How do I get the brown off my dog’s face? The Ultimate Guide

How do I remove brown stains from my dog’s face?

Hydrogen Peroxide: Soak a cotton pad in a water-diluted hydrogen peroxide mixture (one part hydrogen peroxide with 10 parts water) and apply carefully to clean the stained area. It’s important to take your time and be careful—you don’t want to get any of the hydrogen peroxide in your dog’s eye.

Why is my white dogs coat turning brown?

Porphyrins contain iron and are produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. Molecules containing porphyrins are excreted through tears, saliva, and the pads of the feet. It is the iron in the molecules that causes the dark red or brown staining.

How to Get Rid of Tear StainsOnce you determine the cause of tear staining on your dog, you’ll find that cleaning the stains will become a lot easier. Here are a few DIY solutions that will help clear up tear stains:

  • White Vinegar/Apple Cider Vinegar: Add a teaspoon of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your dog’s water daily to increase the acidity of your dog’s body pH. Not only will it take care of tear stains, the alkalinity of your dog’s body will help to prevent bacteria or yeast infections from recurring. (Note: dilute the vinegar with roughly 1 gallon of water.)
  • Milk of Magnesia: In a bowl, mix equal parts milk of magnesia and hydrogen peroxide, and then add a bit of cornstarch to make a paste. Rub the paste into the stained area and let it set for four hours before thoroughly washing it out. You may need the “cone of shame” to keep your dog from rubbing it off with his paws.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide: Soak a cotton pad in a water-diluted hydrogen peroxide mixture (one part hydrogen peroxide with 10 parts water) and apply carefully to clean the stained area. Its important to take your time and be careful—you dont want to get any of the hydrogen peroxide in your dog’s eye.
  • Your local pet supply store should also carry a selection of herbal and all-natural tear stain removers. As with any grooming that needs to be done around your dogs eyes, please be careful when cleaning your dog’s face to avoid getting anything into his eyes. If you dont trust your shaky hands to the task, ask your groomer if he or she can help.

    How to Get Rid of Brown Eye Staining in Dogs

    Have you ever seen a white dog who looks like he’s crying all the time, or a white dog with a dark, stained beard? These pooches often seem to have a pink to brown beard. This can happen to any part of your dog’s body that he likes to lick or chew, such as the fur on your dog’s feet or the fur around the eyes. While it’s harmless for the most part, there are some medical conditions that could cause excessive staining in your dog’s fur.

    “It’s quite common for light-haired canines to have color changes in the fur around the muzzle or face.”

    Saliva and tears contain substances called porphyrins, which stain light fur pink, red or brown. Porphyrins are organic, aromatic compounds that make up many important structures in the body. The term porphyrin comes from the Greek word πορφύρα (porphura), which translates as ‘purple.’

    Although I have never seen a pet with a purple beard, feet or tear tracts, the staining often starts out as a dark pink-purple hue that gradually becomes brown as time goes on and more porphyrins are applied.

    Yes and no, as there are certain locations that will be invariably stained by the presence of porphyrins. It’s quite natural for the beard to undergo color change, as saliva originates in the mouth and some of it is bound to end up on the lip and mouth. A normally functioning eye produces tears to lubricate the eyeball so that the eyelids don’t stick to it. A small amount of staining from natural tear production can be expected, but a prominent tear-tract from the inner or outer edge of the eyelids is abnormal.

    The skin and fur on the feet, knees and other body parts are also not locations where tears or saliva would naturally appear. Have you noticed your dog constantly licking the same spot? There may be a primary health problem causing staining in these areas.

    Yes, there are a variety of health problems, some mild and others severe, that can contribute to excessive accumulation of porphyrins on bodily surfaces.

    What Should You Do If You Note Brown Staining to Your Dog’s Beard, Eyes or Other Body Parts?

    It’s best that dogs showing excessively stained body parts have an examination by a veterinarian to look for potential underlying health problems. As there are so many potential causes of porphyrin staining, each option and the pet’s whole-body health must be carefully considered when determining the appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment.

    Pending the veterinarian’s evaluation and ability to manage the issue, an affected pet may need to be evaluated by a veterinary specialist, such as an ophthalmologist, dermatologist, dentist or internal medicine specialist.

    © PetSafe. All Rights Reserved. Content is provided as a public service. Links and views may lead to companies that may or may not be affiliated with PetSafe or other brands of Radio Systems Corporation.