Reddish stains under the eyes are common in Cavaliers and usually harmless. They are not dirt and do not wash off with soap, because the colour does not come from outside but from the tears themselves.
This article explains why they appear, when they are merely cosmetic and when they signal that something is wrong, and how to manage them day to day.
Why they are reddish
Tears contain substances that hold iron. When a tear meets the air and lingers on the hair, the iron oxidises and leaves a reddish to brown colour. The same process as when metal rusts.
That is why the stains stand out more in light-coated dogs. On a Blenheim or a tricolour they show clearly; on a ruby or a black and tan they are practically invisible — yet the tears are the same.
Why in this breed in particular
The Cavalier has a large, round, prominent eye. Such an eye produces more tears and drains them less easily, because in short-muzzled dogs the tear duct is narrower and more bent than in breeds with a longer muzzle.
The result is that instead of draining through the duct into the nose, the tear spills over the lower lid and ends up on the hair. This is called epiphora and in its mild form is a normal feature of the breed, not a disease.
When they are harmless
The stains are probably only cosmetic if:
- they are equal in both eyes
- the tear is clear, with no thick discharge
- the eye is clear and bright, with no redness
- the dog does not squint or rub the eye
- the condition has been the same for months, without worsening
Such a condition is managed, not treated.
When they are not harmless
A veterinary examination is warranted if any of the following appears:
- only one eye waters — one-sided watering almost always has a cause
- the discharge is thick, yellowish or greenish rather than clear
- the eye is red or the dog squints
- the dog rubs the eye with a paw or against the furniture
- the stains have suddenly intensified over a short period
- the skin under the eye is damp, red or smells unpleasant
The commonest causes found then are an eyelash growing in the wrong place and scratching the cornea, a blocked tear duct, an allergy or the start of an infection. All four can be dealt with, but only once it is established which one it is.
Day-to-day care
The aim is to keep the hair under the eye as dry as possible, because the colour forms where the tear sits.
- wipe the corner of the eye with a soft, damp gauze pad, a fresh one for each eye every time
- wipe morning and evening, and more often in dogs that water heavily
- after wiping, the area should be dried with a dry part of the gauze — damp hair is a worse problem than dry stained hair
- trim the hair that falls into the eye, with round-tipped scissors and always with a second person helping
If the skin under the eye reddens or starts to smell, that is a fungal or bacterial irritation from constant damp and calls for a vet, not stronger cosmetics.
What not to do
There is a whole industry built around achieving a “white face”, and a good part of it is harmful.
- Do not put anything in or right beside the eye without a vet. That applies to preparations advertised as natural too.
- Do not use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or lemon juice. They circulate on forums, but they irritate the skin and can get into the eye.
- Do not give powdered antibiotic in the food. Such “solutions” are sold as food supplements, but in fact they whiten the stains by suppressing bacteria — with all the consequences of giving an antibiotic without need and without a prescription.
- Do not rub hard. The skin under the eye is thin and irritates easily.
Does diet play a part
Partly and indirectly. In some dogs the stains lessen when the food is changed, but that usually means there had been a mild allergic reaction, not that the food “colours the tears”.
It is also worth knowing that water with a high mineral content can make the stains worse. In dogs where nothing else helps, switching to filtered water sometimes makes a difference. It is cheap and harmless, so it is worth trying.
Stains in puppies
In puppies the stains are often more pronounced than later, for two reasons: while the teeth are changing, pressure in the muzzle area alters how freely the tear duct drains, and the face has not yet taken its final shape.
In a good proportion of puppies the situation improves by itself after the seventh month. That is why with a puppy you first watch, and only then act.
Conclusion
The reddish stains under a Cavalier’s eyes are oxidised iron from the tears, and in most dogs they are a cosmetic matter that is managed by wiping and drying rather than treated. The dividing line is simple: if both eyes water equally and the tear is clear, it is a matter of care; if one eye waters, if the discharge is thick or the dog squints, it is a matter for examination.
Note: this article is informational and does not replace examination and advice from a veterinarian. For diagnosis and treatment consult your vet, preferably a specialist in ophthalmology.
Related
- Cavalier coat care: brushing, mats and tools
- Bathing a Cavalier: how often and how
- Nail trimming and paw care for the Cavalier
- Cavalier dental care and preventing tartar
- Do Cavaliers shed, and are they hypoallergenic
- Problemi sa očima kod Kavalira
- Cavalier care — an overview of all topics
- Puppies for sale from a kennel with health-tested parents
