The most common complaint I receive at the Health and Wellness Center is tear staining. Often my clients report a globby, sticky, red-brown mess that won’t go away no matter how hard they scrub. This condition is certainly a problem, but we in the show world have a secret that works wonders, and I believe every pet owner should know it!

The next time you’re working on cleansing Fido’s tear stains, use Vaseline! This easy solution is not only cheap, but it creates a good base for excess tears to run over and prevents stains from occurring. It’s safe, effective, and will keep your dog’s face free from stains and sores caused by excessive tears. (Note: Always check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog’s eyes are healthy before starting any preventative program).

To help prevent tear stains with Vaseline, you will need to apply a small amount twice a day. Take a small glob and lightly dab it around the corners of the eyes, and down the face where tears most often collect. Make sure you do not apply to the eye lids, or the eye itself, and don’t smear the Vaseline on as this will usually take a good amount of tear glob with it and make the situation worse! Use Vaseline on a daily basis and watch those tears wipe away with less staining, and less mess!