Maltese Tear Stains: Vet-Verified Causes, Prevention & Care
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Tear stains on Maltese dogs are reddish-brown or light brown stains that appear below the breed’s eyes. The stains are usually caused by tear overflow and may lead to yeast and bacterial growth that can progress deeper into your pet’s skin.
That’s why it’s important to know the causes and prevention of Maltese tear stains. The breed is more susceptible to these tear stains due to their eyelid anatomy, narrow and tortuous tear ducts, and short muzzle, all of which result in lack of normal drainage, not to mention the white fur prone to discoloration.
Below, we explain what causes this and how you can care for your tear-stained Maltese.
What Are Maltese Tear Stains?
Maltese tear stains are discolorations under a Maltese dog’s eyes caused by tear overflow. Tears on your dog’s skin can lead to bacterial growth, which stains the dog’s fur.
The stains might be created by porphyrins,which are iron-containing molecules. In dogs, porphyrins are thought to be of bacterial origin,1 but in some species like rats, pigs, cows and rabbits porphyrins are secreted by the Harderian gland, located within the eye socket. Since Maltese dogs have light-colored fur, porphyrins can stain their fur easily.
The breed’s facial anatomy and poor tear drainage make it susceptible to tear stains. In most cases, tear stains are only a cosmetic problem and do not cause health issues in your pet. But a Maltese with this issue might need regular grooming since tear stains can be unsightly.
What Are the Signs of Maltese Tear Stains?
The most obvious sign of Maltese tear stains is reddish-brown discoloration under your pet’s eyes. It’s often hard to remove these stains, and they can make your dog’s pet look unkempt and dirty.
The skin under the dog’s eyes might also become irritated due to constant moisture exposure and bacterial overgrowth, which causes inflammation and discomfort.
What Are the Causes of Maltese Tear Stains?
The overflow of tears from a dog’s eyes is called epiphora. Normally, a dog’s body produces a thin film of tears to lubricate their eyes. The excess tear drains into the tear ducts, also called the nasolacrimal ducts, that are located in the inner corner of the eyes.
The nasolacrimal duct has two small openings in the eyelids. When there is insufficient tear drainage through these ducts, the dog experiences epiphora.
- Poor eyelid function
- Deformity-induced eyelid malfunction
- Nasolacrimal duct blockage
- Excessive tear production
Excessive tear production usually occurs due to conditions that irritate the eye, such as eyelid problems, eye infections, corneal ulcers, eyelash issues, glaucoma, and uveitis. If your dog constantly scratches their eyes due to irritation, they will respond with increased tear production, leading to epiphora.
Eye damage and infections can also cause scar tissue formation in and around the eyes, which may block tear duct openings and can contribute to tear staining.
While these are general causes of excessive tear production resulting in tear stains, Maltese dogs are also more susceptible to this condition due to their brachycephalic (short-nosed) anatomy. Here’s how:
Eyelid Anatomy
Maltese and other similar breeds may suffer from a condition called medial canthal entropion. When this condition occurs, the eyelids in the inner corner of the eye roll inward, affecting the way tears flow down the tear duct. There is also irritation caused by eyelid and facial hairs rubbing on the eye, resulting in further tear staining.
How Do I Care for a Maltese With Tear Stains?
The most important step in dealing with Maltese tear stains is visiting your vet for a full eye examination. Your vet will assess your dog and establish the severity of the tear stains. If the problem is severe, your Maltese may benefit from corrective surgery by an ophthalmologist; if the problem is mild, you should focus on prevention.
Preventing Tear Stains in Maltese Dogs
Maltese facial anatomy is partly responsible for tear stains, so you can help your dog by keeping good eye hair hygiene. Regular face grooming can help prevent this by removing hair that wicks tears to your pet’s skin. You should not trim this since it can regrow short and spiky in the direction of your dog’s eyes. You can clean your dog’s eyes with Vetericyn Ophthalmic, which is available over the counter without a vet’s prescription, but we still advise consulting a vet to stay safe.
Removing Maltese Tear Stains
You should only clean your dog’s eyes with products that have been formulated specifically for that purpose. You can find these products formulated as cleaning wipes and in liquid form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Does a Vet Diagnose Epiphora?
Some serious causes of increased tear production are abnormal eyelashes, conjunctivitis, eye infections, corneal ulcers, and allergies. The vet will perform an ocular examination to look for signs of abnormalities and inflammation. They may also do a fluorescein stain test in which this green dye is placed inside the eye. If there’s no nasolacrimal disruption, the dye will be visible in the nose in a few minutes. Failure of the dye to drain through the nose may indicate a blockage.
How Is Epiphora Treated?
Epiphora is treated depending on the cause. For example, your vet may perform surgery to remove extra eyelashes or correct the eyelid position. If there’s a nasolacrimal blockage, the vet will try to unblock it by inserting a cannula through the tear duct openings to flush out the obstruction. If there’s no nasolacrimal blockage, the vet may prescribe medications and eye drops to treat the underlying cause.
Conclusion
Infections, allergies, and the breed’s facial anatomy can all play a role in the presence of tear stains in Maltese dogs. Start by visiting your vet for a full eye examination to understand your dog’s tear stains and help them accordingly.
If the problem persists, take your dog to a vet. They may recommend surgery to correct eyelid or eyelash abnormalities, flush the tear ducts, or prescribe topical treatments to treat any condition of your Maltese eyes.
Featured Image Credit: Jeanine_S, Pixabay
