Just like humans, dogs can shed a tear or two. Whether their eyes are watering during a sunny day playing fetch or they’re whimpering with you over that sad movie ending, your pup can cry.
Tears in themselves aren’t a problem, but the accumulation of moisture and gunk can cause staining on your pup’s fur and harbor dangerous bacteria. Not only can tears stain his perfect coat, but these bacteria can cause skin infections and other health issues.
Luckily, there are solutions for treating tear stains and preventing them from happening again! We went hunting for the best tear stain removers and found them in liquid and gel forms, pads and wipes, powders, pastes, and even chewables.
Wondering what option might be best for your furry friend? Well, we found and tested a bunch of tear stain removers and rounded up our top 8 tear stain removers plus 3 honorable mentions.
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall: Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse | Nutri-Vet’s effective formula not only flushes out nasty tear stains but assists in fighting seasonal allergies and infections. | Check Price |
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Best Natural: Burt’s Bees Natural Tear Stain Remover | Burt’s Bees is a highly-trusted brand and has an all-natural tear stain remover that gently washes away those tear stains with no harmful ingredients. | Check Price |
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Best Pads: Miracle Care Eyes Clear | Pads make application easy, and Miracle Eye ensured to curate a non-stinging solution that was great for dogs, cats, horses—whatever you’ve got! | Check Price |
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Best Liquid: Arava Tear Stain Remover | This all-natural brand removes both tear and saliva stains while remaining hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. | Check Price |
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Best Paste: Squishface Wrinkle Paste Tear Stain Remover | Squishface Wrinkle Paste curates a treatment specific for wrinkled dog faces and tough-to-clean skin crevasses. | Check Price |
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Best Chews: Angel’s Eyes Natural Tear Stain Chews | These chews are a hypoallergenic way to remove tear stains and deliver your dog essential vitamins and minerals. | Check Price |
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Best Multi-Step System: Eye Envy Tear Stain Remover | When you want the best of the types of formulas, Eye Envy delivers its non-irritant, natural solution for saliva and tears stains. | Check Price |
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Best Bulk Option: TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover |
If you need tear stain remover in larger quantities, TropiClean’s all-natural tear stain remover comes in bulk sizes of 8 oz up to 2.5 gallons. | Check Price |
How We Tested the Best Tear Stain Removers
First, we shopped well-known, vet-recommended brands and purchased tear stain removers with the best customer feedback. Then we tested them on our pups and narrowed down the best and most-effective tear stain removers.
We focused on quality ingredients, effective solutions, and cost-effectiveness with all these brands. We know that each pet owner will have unique needs, so our search included every type of tear stain solution out there.
Liquids, pads, pastes, powders, and chews are all on our list of tried-and-true remedies for those pesky reddish-brown stains. Knowing that some pets have allergies and others aren’t prone to sitting still long, we tested each format to give you a great selection of products.
After all of our study and searching, we discovered 8 tear stain removers that provided stellar quality and served a variety of pet owners. Check out our list below!
Read our related article on How to Make Whitening Dog Shampoo! Keep your dog fresh for less with this DIY shampoo!
Best Tear Stain Removers
1. Best Overall: Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse
Product Ratings
| Cost | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4.5/5 |
| Treatment Time | 4.5/5 |
| Gentleness | 3.5/5 |
Type: Liquid | Suitability: Adult dogs | Size: 4 oz | Price: $
What We Liked
- All-natural ingredients
- Suitable for dogs of any age
- No fragrances, sulfates, colorants, or harsh chemicals
- Climate-conscious company
- Doesn’t wash out flea and tick treatment
- Made in the USA
What We Didn’t Like
- Takes 15-30 days to work
- Some report burning and eye irritation
- Questionable effectiveness
Nutri-Vet’s formula utilizes boric acid to fight eye infections and particles in the air that might be causing your pet’s tear stains. This solution is the same type used on humans to protect their eyes, so you know your pup is getting the best quality remedy for their eye ailments!
Effectiveness
We found Nutri-Vet’s solution to be very effective. Not only does it clean and remove tear stains from your pet’s pale fur, but it also protects against seasonal allergies!
Nutri-Vet Tear Stain Remover creates a barrier around your pup’s eyes that makes it inhospitable for bacterial growth and prevents tear stains from forming once your initial treatment is complete.
With treatment, removal, prevention, and allergy protection included in this formula, Nutri-Vet Tear Stain Remover is the best out there.
Treatment Time
Nutri-Vet has the best treatment time for any tear stain remover on the list. We saw results in as little as a few days with some of our dogs, which is a real feat!
We also love that once you’ve removed your tear stains quickly, you can continue to use the same product to prevent them in the future.
Gentleness
This liquid formula can be a bit difficult to apply. Putting liquid near a dog’s eyes without getting it inside while they wiggle around is no easy task. If you get this formula in your best friend’s eyes, it will sting.
Additionally, we didn’t love how the application tip was exposed, so any particles or germs could stick to it and be introduced into our pet’s eyes. Though Nutri-Vet is an effective solution, it is definitely on the harsher side of the removal process—but it’s still safe, of course, for any adult dog!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY2. Best Natural: Burt’s Bees Natural Tear Stain Remover
Product Ratings
| Cost | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 3.5/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3.5/5 |
| Gentleness | 4/5 |
Type: Liquid | Suitability: Adult Dogs and Puppies | Size: 4 oz | Price: $
What We Liked
- All-natural ingredients
- Suitable for dogs of any age
- No fragrances, sulfates, colorants, or harsh chemicals
- Climate-conscious company
- Doesn’t wash out flea and tick treatment
- Made in the USA
What We Didn’t Like
- Takes 15-30 days to work
- Some report burning and eye irritation
- Questionable effectiveness
Burt’s Bees is a long-trusted brand that makes products for adults, babies, and pets! Burt’s Bees is made in the USA with all-natural ingredients, so they get those tear stains out without exposing your furry friend to any harsh chemicals.
This formula is pH balanced and contains natural chamomile to remove stains and stain-causing particles. It’s also great that this solution can be used alongside flea and tick treatments.
For more on treatments for fleas, stop by our article where we tested the Best Flea Shampoos for Dogs!
Effectiveness
There are mixed reviews on effectiveness as with all solutions made with natural ingredients. We found many of our pets had great success with the 99.9% natural ingredients formula, but some of our pups did need something a little more aggressive to get rid of those red stains.
Treatment Time
Burt’s Bees tear stain remover takes between 15-30 days of daily use to be effective, and after that, it is recommended that regular use continues for prevention. This is definitely on the longer end of our treatment time, but it’s well worth the wait if you want a natural solution!
Gentleness
The all-natural formula is easy on your dog’s skin with no fragrances, sulfates, colorants, or harsh chemicals. It’s so gentle it can also be used on puppies!
A few reported trying the solution near their own eyes to check the gentleness, and some felt a burning sensation that made them concerned for their furry friend. When it comes to your pet’s skin, though, Burt’s Bees will be easy on that sensitive flesh.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON3. Best Pads: Miracle Care Eyes Clear
Product Ratings
| Cost | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Treatment Time | 4/5 |
| Gentleness | 3/5 |
Type: Pads | Suitability: Adult Dogs or Cats | Size: 90 Count | Price: $$
What We Liked
- Convenience and easy application
- Great for multi-pet homes or clinics
- No bleaching agents
- Made in the USA
- Non-stinging solution
- Fast results
What We Didn’t Like
- Strong chemical smell
- Not all-natural ingredients
- Some report burning and eye irritation
- Pads smaller than we expected
Miracle Care Eye Clear Pads are great for dogs, cats, birds, and even horses! This brand is used professionally, so you know it works and is trusted by only the best! We loved the easy pad application, and we got fast and clear results!
Effectiveness
Miracle Care Eye Clear is a medicated solution with boric acid and zinc sulfate, making it ultra-effective in fighting the bacteria that causes tear stains while removing what is left behind!
Treatment Time
We saw results in most of our dogs in just days, with our worst stains taking a couple of weeks. Overall, this was a great solution for maintaining clean, radiant fur and healthy eyes! We were happy with how quickly we saw results with this brand.
Gentleness
Many reported a strong chemical smell, which is expected, considering the ingredients. Though it’s great for rubbing away those tough stains, we found that it burned and caused a little skin irritation when we tried the pads on our skin.
The formula does boast of being “non-stinging” and does not include any bleaching agents, though, so overall we felt the product was suitable for our furry friends.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY4. Best Liquid: Arava Tear Stain Remover
Product Ratings
| Cost | 2.5/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3.5/5 |
| Gentleness | 5/5 |
Type: Liquid | Suitability: Adult Dogs | Size: 4.06 oz | Price: $$$
What We Liked
- All-natural ingredients
- Free of pesticides
- Prevents and removes tear and saliva stains
- 30-day guarantee
- Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hypoallergenic
What We Didn’t Like
- Pricey
- Takes 4-8 Weeks to see results
- Gel is hard to apply
Arava Tear Stain Remover does come out on the pricier end of our tear stain removers, but we thought it was well worth it. There are few companies as open about their ingredients and process as Arava, and real veterinarian studies back the claims.
Effectiveness
We loved that Arava Tear Stain Remover was both natural and effective. It utilizes over 25 Dead Sea essential minerals in a gel form to scrub away that red, yeasty gunk. Arava even boasts permanent results when the formula is utilized correctly.
Unlike cheap brands, Arava admits that trimming may be necessary with any pet whose tear stains are too far gone, but we felt that was fair considering the severity of stains varies greatly.
Treatment Time
Though Arava Tear Stain Remover does take 4-8 weeks to work, with a 30-day guarantee, we felt confident that the wait would be worthwhile, and we were right! Though it’s a long process, this formula will produce the desired results in time.
Gentleness
It doesn’t get much better with this solution being anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypoallergenic, free of pesticides, and made of all-natural ingredients. This brand is ultra-gentle and can even be used on saliva stains!
We did find, though, that the gel was difficult to apply when attempting to spread over the affected area. The gel often made a big mess, and sometimes our pup would catch a little in the eye.
All that being said, Arava is quick to separate itself from the competition with its guarantee and honest labeling of ingredients, methods, and treatment times.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY5. Best Paste: Squishface Wrinkle Paste Tear Stain Remover
Product Ratings
| Cost | 2.5/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3/5 |
| Gentleness | 3/5 |
Type: Paste | Suitability: Adult Dogs | Size: 2 oz | Price: $$$
What We Liked
- Specialized for dogs with wrinkles
- Blocks moisture
- Limited ingredients
- Tear stains or tail pockets
- 5-6 day results
What We Didn’t Like
- Pricey
- Some reports of burning and eye irritation
- Small tube for the money
Squishable Wrinkle Paste Tear Stain Remover is perfect for your bulldog or other wrinkly pups! This brand assists with itchiness and staining around the eyes and face and in tail pockets and other crevasses.
Effectiveness
Squishable Wrinkle Paste is a fast-acting formula with ingredients like zinc and coconut oil. The shea butter and avocado oil moisturize, so not only does the solution remove and prevent tear stains, but it also relieves painful itching!
To prevent irritation from happening in the future, Squishable Wrinkle Paste adds a waterproof barrier on your pup’s sensitive areas to prevent germs and dirt from sticking and harboring infections.
When you’re an owner of a wrinkly pet, more hygiene steps are needed to keep your pup healthy and comfortable! That’s why Squishable Wrinkle Paste is a must-have for anyone whose best friend is a pug or bulldog.
Treatment Time
This solution works in 5 to 6 days, making it one of the quickest on our list! This will get your furry friend’s tail wagging in no time.
Gentleness
Squishable Wrinkle Paste has limited ingredients, so it is safer for use on an allergy-prone pet. Though the zinc in the paste is toxic if ingested, the solution used as directed is very gentle.
If you’ve got a wrinkled pet, this will be a hard tear stain remover to beat!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON6. Best Chews: Angel’s Eyes Natural Tear Stain Chews
Product Ratings
| Cost | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 3/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3.5/5 |
| Gentleness | 5/5 |
Type: Chews | Suitability: Adult Dogs, Adult Cats, Puppies, and Kittens | Size: 120 Count | Price: $$$
What We Liked
- No food dyes
- No wheat, corn, or soy
- Removes and prevents saliva and tear stains
- Other vitamins and minerals
- Natural ingredients
- Can be used on puppies and pregnant dogs
- Great for multi-pet households and clinics
What We Didn’t Like
- 3-5 Weeks to Work
- Questionable effectiveness
- Some picky eaters wouldn’t indulge
Angel’s Eyes Natural Tear Stain Chews hold the National Animal Supplement Council’s quality seal. With a formula that can be used on dogs or cats of any age and an all-natural ingredient list, Angel’s Eyes tear stain chews will always be in the pup’s medicine chest.
Effectiveness
Angel’s Eyes uses natural ingredients like cranberry powder, Oregon grape root, marshmallow root, colostrum powder, and more to prevent dogs from producing the dangerous red yeast that causes tear stains and infection.
We love that these chews are chicken flavored and contain additional vitamins and minerals for our dog’s health! It’s a great two-for-one when you can get a tear stain remover and a daily vitamin!
That being said, we found mixed results between dogs. Some saw great change and the chews prevented stains from happening in the future, while others used it for weeks with few results.
Treatment Time
Angel’s Eyes Tear Stain Remover can sometimes take up to 5 weeks to work, which can be a long way off for pet owners looking to quickly scrub that red gunk away. As with most natural remedies, though, it takes time.
Gentleness
These chews scored perfectly on our gentleness test! Not only do most dogs find this chew yummy, and it packs in tons of essential nutrients, but it also comes without food dyes, wheat, corn, or soy!
We loved that these were easy on all pet’s stomachs, even those with food allergies and intolerances!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY7. Best Multi–Step System: Eye Envy Tear Stain Remover
Product Ratings
| Cost | 2/5 |
| Effectiveness | 3/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3/5 |
| Gentleness | 4/5 |
Type: Multi-Step System | Suitability: Adult Dogs and Puppies | Size: 2 oz, .5 oz, 30 count | Price: $$$
What We Liked
- Non-irritant solution
- Safe for dogs of all ages
- No bleach, steroids, or preservatives
- Natural ingredients
- Results in one week
- Removes saliva or tear stains
What We Didn’t Like
- Pricey
- Needs refrigeration
- Questionable effectiveness
- Difficult application
Sometimes you need the best of all the worlds, and no one item produces the results you need. Eye Envy’s multi-step tear stain remover is a great choice for a pet owner willing to pay a high price for their pup’s comfort and appearance!
Effectiveness
There were mixed reviews on the effectiveness of this formula. It comes with all-natural ingredients and clears both saliva and tear stains! Many of our pups improved quickly with this treatment, but a few needed something a little stronger.
Treatment Time
Eye Envy boasts results in one week, and we did see our pup’s stains start to slowly disappear after 7 days. The kit comes with treatment to last about 30-days. Once the items are opened, they need refrigeration, so don’t forget to store them in the fridge.
Gentleness
The all-natural ingredients include colloidal silver that prevents red yeast from forming. It also includes witch hazel, boric acid crystals, and echinacea, which are all perfect for your pet’s sensitive skin!
Though we didn’t notice any burning or irritation, the application of this product can be difficult. We had to be very careful not to get it in our pup’s eyes, making us wish there was an easier process!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON8. Best Bulk Option: TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover
Product Ratings
| Cost | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 2.5/5 |
| Treatment Time | 3/5 |
| Gentleness | 4/5 |
Type: Liquid | Suitability: Adult Dogs and Senior | Size: 8 oz | Price: $
What We Liked
- Comes in bulk sizes
- Natural ingredients
- Tear-free, soap-free formula
- Aromatherapy for relaxed application
- Doesn’t wash out flea and tick treatments
- Made in the USA
What We Didn’t Like
- Difficult application
- Better for prevention than treatment
If you need to buy tear stain remover often or are hoping to include it in your daily practice to prevent stains from ever forming at all, TropiClean SPA Tear Stain Remover is the pick for you!
This formula comes in sizes up to 2.5 gallons, which is leagues larger than anything else on the list. This solution can be used as a regular shampoo, perfect for a pet owner not looking to add any steps to their busy routine.
Effectiveness
Though the foaming solution did assist some with tear stain removal, we found it worked much better for prevention. We loved that this is also a sweet-smelling shampoo and that the application does not remove flea and tick treatments.
Treatment Time
Our research discovered that TropiClean could take many weeks to see results on existing stains but works great for prevention.
What was a bigger pain was that each application must stay on your pup’s fur for three minutes. We found many of our pets were not willing to wait that long for their tear stain remover treatment to be complete.
Gentleness
TropiClean consists of all-natural ingredients and a tear-free and soap-free formula. The soothing scent is a pleasant aroma for you and has calming effects on your dog to make the application process easier!
This solution contains ingredients like oatmeal, vanilla, and blueberry that are gentle on your pup’s skin and fur and effective against tear stains.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWYComparison Chart
| Products | Best Overall | Best Natural | Best Pads | Best Liquid | Best Paste | Best Chews | Best Multi-Step System | Best Bulk Option |
| Overall Rating | 4/5 | 3.75/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.75/5 | 3.75/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.25/5 | 3.25/5 |
| Cost | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2.5/5 | 2.5/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Treatment Time | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Gentleness | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
The Winner
We found Nutri-Vet to be the best solution for almost all dogs! Its formula prevents tear stains, removes existing ones, and protects against infections and seasonal allergies! And with a formula also used on humans, we were confident this was the best pick for our pups!
Understanding the Tear Remover Options
You can find dog tear stain removers in the following formulations:
- Liquid
- Wipes
- Powder
- Paste
- Liquid
The most common type of canine tear stain remover comes in liquid form. While these tear stain removers are easy to use, things can get messy unless your dog is docile and compliant.
You’ll need to use a cotton pad or a wipe to apply the liquid. It’s typically highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way.
Wipes
If you’re looking for ease of application, you can’t beat wipes for removing canine tear stains. These wipes all come pre-moistened, so you need to do nothing beyond grabbing one and gently scouring around your dog’s eyes.
Due to the mildness of the formula, you may find you need to use multiple wipes, meaning this is not the most cost-effective option.
Dog wipes are a great way to clean your dog between baths. We reviewed the Best Dog Wipes for your pup’s face and body, so be sure to check it out before you go!
Powder
Powders are not the most effective option for combating tear signs. Nevertheless, it can be useful to have in your arsenal.
You’ll harness the core benefit of powder when you use it in combination with other treatments. It will make the other stain remover even more effective. For this reason, we don’t recommend powder for standalone use.
The other key advantage of powder is that it inhibits moisture, mitigating the problem of future tear stains.
Paste
A paste is not quite as messy to apply as a liquid solution, but it takes a little longer to get the paste worked in. If you have a dog that tends to squirm around all the time, you might find a paste is awkward to apply.
Pastes are best for wrinkled dogs and any pups with sensitive skin.
When looking for the best solution for your dog, it is important to check ingredients, gentleness, effectiveness, and treatment time and consider what type of application would be best for your dog.
Honorable Mentions
Here’s a brief look at three more tear stain removers that did not make our top 8!
1. Mokai Face and Eye Wipes – Another Wipes Option
If wipes are what you’re looking for, Mokai can be another great option, and it’s made in the USA. It’s formulated for dogs and cats, can be used for saliva and tear stains, and helps fight infections.
We found that this solution sometimes gets a little too soapy, and the suds can easily get into the pup’s eyes where it burns from the strong formula, so ultimately, we went with Miracle Care Eyes Clear instead.
2. Petpost Tear Stain Soft Chews – Another Chews Option
These chews are made with all-natural ingredients you may recognize from other formulas on this list, including eyebright herb, marshmallow root, and cranberry!
The cheese-flavored chews were a hit with our pups, and we loved that they did not come with any harsh chemicals, artificial additives, or hard-to-digest ingredients.
We didn’t love the high sugar content so much, so we recommended Angel’s Eyes Natural Tear Stain Chews instead.
3. Vet Classics Tear Stain Supplements – Another Chews Option
Last on our list is Vet Classics Tear Stain Supplements, which are healthy chews for dogs and cats! Not only do they assist with the prevention and treatment of tear stains, but they also support a healthy immune system, and they lubricate the mucous membranes on your pups!
Vet Classics has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which was great because the flavor is not a winner for every picky eater! Additionally, this solution does include wheat, so we chose to recommend Angel’s Eyes Natural Tear Stain Chews as a better choice.
