10 Best Dog Tear Stain Removers in 2023 – Reviews & Guide

If your dog has tear stains, you’ll need an effective tear stain remover. The right remover will fade stains and prevent further staining without irritating your dog’s skin. But there are quite a few on the market, so how do you find the best brand?

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We bought and tested quite a few brands and came up with this list of the 10 best dog tear stain removers available this year.

For each brand, we’ve written a comprehensive review, looking closely at price, ingredients, type, and effectiveness so you can feel confident in your choice. If you’d like to know more about what makes a great dog tear stain remover, take a look at our buyer’s guide. With the help of a great remover, your dog will be stain-free and ready for its close-up.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023:

The 10 Best Dog Tear Stain Removers:

1. ARAVA Dog Tear Stain Cleaner – Best Overall

Our favorite brand is ARAVA’s Tear Stain Cleaner Solution, an effective stain remover made of natural, hypoallergenic ingredients.

This stain remover is sold in somewhat pricey 4.8-ounce bottles. It’s made of 100% natural ingredients, including Dead Sea minerals, euphrasia, and wild yam. This remover is FDA-approved, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, so it probably won’t irritate your dog’s skin. To use it, you dab it on, let it sit for an hour, and then wipe it away.

We found this solution very effective, producing some results within just a couple of days. It may take four to eight weeks to work fully. This remover has a sticky consistency and doesn’t sting or smell. ARAVA offers a 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee.

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2. Burt’s Bees Dog Tear Stain Remover – Best Value

If you’re looking for value, the best dog tear stain remover for the money is the Burt’s Bees FF4935 Natural Tear Stain Remover. This inexpensive, no-rinse option is made of high-quality natural ingredients but may not work for all dogs.

This stain remover is sold in four-ounce bottles at an impressively low price. It’s made of natural ingredients like soothing chamomile and is free of fragrances, sulfates, colorants, and harsh chemicals. It’s guaranteed cruelty-free and is specifically pH-balanced for dogs.

This no-rinse solution is easy to use, but you may not see results for up to a month. We found that it may sting, particularly if it gets into your dog’s eyes, and it may not work equally well on all dogs. Burt’s Bees doesn’t offer a warranty.

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3. Eye Envy Dog Tear Stain Remover – Premium Choice

If you have more room in your budget, you may want to look at the Eye Envy EE 4OZS-NR-D Tear Stain Remover. This pricier brand is nicely packaged and works especially well on white-colored dogs.

This stain remover comes in a range of bottle sizes, up to 32 ounces. It’s made of natural ingredients like colloidal silver and witch hazel and doesn’t have parabens, peroxide, steroids, or antibiotics.

This remover is part of a three-step system, so for full stain clearing, you may need to spend more on the cleanser and remover powder. This remover isn’t fully effective and may not work as well on darker dogs. It’s fairly expensive, especially if you purchase the additional steps. Eye Envy doesn’t offer a warranty.

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4. TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover

TropiClean’s SPTSSH8Z SPA Tear Stain Remover is inexpensive but strongly scented and not particularly effective.

This remover, which is sold in eight-ounce bottles, has a strong blueberry and vanilla fragrance. It’s a shampoo, so you’ll need to rinse it out. This product is cruelty-free and designed to be tearless.

We found this stain remover less effective than expected, and the strong scent may be irritating to your dog. It’s also more time-consuming to use, as you’ll need to incorporate it into a frequent bathing schedule. TropiClean doesn’t offer a warranty.

Another useful product: Ear drops for dogs

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5. Bodhi Dog Tear Eye Stain Remover

Another pricey option is the Bodhi Dog Natural Tear Eye Stain Remover, which is made of natural ingredients and comes with a great guarantee but has a strong scent and may not work well.

This remover, sold in fairly expensive eight-ounce bottles, is non-toxic and free of alcohol and parabens. It’s made of natural ingredients like lemongrass and lavender oil. Bodhi is a socially-responsible company, and its remover is cruelty-free and sold in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging.

This stain remover must be rinsed, taking more time, and is meant to lighten stains and help prevent new ones. We found that it may spread stains rather than removing them, and the strong smell may be irritating to your dog. Bodhi offers a great 100% money-back guarantee.

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6. Petpost Tear Stain Remover Wipes for Dogs

The Petpost Tear Stain Remover Wipes are somewhat expensive and may not work well but are very easy to use.

Sold in packs of 100 pre-soaked cotton pads, these wipes are simple to use and made of natural ingredients like juniper, coconut, and aloe. The socially-responsible company uses recyclable packaging.

These pads can take up to six weeks to work and may arrive dry. We also found reports of dogs having allergic reactions. Rather than removing stains, these pads may cause them to spread. They also have a strong fragrance that may be too much for your dog. Petpost offers a great lifetime money-back guarantee.

See also: Eyedrops for dogs

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7. Doctor4Paws Eye Tear Stain Remover

The Premium Eye Tear Stain Remover from Doctor4Paws is reasonably-priced and comes with a great warranty but is only partially effective.

This tear stain remover, which is sold in eight-ounce bottles, contains natural ingredients like coconut and palm. It doesn’t have parabens, sulfates, or alcohols, and is cruelty-free.

When we tested this stain remover, we saw only small improvements, and it may take months to see results. It is easy to use and doesn’t have to be rinsed off. Doctor4Paws offers a great lifetime money-back guarantee.

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8. Four Paws Crystal Eye Tear Stain Remover

The Four Paws 100523271 Crystal Eye Tear Stain Remover is somewhat pricey and has a strong, unpleasant smell but is also easy to use.

This tear stain remover is sold in four-ounce bottles. It’s a very easy to use no-rinse formula. Four Paws doesn’t list the ingredients, and this remover isn’t cruelty-free and doesn’t have eco-friendly packaging.

We found that this tear stain remover had to be used every day to see results and wasn’t particularly effective overall. It may spread stains rather than removing them. There’s a strong ammonia smell, and the solution may sting. Four Paws doesn’t offer a warranty.

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9. SEGMINISMART Tear Stain Remover Wipes

The SEGMINISMART Eye Tear Stain Remover Wipes are large, easy to use pre-soaked wipes that don’t work well on stains and come in poorly-designed containers.

These 2.15-inch pads are sold in 100-pad containers at a fairly high price. They’re alcohol-free and contain soothing natural ingredients like aloe and herbs. As pre-soaked wipes, they’re also very easy to use and don’t require rinsing.

We found that these wipes might mold in their container and occasionally darkened, rather than removed, tear stains. The lid can be difficult to screw onto the container, and the product as a whole doesn’t feel well-made. SEGMINISMART doesn’t offer a warranty.

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10. Vet Classics Tear Stain Remover

Our least favorite option is the Vet Classics Tear Stain Remover, which is an expensive powder that’s designed to be mixed into your dog’s food.

This tear stain remover is sold in 3.5-ounce packages and contains natural ingredients like cranberry, lutein, and grape root. It’s a slow-acting powder that you can mix into dog food.

This remover is very pricey and takes a long time to work. It’s also not a great choice if your dog has digestive issues, as it can irritate your dog’s stomach. You may want to consult your veterinarian before you choose this variety of tear stain remover. Vet Classics doesn’t offer a warranty.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Tear Stain Removers

You’ve read through our list of the best dog tear stain removers. But have you decided which will work best for you and your dog? Keep reading for our guide to the types, ingredients, and other features you may want to take into account.

• Alternatively, you could try a change in diet to help: Best Foods for Tear Stains

Type

Your first big decision is which type of remover you’re interested in. The major types include liquids, wipes, and powders.

Liquid tear stain removers generally work like makeup remover or shampoo. With some types, you’ll need to apply the solution, wait a while, and then wipe the area clean. With others, you’ll just need to apply the solution. A third variety requires rinsing and will work best when combined with a bathing ritual. You’ll apply this type like shampoo and rinse it off with water. Keep in mind that with liquid removers, you may need to supply cotton balls or application cloths.

If you’d prefer an easier option, you may be interested in wipes. These pre-soaked pads, which are often sold in 100-count packs, are very easy to use. You’ll just need to wipe the affected area with the pads. This type of remover may be more expensive and may also be prone to issues like molding or pads that arrive dry.

The third major option, powders, will need to be mixed into your dog’s food. These removers are easy to use and don’t require extra cleaning but aren’t recommended for dogs with sensitive stomachs. They can be irritating to dogs’ digestive systems, so you may want to consider your dog’s eating habits or ask your veterinarian

Ingredients

Many high-quality tear stain removers are made of natural ingredients like lemongrass, coconut, and palm. Because the solution will be close to your dog’s eyes, you may want to look for tearless formulas. If your dog’s skin is already irritated, you’ll probably want to look for soothing elements like aloe and avoid harsh components like alcohol and sulfates.

Cost

How much are you willing to spend on the best dog tear stain removers? Keep in mind that you’ll likely need to use your chosen tear stain remover frequently, potentially every day, to see results. If you choose a pricier model, this may add up over time.

You can find a good, budget-friendly tear stain remover for just a few dollars. If you have more room in your budget, you may appreciate the added effectiveness and high-quality ingredients of a pricier brand.

Scent

Did you know that dog noses are at least 10,000 times more powerful than ours? Though perfumes and fragrances may be appealing to humans, these strong scents may be overwhelming and irritating to dogs. You may want to avoid tear stain removers that have added fragrances or contain strong-smelling ingredients like lavender and lemongrass. Some products may also have less pleasant chemical smells. As a rule of thumb, if you can smell it, your dog certainly can.

Effectiveness

Stain removers may work differently on different colors and types of coats. Some work best on white coats, while others may be suited to darker colors. You may also want to keep in mind that many removers work over fairly long periods, from weeks up to months. With some tear stain removers, you may see results within just a few days of regular use. Others will require much longer and may provide only incremental improvements. Some stains may even be permanent and will need to be trimmed from your dog’s hair.

You’ll want a stain remover that won’t just lighten current stains but also prevent future stains. Many high-quality tear stain removers are designed to handle both of these tasks.

Some stain removers, like our premium pick, the Eye Envy EE 4OZS-NR-D Tear Stain Remover, may work best when combined with other products like cleansers and powders. If you choose a model that’s sold as part of a set, keep in mind that you may want to purchase the other recommended products.

Sustainability

If you’re interested in sustainability, you may want to look for tear stain removers made by socially-responsible companies. These companies may use sustainable ingredients or offer eco-friendly recyclable packaging.

Some of these tear stain removers are also cruelty-free, which means they aren’t tested on animals. Makeups and other skin products are often tested on animals like rabbits, rats, and mice. If you’d like cruelty-free products, check the company’s website or the remover’s packaging.

Warranty

Many of the products we reviewed here come with warranties, though their terms can last just a month or for the lifetime of the product. If you’d like the security of knowing that your tear stain remover is backed by a good warranty, you may want to pay close attention to the listed terms.

Final Verdict

What’s the bottom line? Our favorite dog tear stain remover is the ARAVA Tear Stain Cleaner Solution, which is hypoallergenic, fast-acting, and highly effective. If you’d prefer to spend less, you may want to look at the Burt’s Bees FF4935 Natural Tear Stain Remover, an inexpensive no-rinse option with natural ingredients and no fragrances or colorants. Are you looking for a high-end option? Try the Eye Envy EE 4OZS-NR-D Tear Stain Remover, which is pricey but nicely-packaged, with high-quality natural ingredients.

If you’d like to clean off your dog’s tear stains and keep them from reappearing, you’ll need the help of a great stain-removing product. We hope this guide to this year’s 10 best dog tear stain removers, complete with detailed reviews and a comprehensive buyer’s guide, helps you shop for just the right brand. Your dog will be looking its best before you know it.