Have you ever noticed how many dogs’ furs are stained a reddish brown color? The area around the dog’s eyes or mouth, where saliva wets the fur there as well as where they lick their feet and forelegs, is where it happens most frequently.
What is the source of the dog stains? A substance called porphyrin is to blame for this coloring. The main ways that porphyrins are eliminated are through bile and the digestive system, but dogs also excrete a sizeable amount of porphyrin through saliva, tears, and urine. Porphyrins, which are found in saliva and tears, discolor light fur pink, crimson, or brown. A class of chemical molecules known as porphyrins is prevalent in nature. Heme, the pigment found in red blood cells, is one of the most well-known porphyrins. The hair in that area will turn iron-brown in color if a white dog has ever been licking or gnawing on his leg. The porphyrin found in tears and saliva is what actually causes stains.
Why do dogs get stains? Some dogs cry a lot, mostly because selective breeding resulted in small noses and projecting eyes when humans turned wolves into man’s best friend, which contribute to extremely thin and frequently twisted tear ducts. Although they are not the source of the stain, some medical disorders that induce excessive licking and ripping are linked to the excess staining. Anatomical issues like ingrown eyelashes, entropion, abnormally small tear duct openings, and irritants like cigarette smoke may be factors in addition to allergies and irritants that may lead to excessive licking1.
The chemical stain appears when porphyrins are in touch with hair for any length of time, especially in white coats. Once it has formed, it is almost tough to eradicate.
Is canine porphyrin staining serious? Fortunately, porphyrin staining only affects the dog cosmetically and has no negative effects. The underlying or causing issue, though, may be serious. Unusual eyelids can be extremely uncomfortable. Gum disease or dental issues, for example, might cause mouth discomfort and excessive salivation. Additionally, dogs who constantly lick and scratch their cheeks, feet, armpits, and genitalia may suffer from allergies that are distressing.
If your dog has porphyrin staining, be sure to have your vet conduct a thorough medical check to rule these issues in or out.
Can dogs with porphyrin staining be treated? Of course, keeping the porphyrin-containing fluids from coming into contact with the hair is a component of the solution. Regular cleaning can only make a small difference. Maintaining the areas clean and dry may also be aided by preventing long hair from rubbing in the eyes.
How are dog stains handled? Although somewhat ugly, the staining brought on by porphyrines is just ugly from a cosmetic standpoint. There’s no discomfort from the stains. Antibiotics cannot be advised for use in treating a cosmetic issue, despite the fact that they have been used in the past to control stains with varying degrees of success.
- Tears stained with blood color have marred my dog’s eyes. What’s causing the stains to appear?
- What turned my dog’s feet red, and why?
Your veterinarian is your finest resource for ensuring the health and wellbeing of your pets, therefore you should always visit or contact them if you have any questions or concerns.
Why does the white fur on my dog turn brown?
Hello, Dr. Fox. My Maltese is a tiny white dog. He is eight years old and has recently begun to develop brownish red fur everywhere he licks his face, feet, etc. I believe it to be allergies, but I’m not sure which ones. He is healthy otherwise. He receives purified water from me.
Hello B.M. This is a very common issue with dogs, and it is particularly noticeable in dogs with white coats. Porphyrin is a substance that causes red fur stains. When the body breaks down red blood cells, iron-containing compounds called porphyrins are created. They are primarily expelled from the body through feces, although they are also found in saliva, tears, and urine.
Malassezia yeast infection is the main cause of brown fur stains. It is this yeast that causes skin and ear infections in canines.
Do white canines age-relatedly turn brown?
The majority of dog owners, especially those with white-furred dogs, are likely familiar with the problem of fur staining. patches of fur on the body that over time develop red or brown and become darker in color.
Thankfully, this discoloration is only an aesthetic concern and does not damage your dog. But it might also be a sign of a deeper health issue.
The chemical porphyrin is responsible for the reddish-brown staining of fur. When the body breaks down red blood cells, molecules called porphyrins, which contain iron, are created. They are mostly eliminated from the body through feces. Porphyrin can, however, also be eliminated through the urine, saliva, and tears. All dogs make and excrete porphyrins, however white-furred dogs obviously exhibit porphyrin staining more visibly.
Your dog’s fur may become discolored due to a variety of various reasons.
When teething, young puppies cry more frequently. Once kids become adults, this should lessen.
Medical conditions, allergies, and breed are the three types of contributing factors in adult dogs.
Eye irritation, clogged tear ducts, bacterial, viral, fungal eye infections, and eye trauma are among the medical conditions that can cause stains around the eyes (e.g. a scratch or cut). A lot of hair around the eye from improper grooming can also cause an increase in tear production and provide an ideal habitat for yeast infections to spread and thrive.
Overactive tear ducts, small tear ducts, narrow eyes, shallow eye sockets, additional skin folds, improperly placed eyelashes, and rolling of the eyelids are examples of anatomical or conformational anomalies that can result in stained eye fur.
Dogs can produce a lot of saliva due to medical conditions include periodontal (gum) disease, excessive salivation, and dental problems like abscesses. A lot of the time, the extra saliva is created to attempt and get rid of extra bacteria that has accumulated due to dental or periodontal issues.
Due to these problems, your dog may find it difficult to chew their food, which may result in an excessive amount of saliva being produced, distributed unevenly across the mouth, and trickling down the sides of the mouth.
Dogs can have allergies to things like pollen, certain foods, certain plants, etc., just like people do. Dogs, like people, will exert every effort to minimize the discomfort and itchiness brought on by these allergies.
Dogs typically accomplish this by licking the affected area. This indicates that they are leaving a lot of saliva behind on various patches of fur all over their body. Saliva can discolor surfaces if it is not cleaned up right away and is allowed to build up.
Scratching to ease allergy symptoms can cause skin damage, and licking to relieve them also makes the fur rather moist. Both of these can result in fur patches that serve as a rich, productive breeding habitat for yeast infections, which can cause brown fur discoloration.
Additionally, allergens can irritate and inflame the eyes, causing increased tear production and discoloration around the eye area.
Breeds of dogs that are more likely to develop fur staining include those with shallow eye sockets, short noses, and poor drainage. Poodles, Maltese, Boxers, Bichon Frise, and Bulldogs are a few of these.
Most of the time, avoiding allergens that can irritate a dog’s fur, feeding them a high-quality diet, and making sure they are properly groomed are the greatest things you can do for a dog with stained fur and to prevent fur from becoming stained in the first place.
This entails caring for their hair to prevent it from getting too long and wiping their fur and faces twice a day to get rid of excess tears and saliva. Already stained fur can be made lighter by using a contact lens cleaning containing boric acid.
It’s critical to be careful of anyone attempting to sell supplements and cures for fur stain removal. These folks will frequently try to offer you ineffective items, so caution should be exercised when utilizing these and other supplements.
Many dogs’ lives can be changed by diet, however before making dietary changes for your dog, be sure your veterinarian has ruled out any underlying medical conditions.
Think about switching your dog to filtered water if your tap water has a lot of minerals.
Always use a ceramic or stainless steel food bowl for feeding. Plastic is readily scratched and may contain microorganisms that irritate the skin on the face.
There are a few hydrolyzed protein prescription meals for animals that the body (theoretically) shouldn’t react to because the protein is broken down into very little particles.
Additionally, you may make your dog’s food at home with the same premium ingredients that you do. Sometimes all it takes is switching from commercial to home-prepared food to see amazing results from a home-prepared diet.
Here are some before and after pictures of a lovely young child I worked on in the past. Hugely improved!
If you want to try cooking for your dog, getting the recipe from a certified nutritionist is the best method to make sure the diet is addressing all of your dog’s nutritional demands. A home-prepared meal should not be attempted carelessly and should be balanced to the NRC suggested allowances by someone who will work with your dog.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help or have any queries about this blog.
How do you clean a white dog of brown stains?
Use Magic Coat Bright White Shampoo to keep your dog’s coat white. In order to safely eliminate discolouration, brighten a fading coat, and restore a coat’s natural sheen, it is formulated with clarifying pearlescent brighteners and whiteners. It has a strong shea butter almond aroma that last for several days and is free of bleach. Rinse, rinse, rinse; failing to do so will result in a dull, grey coat.
Get out the baking soda, a natural bleaching agent that won’t harm a dog’s coat, if the stains are particularly bad. Brush baking soda and water into the stain to create a paste. After letting dry, remove with a moist cloth. Repeat if any stain is still present. Urine stains should be cleansed as soon as possible with a damp towel or pet cleaning wipe because they are particularly challenging. If they have been established, use the shampoo directly to the affected area and let it remain there for three to five minutes before rinsing.
Utilize towels to dry the coat. Apply a mild Magic Coat conditioner after shampooing. The coat hairs will become less porous, brittle, and stain-prone as a result of this.
How can I make my dog’s fur white once more?
Make your own homemade natural stain remover. Milk of Magnesia and pharmaceutical 1 percent peroxide should be combined equally. Cornstarch should be added to the mixture one teaspoon at a time until a paste forms. Your dog’s fur stains can be treated with the paste by applying it and letting it sit for a few hours. Carefully combing the paste out will remove it. The operation will go more smoothly if the fur is softened with a conditioner before the paste is removed. Use a cone if you apply the paste anywhere your dog can get to it to stop him from licking it off.
How can I keep the face of my white dog white?
A brief “facial grooming” once a day will help keep such stains at bay. Some advice:
- Apply a suitable canine eye-wash to the eyes, such as Terra Septic eye drops or saline eye-wash solutions.
- Rub the area around and under your eyes using an eye wash wipe. Two ready-made possibilities are Opti-Clear and Bio True; a homemade alternative involves boiling one cup of distilled water with one spoonful of boric acid powder. (Make careful to keep chilled, and prepare a new batch every week.)
- Using a wet washcloth and dry shampoo or waterless shampoo, wash the hair on the muzzle. 3% hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel is another option. After that, comb and blow-dry.
- Keep the hair clipped around the eyes to prevent irritation and tearing.
Why does a dog’s white fur turn red?
A dog’s continuous licking to relieve irritation might cause a yeast infection, which can cause the hair to become reddish in color. Given that yeast grows best in moist, warm environments, this licking might make things worse.
