Some pet owners know the familiar signs all too well—a dark red or brown-colored stain around the inner corner of your dog’s eyes. Though generally not dangerous or painful themselves, tear stains in dogs are unsightly and sometimes signify an underlying medical condition.
宠物主人可能经常会看到——你的狗狗眼角周围有深红色或棕色的泪痕。虽然这些泪痕本身并不危险或带来痛苦，但比较难看，也可能存在某些潜在疾病。
Getting to the root of your dog’s tear stains will help you remove them and prevent them from happening in the future.
找到狗狗泪痕的根源将帮助狗狗根除并预防泪痕的发生。
Dog Tear Stains: Assessing the Issue 狗狗泪痕：问题评估
If you believe your dog has a tear stain problem, Chicago, Illinois resident and AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein advises against trying to address the problem with over-the-counter remedies. “If you suspect something unusual, you should first get your dog assessed by a vet,” he says.
如果您认为狗有泪痕问题，建议不要尝试通过非处方药来解决，应该先让兽医对狗进行评估。
There are a number of reasons why a dog may develop tear stains, and unless you get to the root cause, Klein believes you may inadvertently end up with an ineffective treatment or be missing a more serious medical condition.
狗出现泪痕的原因有很多，除非你找到根本原因，否则你可能得不到有效的治疗或错过更严重疾病的治疗时机。
Causes of Tear Stains in Dogs 狗泪痕的原因
There are a number of conditions that lead to tear stains in dogs. Here are five common causes:
导致狗狗出现泪痕原因很多，以下是五个常见原因：
- Porphyrin: Klein explains that a pigment known as porphyrin is excreted in tears, saliva and urine. Some of the iron that is released from the breakdown of red blood cells goes into porphyrin. The porphyrin that is contained in your dog’s tears causes the actual stain.
卟啉：一种叫做卟啉的色素会从眼泪、唾液和尿液中排出。红细胞分解释放的一些铁变成了卟啉。狗眼泪中所含的卟啉会造成泪痕的形成。 - Genetics: Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to tear stains, or it can simply be a case of a particular dog being predisposed towards getting tear stains. “There is a genetic basis for dogs that get tear stains and we do see it in certain types of dogs more than others,” says Klein. Also, dogs with light-colored fur will have more obvious tear-staining than will darker dogs.
遗传：某些品种的狗更容易出现泪痕，或者只是特定狗容易出现泪痕的情况。狗会留下泪痕是有遗传基础的，确实某些类型的狗比其他狗更容易看到泪痕。此外，浅色皮毛的狗会比深色皮毛的狗有更明显的泪痕。 - Breeds commonly susceptible to tear stains include the Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Poodle.
容易出现泪痕的品种包括马耳他犬、西施犬和贵宾犬。 - Brachycephalic (short nosed) dogs can be prone to tear stains as well. “The shape of the head and the way the eyes fit into the socket will affect whether a dog is prone to tear stains,” according to Klein. “This is because the connection to the muzzle can be configured in such a way that the tears accumulate” instead of flowing through the ducts that normally drain them away from the eye.
短头（短鼻）狗也容易出现泪痕。“头部的形状和眼睛嵌入眼窝的方式会影响狗狗出现泪痕的情况，因为与口鼻的连接可能导致眼泪的积聚，而不是将眼泪从眼睛排出。 - Environment: Klein states that factors in a dog’s environment can also cause tear stains. For instance, water that is high in iron may be a culprit. “Consider bottled or distilled water as well-water often has a higher mineral content,” states Klein.
环境：环境因素也会导致狗狗泪痕，如铁含量高的水可能是罪魁祸首。考虑瓶装水或蒸馏水，因为井水通常含有更高的矿物质。
Dogs may also have adverse reactions to plastic food bowls. Klein recommends switching to a stainless steel or ceramic bowl if you suspect your dog may be allergic. “You may see signs of redness and inflammation around your dog’s eyes, ears, nose and lips,” he says. These symptoms can be mistaken for tear stains.
狗也可能对塑料餐盘有不良反应。如果您怀疑狗可能过敏，建议改用不锈钢或陶瓷盘。你可能会在狗的眼睛、耳朵、鼻子和嘴唇周围看到发红和发炎的迹象， 请注意这些症状不是泪痕。
Infection: An infection of the skin around the eyes can cause symptoms that look like tear stains in dogs, says Klein. If the stain is brownish in nature, it’s possible it might be caused by yeast rather than bacteria. A vet should properly diagnose whether your pup has an infection and, if so, what microorganism is to blame.
感染：眼睛周围的皮肤感染会导致狗出现类似泪痕的症状。如果泪痕呈褐色，则可能是由酵母而不是细菌引起的。兽医应正确诊断宠物是否感染，一旦确定，要查清细菌的源头。
Infections will sometimes develop as a result of the chronic dampness that can occur with tear staining. Klein adds that infections typically are associated with odors and may cause itchiness and irritation.
感染有时会发展成慢性湿气，与泪痕同时出现。感染通常与气味有关，并可能引起瘙痒和刺激。
Abnormal Lashes and Ducts: At times, a dog may have ingrown or abnormal eyelashes or have a problem with a tear duct. Eyelashes can rub on and irritate the surface of the eye due to entropion, a condition where your dog’s eyelids fold inward. The eye responds by producing more tears than normal. Alternatively, if the tear duct isn’t emptying into the nasal cavity properly, your dog may develop tear stains. “Sometimes, you’ll find certain dogs with clogged tear ducts,” Klein explains.
睫毛和泪管异常：有时，狗的睫毛可能向内生长或异常，或者有泪管问题。由于眼睑内翻，睫毛会摩擦并刺激眼睛表面，眼睛受到刺激产生比正常情况更多的眼泪。或者，如果泪管没有正确排入鼻腔，您的狗可能会出现泪痕。有时狗狗会出现泪管堵塞的情况。
Preventing and Treating Tear Stains in Dogs 预防和治疗狗狗泪痕
Though it’s not recommended you treat tear stains without the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your dog, there are steps you can take to help prevent the occurrence of tear stains, especially if your canine is prone to them.
虽然不建议在没有任何检查情况下处理泪痕，但您可以采取一些措施来防止泪痕的发生，特别是如果您的狗狗容易出现泪痕。
Klein suggests taking care with day-to-day hygiene and maintenance. Have your veterinarian or groomer trim the hair close around the eye area to help prevent the accumulation of tears. Then use a wash cloth dampened with warm water or an eye cleaning solution to wipe the area. “It’s important to prevent the build-up of moisture in that area and keep the fur clean and dry,” says Klein.
注意日常卫生和维护。让美容师修剪眼部周围毛发，防止眼泪积聚。 然后使用蘸有温水或眼睛清洁液的清洁布擦拭该区域。重要的是要防止该区域的湿气积聚，保持毛皮清洁干燥。
Other treatment options depend on your veterinarian’s diagnosis. However, Klein says common options include the use of antibiotics for infection, recommendations for dietary changes, and surgery for an eyelash-related issue.
其他治疗方案取决于兽医的诊断。常见的治疗包括使用抗生素治疗感染、改变饮食习惯以及针对睫毛问题进行手术。
