Fur Whitening – How To Keep Your Dog’s Fur White

Fur Whitening – How To Keep Your Dog’s Fur White

The importance of fur whitening has increased due to a considerable number of dog owners today who have dogs with  white fur. While dog breeds with white fur are beautiful and lovable, fur stains is constant issue you will have to deal with.

As compared to other dog breeds, fur staining is a prevalent grooming issue in dogs with white fur. The leading dog experts today will tell you that removing such stains is necessary, but why?

Importance of Fur whitening in Dogs

Well most dog owners today think that stain removal on the fur of their dogs is only important for cosmetic reasons. This may be the main objective of fur whitening in dogs, but removing stains from your dog’s fur has other benefits to offer as well. For instance, the wetness associated with tear stains on dogs encourages yeast growth on the dog’s fur. This will, in turn predispose your dog to infections. Such an infection can lead to itchiness and discomfort in your dog. 

Although most fur stains on dogs do not have a direct impact on the health of your dog. With this guide, you will also realise that the various types of stains on dog’s fur are comparatively easy to remove, provided that you use the right methods.

Possible Causes of Yellow/ Brown Stains on White Dog’s Fur

Various white dog breeds are known to be prone to various types of stains, such as tear stains and brown/yellow fur. When you do notice stains on your dog’s fur, you should try to ascertain its cause. This will provide you with an idea on the best course of action in removing the stain.

tear stain poodle
Tear Stains On A Poodle

Some of the causes of brown/yellow stains on white dogs are rather simple. For example, tear stains are normally caused by the inability of the dog’s eyes to drain naturally. As a result, the fur around the eyes collects dirt and turns reddish brown.  In such a case, the problem is normally caused by inherent physical features of the dog. That said, here are various causes of stains on dog fur:

  • Hair growth – In some white dog breeds, such as the Maltese, the hair may drop into the eyes irritating them. In other cases, the growth of long hair around the dog’s eyes may also hinder proper drainage of tears, hence lead to staining.
  • Diet/Allergies – Your dog might be allergic to some ingredients in his/her current dog food or the colour or grain additives added, which may be causing an allergic reaction.
  • Water – Some dog tend to be allergic to fluoride and chloride additives in drinking water.
  • Blocked drainage holes – The inability of tears to drain properly in dogs may also be caused by blocked drainage holes.
  • Eyelids turning inwards – In some white dog breeds, the eyelids may turn inwards to an extent that they cover the tear drainage holes, which will lead to a tear drainage problem.
  • Shallow eye sockets – Some of these dog breeds, especially the Pugs and Chihuahuas have protruding eyes. Since much of the eye is exposed to irritants, these breeds will often have tear stains on their fur.

You should try to ascertain the actual cause of stains on your dog’s fur. By so doing, you will be in a better position to remove the stains and prevent them from reoccurring.

Get Rid Of Dog Fur Stains and Prevent Them from Coming Back

Pets, especially clean white dogs are fun to have and play with. However, a white dog tends to get stains on its fur much easier when compared to dogs with coloured fur. To avoid this, you should get rid of the stains on your dog’s fur as soon as possible and try to prevent stained fur from reappearing.

Often overlooked by many dog owners, the first thing needed is to ensure that the staining on your dog is not as a result of a pre-existing health condition (Eg. Food allergies). Once you are sure that your pet is healthy, you can now attempt to remove the stains on his or her fur.

Stain removal on a dog’s fur requires more than just the ordinary grooming measures. For best results, this should be done in two steps:

A) Prevention

B) Cleaning the stain

A) Preventing Fur Stains from Reappearing

Like many other dog owners, you may be thinking that this should be a secondary priority after you have actually removed the stains. However, it is quite important that you ensure that the stains do not reappear a few days after you have attempted fur whitening by cleaning/bathing your dog.

fur whitening allergy stains
Food Allergies are often responsible for browning/yellowing on a white dog’s fur.

Depending on the cause of staining in your dog, here are some tips on how you can prevent the stains from reappearing after you have cleaned them:

  • PH balance – According to some of the leading animal ophthalmologists, slightly altering the acidity in your dog can improve the tearing problem. You could consider adding about 1/4 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar in your dog’s drinking water.
  • Food Allergies – If ingredients in your dog’s food are the problem, you should consider switching to other types or brands of dog food, especially the ones that are rich in real meat protein.
  • Trimming the fur – As mentioned earlier, the fur on your dog may actually be the problem. In such a case, you should trim the eye areas gently. However, it is advisable to have a professional groomer trim the fur for you.
  • Water – The minerals in hard water may worsen tear staining in white dog breeds. If the drinking water is the problem, you should start giving your dog pure filtered water if possible.

B) Cleaning Dog Fur Stains

Basically, not all the available cleaning methods will work in all cases. This is why there are several dog fur whitening methods and products available in the market today. In some cases, you may be required to use a combination of two or more methods and products to effectively clear the stains on your dog’s fur.

Tear Stain Removers/Eye Cleansers

Tear and saliva stain removers for dogs are products that may be applied on externally on the stains to remove them. Most of the tropical eye cleansers for dogs today are available in solution or powder form. Owing to the many eye cleaning products available today, it can be a bit challenging to find the right one for your white dog. One of the commonly used tear stain removers today is the Tropiclean Spa Tear Stain Facial Cleanser which helps with fur whitening around the eyes.

tropiclean-spa-tear-stain
Tropiclean Spa Tear Stain Facial Cleanser 8oz

This is a tear stain facial cleanser that may be applied externally on the site of the stain on your dog’s fur to clear them. This product is gentle on your dog and is very effective at removing tear and saliva stains on white dog’s fur.

You should avoid applying the solution directly in the dog’s eyes. Instead, you should moisten a cotton ball with the solution and then use it to gently apply the solution to the stained part, then rinse off the solution from the dog’s fur using clean water. Tropiclean Spa Tear Stain Facial Cleanser should be used regularly for enhanced effectiveness.

Anti-tear Stain Supplements

In addition to the topical eye cleansers, you could also consider using anti-tear stain supplements to eliminate stains on your dog’s fur and prevent them from reoccurring. Unlike the topical stain removal products, these supplements should be given to the pet as supplements to its food. One popular products that has proven to be quite effective is the Angels’ Eyes Natural Tear Stain Eliminator. This product is particularly useful in cases where food is the main cause of tear staining in your dog.

angels-eyes-dog-sweet-potato
Angels’ Eyes Natural Tear Stain Eliminator

The Eyes Natural Tear Stain Eliminator comprises of such ingredients as Oregon grape root, Marshmallow root, Cranberry powder, brown rice and sweet potato. Being a natural remedy tear staining on white dogs, this product is less likely to trigger side effects caused by allergies on your dog. Angels’ Eyes Natural Tear Stain Eliminator may be used on both the shedding and non-shedding white dog breeds. 

Grooming & eye wipes

While ordinary cleaning and brushing will not help clear tear and saliva stains on your dog’s fur, there are certain grooming tasks that can help you get rid of these ugly stains. As you have seen above, poor hair growth around the eyes can irritate your dog’s eyes, which can lead to tear stains on its fur. Trimming the hair around the dog’s eyes can prevent tear stains.

Cleaning and proper hygiene can also help minimise tearing problems in your dog. Cleaning the area around your dog’s eyes will also prevent secretions, tears and dirt from accumulating and staining the dog’s fur.

earthbath-eye-wipes-25ct
Earthbath All Natural Specialty Eye Wipes

In this regard, you should consider using the right eye wipes to wipe the region around your dog’s eyes from time to time, throughout the day. Proper dog eye wipes should be free of added chemical fragrance. The Earthbath eye wipes are some of the best dog eye wipes today. These wipes comprise of ingredients that are safe to use around a dog’s eyes, such as sodium chloride, purified water, boric acid, citric acid, natragem, witch hazel, natural preservatives and Vitamin E. While these wipes are considered to be safe for use around your dog’s eyes, you should avoid direct contact with the eyes while using them on your dog as much as possible. This product should not be used on dogs younger than 6 weeks.

Fur Whitening Shampoos

About 15 years ago, the only fur whitening shampoo options available for dogs were the blueing shampoos. Over the years, manufacturers have been able to produce different types of dog fur whitening shampoos, all of which are suited for different applications. Some of the commonest types of dog fur whitening shampoos today include:

  • Clarifying Shampoos – These are comparatively harsh, with a pH range of between 9 and 10. They are great at removing oils, waxes, residue and other unsightly problems on your dog’s coat. Not to be used often as it can damage your dog’s coat.
  • Bluing Shampoos – These do not actually remove the stains. Instead, they add optical enhancers around the stained fur area to an extent that human eyes perceive the area as white. These are ideal for use on mild stains.
  • Bleaching Shampoos – These are harsh shampoos and you need to use a deep conditioner on your dog’s fur after using such shampoos. These open up the hair follicle, allowing the contrasting colour molecules to be removed. This leaves the hair white.
  • Enzymatic Shampoos – these function by ‘eating away’ the saliva, urine or tear proteins, hence diminishing the stains. The shampoo should be applied on the stained area undiluted and allowed to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
chris christensen white on white shampoo
Chris Christensen White On White Whitening Treatment Shampoo

The White on White dog whitening shampoos is a good example of recommended whitening shampoos today. Most of the shampoos in the market today work by bleaching the dog’s fur, which may end up damaging the fur, especially after continued use. Instead of bleaching the stained hair, the White on White whitening shampoo uses an innovative colour pigment deposit approach to get rid of saliva, tear and urine stains on your dog’s fur.

A Fur Whitening Experience

Now that you have that adorable white dog you have been craving for, you need to go a step further to ensure that it remains clean, healthy and beautiful at all times. Since white dog breeds are known to be prone to unsightly saliva/tear stains along with yellow/brown fur coats, you should learn how to remove them, hence keep your white dog looking good and healthy at all times.