If you’ve noticed tear stains and wondered if your dog’s been crying, you’re not alone. But can dogs 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 cry tears like humans do, or is something else behind those smudgy marks? We’ll walk you through whether dogs shed tears like humans do, plus how to clean dog tear stains effectively and remove them for good, before they end up on your clothes!
In this article
Can dogs cry tears?
Can dogs cry tears? Yes, but not from sadness. Dogs get teary-eyed to keep their peepers healthy – usually thanks to allergies, irritation, or blocked tear ducts. If your dog’s eyes are frequently watery, it’s worth checking with a vet to rule out anything serious.
So, can dogs actually cry real tears when they’re sad, just like humans do? Not quite. Dogs show emotions through their body language, like wagging tails or droopy ears, not through tears.
But can dogs cry tears of pain or discomfort? Yes, they can. Tears might appear due to irritation, injuries, or illness. If your dog’s eyes seem constantly watery, please don’t ignore it.
And finally, can dogs cry tears for no reason…like kids do (and, let’s be honest, some adults too)? Not likely. If you notice persistent tearing, there’s probably a reason behind it, so it’s best to get it checked.
Good sense tells us that fixing a problem requires understanding the cause. This method also means that if one solution doesn’t work, you can work out why and move onto the next possible trigger.
Just before we go through the steps of cause and solution… If you’re reading this and asking yourself “what are dog tear stains?” this brief interlude is for you:
What are dog tear stains?
You know those lines that run from a cheetah’s eyes to their mouth and kind of wend beneath their cheekbones? Well, that’s high fashion for a cheetah but so-not-in right now for dogs. Yet despite this, some dogs have a version of this, where the lines run from their eyes and part-way down their cheeks (maybe your dog is a cat-person).
These lines are often an auburn colour, so they stand out more on dogs with lighter coats because of the contrast. Dog fur usually lightens up as they grow older, as does human hair, because of the loss of melanin that happens with age. This heightens the contrast, making the tear stains stand out more.
So that’s what tear stains are. Now back to how to remove dog tear stains… by first understanding them.
What causes dog tear stains?
The two likeliest causes of dog tear stains are that your pup produces too many tears, or they don’t drain away properly. So, if you’ve ever wondered, why is my dog crying tears, here are some possible underlying causes:
1. Excess tears
- Allergies
- Irritation
- Infection
- Illness
- Stress
Sometimes a dog also just produces too many tears, and no underlying causes are found. Maybe they’re a romantic, or maybe they have intense PMS. We really can’t say, so this is mere speculation.
2. Tear drainage
- Blocked tear ducts
- Shallow eye sockets
- Too much fur around the eyes, which prevents adequate wicking away of tears
An interesting and amazing fun fact is dog tears have pigments named porphyrins that darken when exposed to light. This natural chemical reaction is what gives these tears their reddish-brown colour compared to normal dog tears.
How to treat dog tear stains?
There are plenty of natural, holistic, at home remedies and vet treatments out there to try to assist. What works to solve your dog’s tears depends on what the underlying cause is. A good approach would be to get your vet’s advice first.
Given they’ll know your dog’s history they’re in a good position to detect whether pup is more prone to obstructions, say, or allergies. They may also be able to treat the tear stains as soon as they’ve assessed and made the diagnosis.
Treatments could include antihistamines or antibiotics among others. Prep yourself with how to give medicine to a puppy if this is the case.
Also, check out this PD Pet Care vlog, where companion animal vet Dr Cath demonstrates several easy methods for giving your dog a pill:
See here for a fuller rundown of available treatments:
Holistic treatments
- Diet: your pup may have unmet nutritional needs. Read up on sustainable dog food and consider adding dog probiotics to their meals.
- Food allergies: perhaps pup is sensitive to an ingredient in their dog food. Try a hypoallergenic dog food or ask your vet for a recommendation.
- Allergies: poisonous plants for dogs or cigarette smoke could be the cause. Try keeping smoke to an outdoor area and move the plants in question out of reach.
How to clean and remove dog tear stains step-by-step
- Use a clean cotton cloth dipped in lukewarm water to clean dog tear stains twice daily.
- Switch out the plain water with cooled chamomile tea or green tea.
- Or instead of tea/plain water, try a dog-friendly saline solution. A dog-safe saline solution or vet-recommended tear stain remover is your best bet for learning how to clean dog’s eyes tear stains without irritation.
- Groom the hair around your pup’s eyes (trimming these yourself might be tricky, so you might want to rely on a dog groomer).
Stay away from chemicals including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and other harsh and potentially toxic substances. And if homemade remedies aren’t your thing, try these options out to help clean dog tear stains…
Shop bought stain removers
There are plenty of commercial tear stain removers available to help clean dog tear stains. Do a quick Google search to find out more and in the meantime, here are some options:
- Yours Drooly tear stain remover
- Glow Groom
- Eye Envy Tear stain remover wipes
- Fido’s tear stain remover
- Pet Care tearstain remover
Pet insurance that wipes away worries (and maybe a few tears!)
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