Tear Stains In Bulldogs And French Bulldogs

Tear stains are a common concern we receive from bulldog and French bulldog owners, especially when their bulldog has a light-colored coat.

Many owners wrongly attribute the unsightly, wet, reddish tear stains to the mysterious “RED YEAST,” often relying on information from sources like “Dr. Yahoo” and his associate “Dr. Google.”

However, this belief is a misconception!

Bulldog Tear Stains 5 X MUST KNOW

1. Tear stains common to the fur of the face and leg are not due to a mysterious “red yeast.
2. In contrast to skinfold dermatitis, tear stains are not due to an infection
3. Tear stains are due to a red blood cell by-product found in tears and saliva that turns dark when exposed to light
4. Treatment includes supplements and an antiseptic  therapeutic bully wipe
5. Prevention includes Dr. Kraemer’s Tear StainLess Bundle

Welcome to Our “Prevention Over RX” Bulldog Community 

Tear Stains in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PORPHYRIN:

The true origin of those mysterious tearstains is a red blood cell (RBC) by-product called “porphyrin.”.

BULLDOG TEARS PORPHYRIN EXCRETION:

The typical lifespan of your bulldog’s red blood cells is approximately 4 months. When these red blood cells expire, their remnants, including porphyrin, undergo processing through the liver, biliary system, GI tract, and urine. Ultimately, these byproducts are extracted through your bulldog’s saliva and tears.

BULLDOG TEARS PORPHYRIN LIGHT ACTIVATION:

Porphyrin is a light-sensitive iron molecule that undergoes oxidation, turning reddish when exposed to sunlight. Hence, in cases like:

• Bulldog Allergies
• Bulldog pododermatitis
• Bulldog lick granuloma

The areas that your bulldog licks, such as the paws or legs, may frequently exhibit a reddish and dark appearance upon exposure to sunlight.

 

1. SALIVA & TEARS: Porphyrin is excreted in your bully’s tears and saliva
2. EXCESSIVE TEARING & LICKING: The activated porphyrin in your bully tears and saliva turns the fur area into a reddish color.

Tear Stains EXCESSIVE TEARS 

The two common reasons for excessive tears are:

• Tear overproduction
• Tear insufficient drainage

Excessive tears are the most common reason for tear stains

Tear Stains in Bulldogs: OVERPRODUCTION

The most common reasons for tear overproduction in bulldogs and French bulldogs are:

BULLDOG ABNORMAL EYELASHES:

Bulldog eyelash problems like

• distichiasis
• trichiasis
• ectopic cilia

all of which will irritate and injure the cornea.

BULLDOG ABNORMAL EYELID:

Bulldog eyelid problems like entropion, which is an inner rotation of the eyelids,.

BULLDOG CORNEA ULCERS:

Bulldog corneal ulcers are painful, irritating injuries to your bulldog’s cornea.

EYEBALL ABNORMALITIES:

Bulldog exophthalmos, which is a protrusion of the eyeball, is common in brachycephalic breeds.

BULLDOG ALLERGIES:

Bulldog allergies, such as bulldog atopic itch dermatitis and bulldog food allergy.

Bulldog Tear Stains Drainage Problems:

The second cause of excessive tears in bulldogs is inadequate drainage, often due to occluded tear ducts resulting from the breed’s compressed facial bones.

Tear Stains in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs PRESENTATION:

Common clinical presentations for those conditions are:

• SHUT EYELIDS: Difficulty opening eyes
• SQUINTING: Squinting and shying away from direct light
• RUBBING: Scratching and rubbing face and eyes
• DISCHARGE: Discharge and gunk
• REDNESS: Red, puffed, irritated eyes (Conjunctivitis, Scleritis)
• CLOUDINESS: Cloudiness, scaring, and the opaqueness of the cornea

For additional information about those common bulldog conditions, please read Dr. Kraemer’s “Eyes & Eye Lids” pages.

Tear Stains in Bulldogs “RED YEAST”:

The “Red Yeast” is an urban myth.

The red-colored tear stains result from porphyrin, a by-product of red blood cells (RBC) excreted through your bulldog’s tears and saliva. The misconception may arise from a mix-up with the prevalent yeast organism affecting bulldog skin and ears, which is Malassezia(a Pityrosporum, NOT Porphyrin)

BULLDOG RED YEAST MALASSEZIA:

Yeasty bully (Malassezia) stains and discharge typically exhibit a dark brownish color and may have an associated odor.

“Red yeast” (Malassezia) is commonly found in damp, moist areas like inside your bulldog’s ear canal, skin, and skin folds, leading to conditions such as

• Bully Yeasty Otitis
• Bully Yeasty Moist Skin-Fold Dermatitis
•  Bully Yeasty Dermatitis.

Diagnosis of Bully Malassezia can be established through culture or cytology obtained from your bulldog’s skin, skin fold, and ear canal using a swab or skin impression.

YEASTY BULLDOG TOPICAL V4B PREVENTION & TREATMENT:

Dr. Kraemer’s provides a wide range of topical v4b bully anti-yeast products:

• V4B Bully Skin-Fold Antiseptic Wipes
• Bully Yeasty Antiseptic Shampoo
• Waterless Rinse-Free Lotions
• Bully Yeasty Antiseptic Ear Rinse

Tear Stains in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs WARNINGS:

Below is Dr. Kraemer’s selection of bully tear stain warnings:

Bulldog tear stains: EXAM WARNING

For all of the above conditions, please see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Bulldog Tear Stains TYLOSIN ANTIBIOTICS:

Antibiotics, such as Tylosin, have been occasionally demonstrated to assist in reducing porphyrin in tears. In these instances, bacteria might be involved, and the source of the bacteria could potentially be contact with unclean plastic water bowls and face scratching due to allergies.

Bulldog Tear Stains OTC WARNING:

Many over-the-counter tear stain removal products, such as

• “Angel Dust
• “Tear Stain STy”
• “Pet Spark

often contain antibiotics like Tylosin. This practice is considered borderline illegal, unethical, and potentially harmful to your bulldog. It poses risks of adverse reactions to the drug and contributes to the endangerment and propagation of resistance to essential antibiotics, all for cosmetic purposes and vanity.

Tear Stain ANTIBIOTICS WARNING :

I strongly advise against using prescription antibiotics for cosmetic issues, always adhering to our “Do No Harm” rule. Antibiotics, whether for bulldog medical conditions or tear stains, should be prescribed by a veterinarian and administered under their supervision

Bulldog and French Bulldog Tear Stain TREATMENT & CARE:

Listed below is a summary of six sound steps to prevent and remove tear stains.

BULLDOG TEAR STAIN GROOMING:

Proper Grooming of the area under the eyes keeps the hair short and the skin dry

BULLDOG TEAR STAINS BULLY WIPES:

Bulldog tear stains can be reduced by wiping the wet surface often with an appropriate wipe, like

• Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Bully Tear StainLess XL Wipes.

Skinfolds and Tear Stains wiping is an important theraputic preventive

Bulldog Tear Stains NON-TYLOSIN SUPPLEMENT SAFETY:

In contrast to other OTC products that contain unauthorized, potentially harmful antibiotics, Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Bully Tear StainLess Chews are tylosin-free (ANTIBIOTICS FREE).

The Bully Tear StainLess contains natural ingredients and is an easy-to-administer chew.

Bulldog Tear Stain WATER & FOOD BOWLS:

Stainless steel feeding and water bowls are less likely to crack and easier to clean, thus less likely to harbor and colonize porphyrin-stimulating bacteria.

SKINFOLD MOIST YEAST DERMATITIS:

Maintain and dry your bulldog and French bulldog skin folds to help eliminate bacteria and Malassezia yeast microorganisms (skin fold moist dermatitis).

Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Bully Antiseptic Skin Fold XL wipes are ideal for the daily maintenance of those folds.

Bulldog Tear Stains STRESS & NUTRITION:

Reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and feeding a balanced nutrition diet could help prevent and/or eliminate tear stains.

Treating bulldog tear stains can be complemented with various supplements, such:

• V4B Bully Immune Support
• V4B Bully StressLess Formula
• V4B Bully Fish Oil Immune-Skin-Joint
• V4B Bully Multi-vitamin Advanced Formula
• V4B Bully Pre & ProBiotic.

Recommended by Owners Approved by Bulldogs