The 8 Best Tear Stain Removers for Dogs

Best Overall

Angels’ Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes

$21

$18 at Amazon $16 at Chewy

$20

$18 at Petco

Eye wipes are so convenient. These individual pads are slightly textured so they can gently wipe away your pet’s eye gunk. They are pre-moistened with solution so all you have to do is swab around each eye to remove dried discharge and mucus—just be sure to use a fresh wipe for each eye—and there’s no need to rinse after.

Angels’ Eyes makes several products focused on tear stains. These unscented wipes are mostly purified water, though they do contain aloe vera and chamomile extract for soothing, and are pretty heavily saturated with cleaning solution. The wipes are just under 3 inches in diameter, so they are particularly easy to use with small pets, but you may have to use a few extra for larger dogs.

You can use these daily or as needed. To keep your dog’s eye area clean, it can help to also wipe around the eyes with a warm, damp cloth or cotton ball. Always wipe from the inner corner of the eye outward to avoid contaminating the eye.

^{Quantity: 100 wipes | Active Ingredients: Purified water, glycerin, decyl polyglucoside, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, dimethyl isosorbide, aloe vera, disodium EDTA, benzalkonium chloride, chamomile extract}

Best Eye Wash

Burt’s Bees Natural Eye Wash with Saline Solution

$7

$6 at Amazon

$7

$6 at Walmart View on Petsupermarket.com

Known for natural products targeting the care of pets and humans, Burt’s Bees has several pup-related eye products, including this simple eye wash made with a saline solution that can be used on puppies as young as 8 weeks old. Created without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, colors, or fragrances, the solution is pH-balanced for dogs and has saline to mimic your pet’s normal tears. To use, apply two to three drops in each eye as needed, then dab away any remaining liquid with a soft, dry cloth or tissue.

Burt’s Bees products are cruelty-free, meaning they aren’t tested on animals. The company focuses on natural and responsibly sourced ingredients.

^{Quantity: 4 fluid ounces | Active Ingredients: Water, glycerin, sodium chloride, benzalkonium chloride}

Best Paste

Squishface Wrinkle Paste

$20 at Amazon View on Walmart

This thick paste is a popular choice for wrinkly breeds like bulldogs and pugs because it can be used on tear stains, but also can be applied between the folds of irritated, red, wrinkly skin. Wipe the area first, and then use a pea-sized glob for tear stains. Be sure to wipe off any extra and don’t get it too close to the eyes.

The cream is antibacterial and antifungal and uses ingredients like zinc oxide and coconut oil to soothe skin and create a barrier against fungus and moisture. The manufacturer suggests using it daily for about a week and then continuing only if stains and irritation persist—then, you may only need it every other day to keep tear stains and red skin in check. Because this has to be rubbed on the skin and not into the fur, it may be difficult to use for long-haired breeds. 

^{Quantity: 2 ounces | Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter}

Best Soft Chew

Zesty Paws Tear Stain Bites

$33 at Amazon $33 at Chewy View on PetMeds

To help your dog maintain normal eye moisture and visual function, Zesty Paws delivers tear stain prevention ingredients in the form of a chicken-flavored treat. The Zesty Paws Tear Stain Bits are made with sustainably sourced fish oil to provide a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids (100 milligrams per chew). Each chew includes a proprietary antioxidant blend made with cranberries, along with additional active ingredients including marshmallow, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Depending on your dog's size, a daily serving will consist of one to three chews. For all dogs, start by giving them half of one chew to see how they like it before moving up to the full daily dose.

Zesty Paws is a dog supplement company that formulates and manufactures its products in the United States. The brand is a member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), an organization that aims to standardize the quality of products in the animal supplement industry.

^{Quantity: 90 chews | Active Ingredients: Cranberry antioxidant blend, marshmallow, vitamin C, vitamin E, fish oil, eyebright extract, Ceylon cinnamon, quercetin, astaxanthin, lutein}

Best Supplement

Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora Probiotic Supplement

$31 at Amazon View on Chewy View on PetMeds

Tear stain supplements hope to work on tear stain formation from the inside out, says Caos. They have natural ingredients that are targeted toward a healthy immune system, as well as skin and coat health and lubricated eye membranes. But a good probiotic may help too, since probiotics aid the immune system and support gut health, and research also suggests they may help with eye health.

Popular with veterinarians, Fortiflora from Purina Pro Plan comes in single-use packets or as chewable tablets. Give a tablet or sprinkle the powder over your dog’s food once a day at mealtime. It’s meant to be given under your vet’s supervision.

^{Quantity: 30 packets | Active Ingredients: Enterococcus faecium}

Best Comb

Petpost Tear Stain Remover Comb

$8

$8 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Walmart

Before using a tear stain remover, you might want to try using a fine-toothed comb to gently brush through the eye area with a little water. “This will help separate the hairs, remove material that has congealed or gunked up, and make it easy to clean,” Caos told The Spruce Pets.

This small comb from Petpost has rounded, stainless steel teeth for safety and comfort. They bend slightly so they aren’t as stiff as a similar-looking flea comb.

The comb is just over 2 inches, so it’s relatively easy to maneuver around the eye area for all but the smallest dogs. It can be a little difficult to clean when eye gunk gets caught deep in the prongs. After each use, wash it with hot, soapy water to help keep it clean.

^{Quantity: 1 comb | Active Ingredients: N/A}

Best Chews

Angels' Eyes Natural Plus Chicken Flavored Soft Chews Tear Stain Supplement

$44

$40 at Amazon $24 at Chewy

Angels' Eyes Natural+ Tear Stain soft chews are an easy-to-administer supplement to add to your dog's daily routine. Each treat-like chew is chicken flavored and made without wheat, corn, or artificial flavorings. The supplements are formulated to support healthy tear duct function with a blend of active ingredients—eyebright, olive leaf, cranberry, and marshmallow root.

The daily dosage correlates with a dog's current weight, so for dogs over 50 pounds, with a recommended dosage of three chews a day, this product is more expensive and makes a 90-chew supply last for only 30 days.

^{Quantity: 90 chews | Active Ingredients: Cranberry, eyebright, olive leaf, marshmallow root}

Best Gel

Professional Pet Products Pet Tear Stain Remover

$9 at Chewy

Professional Pet Products Tear Stain Remover has a thick gel consistency that makes for easy application. Simply saturate a cotton swab and gently rub the stained area—be sure to use a clean swab for each eye. There is no need to rinse. The formula is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free so it's safe to use dogs with sensitive skin and puppies.

For heavy buildup and chronic staining, daily use is recommended. Some users who religiously apply the gel every day have reported marked improvement, though the amount of time it takes to see noticeable results will vary with each pet, and the formula may not remove stubborn tear stains on all dogs. It is, however, effective at softening the gunk in the corner of the eyes so it can be removed with minimal discomfort to pets.

_{Quantity: 4 fluid ounces | Active Ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium oleamido MIPA sulfosuccinate, carbomer 940, triethanolamine, glycol stearate, gluconolactone}