The following information on tear staining is to be used only as a guide to increase your knowledge about tear staining and possible causes. Hopefully it will prepare you for a discussion with your veterinarian in order to find what cause could be creating your problem.

Excessive tearing is what creates the staining, so to eliminate the stain you must eliminate the tearing. The tearing can be due to many reasons such as eye infections, blocked tear ducts, diet, allergies, teething, fleas, genetics, ear infections, ear mites and bad health in general. First check the obvious, and then a good thorough exam by your vet should determine how to proceed. Understanding the cause is a step closer to the cure. Until you cure the problem, you will not get rid of the stain, so careful steps must be taken in order to get positive results.

Some of the most overlooked causes of tear staining are the ones that are the most obvious. These are teething, ear infections and ear mites. A low-grade eye infection can also play a major role in excessive tearing. Please make sure that you have your Maltese checked out for these possible symptoms.

Living in an area where there is high humidity can be a major cause of yeast infections in the ears. Once you have this problem cured you can successfully clear up tearing. However it may not be the case for each Maltese, so again, I must stress the importance of having your dog checked by your veterinarian.

Teething can also be a major cause for tear staining. Puppies seem to tear more when they are cutting their teeth.

Hair is another important factor and care must be given to keep the hair out of your Maltese eyes. Hair in the eyes can cause infections and major irritations. When the hair is cut short around the eyes the hair then grows back and can irritate the eyes. It is helpful to grow the hair and train it to lie down.

Care should be taken when you bathe your Maltese. Make sure that the ears are completely dry. Use a good cleansing product that will help with the drying process. Scraggly hairs in the ears should also be removed by plucking out. Please be very gentle with this procedure. Hair in the ears can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause ear infections and create tearing of the eyes.

There are many antibiotics that can be used successfully to rid your dog of infections. Be cautious, some antibiotics should not be given to puppies. Discuss these options with your veterinarian.

Now that you have taken advice from your veterinarian, you have the tearing under control and your dog is well on the way of being cured. Now you would like to return your Maltese's beautiful face white again.

There are several methods to getting a pretty white face. One is to wash the face everyday and allow it to grow out naturally. There are many products on the market that will help. Keep in mind that this will take patience and time. A white face will not happen over night but it can be achieved. The rewards will be a happy and healthy Maltese and you will also be able to enjoy looking at that beautiful white, bright face once again!

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS AND OPINIONS ABOUT TEAR STAINING. USE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AT YOR OWN DISCRETION. IT IS BEST TO CHECK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFORE STARTING ANY NEW PROCEDURE:

Q- Could the water that my Maltese drinks have anything to do with staining?
A- Yes. It is possible that any high mineral content in your water could cause almost the entire face to stain. One suggestion would be to train your Maltese to drink out of a water bottle, which will help keep the face dry. Another solution would be to purchase purified water.

Q- What would cause a deep reddish-brown stain below my Maltese eyes?
A- A possible yeast infection could cause this staining. One of the most common being Red Yeast or Ptyrosporin. You may also want to get an opinion from your veterinarian as to whether your Maltese might have clogged tear ducts. There are methods to irrigate or surgically open them.

Q- Can certain food and water bowls cause staining?
A- Yes, some plastic bowls will cause discoloring of the face. A stainless steel bowl is the best. Stainless steel is bacteriostatic, it doesn't chip or crack and is easy to keep clean.

Q- Could certain brands of food contribute to tear staining?
A- It is best to not feed any type of food that has color added to it. This will cause the area around the mouth to stain. A better quality food such as Eukanuba, Innova, Sensible Choice and Iam's, just to name a few usually do not have color added. Also, check your treats to make sure that they do not have color added. Find biscuits or cookie dog treats that are pale or white in color. There is some uncertainty whether diet has anything to do with tear staining.

Q- Can cutting adult teeth contribute to tear staining?
A- Puppies will start cutting their adult teeth at about 5 months of age. This will cause them to tear more then usual, which could cause some staining. Try to keep their facial hair as dry as possible during this time. After the teeth are in, the problem should subside.

Q- Can ear infections cause tear staining?
A- An ear infection can cause excessive tearing, this will then cause tear staining. It is very important to check with your vet to determine the cause of the ear infection. You should be very careful after you bathe your Maltese to be sure its ears are dried thoroughly. Also, any hairs inside of the ears should be removed. These can hold in moisture. Removing the hairs is something that you can do quite easily. Have your vet show you how to do this if you are unsure of the procedure.