never give him tap water. This is in reply to the posts about the filtered water. Does anyone have a similar experience? This has been a problem for 4 years. Thanks!


Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mayeast (Las Vegas) on 05/27/2006
★★★★★

Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar cured old age, milky, cloudy eye, discharge from my dog's eyes. My mom's terrier is 15 years old and acts old and beaten. Two days ago I gave him a bath and used glycerin soap to clean out the large amount of purple discharge that he has been getting daily for years. After towel drying him I sprayed his spine with hydrogen peroxide and then with cider vinegar. I also sprayed a fatty tumor. The tumor is still there but there has been no eye discharge for two days, also he acts like he did 3 years ago. The milky, cloudy eye is back to normal. He tried to take another animal's food and hasn't done that in years. He still has stiff joints but was galloping in the house.

Replied by Dogwiser2
(Usa)
05/22/2017

How much did she give of each and was it given orally, or mixed into food?