Playing with a white dog is fun but not with the one with stains. Thus, as an owner, you want to ensure that your dog’s fur is shimmering clean. However, if your pet likes a small mud pool, it is clear that your white dog is thinking exactly against what you want to ensure.
Well, your dog perhaps does not care about how clean the fur is or whether it is white or not. After all, they are dogs! However, you will always help your dog to get rid of any unwanted stain on its coat.
For this, it is worth comprehending that it is not only dirt and grime that are likely to result in stains on your pet. Even the dog’s urine, saliva, and tears can make the coat appear grimy.
At some point in life, most white dogs will show up tear stains. The good news is that it is not a tough job to eliminate stains from their fur, provided the right procedure is followed. At the same time, there is hardly any side effect if proper care is taken while doing so.
Why Retain White Fur in Dogs?
Many dog owners think that removing stains only has a cosmetic purpose. Thus, for many, this is the main reason for whitening fur in dogs. However, stain removal also comes with more benefits.
For example, the dampness related to tear stains on dogs gives way for the yeast to grow on the fur. This makes your white dog more vulnerable to different infections. Any of these infections is likely to incur discomfort. However, it should be noted that fur stains on a dog never affect its health directly.
What Causes Stains on the Fur of Dogs?
To treat something, you need to know the cause. A few causes of dark stains are simple. For instance, tear stains in dogs crop up due to the inability of the eyes of your dog to drain innately. This results in the accumulation of dirt around the eyes, which then turns reddish-brown. Similarly, following are some more causes of stains:
- Hair growth resulting in irritating eyes and consequently dog tear stains
- Diet or allergies
- Fluoride- or chloride-rich water
- Inward eyelids
- Protruding eyes attracting irritants
Why is My Dog’s White Fur Turning Yellow?
The yellow color is the result of the pigment called bilirubin residing in the bile, which the red blood cells generate. If too much of this pigment is excreted or is not excreted at a healthy pace, many yellow fur spots become visible. This condition is attributed to jaundice. Thus, in this case, you need to seek your vet’s advice.
How Do You Clean a White Dog?
If fresh, the stains on a white dog are easier to remove than on those with the colored ones. Thus, it is important to remove them as soon as possible. Sadly overlooked, the first thing to make sure is that the stains are due to an existing health condition such as an allergy.
Once confirmed, you can now start the stain removal process, which involves more than the standard grooming measures. Here are the steps to how to remove stains from white dog fur:
Step 1:
Begin by washing your white dog by using a whitening shampoo and water. Ensure that none of the two gets inside the dog’s eyes or ears as you lather. Concentrate more on the spots of darker stains, such as the chest, tail, and muzzle.
Let the shampoo settle on all stained spots for up to five minutes and get absorbed into the hair for having the desired results.
Step 2:
Using warm water, rinse the dog carefully such that all shampoo comes off. Run your fingers across the coat while doing so to ensure that no shampoo is left in the coat. If the coat is quite thick, rinse once more.
Step 3:
Now, apply a hair conditioner made for dogs on the pooch without touching its mouth, ears, and eyes. Conditioning provides a layer of resistance to white fur against new stains. Again, using warm water, rinse the dog well to remove the surplus conditioner in the fur. Then, with a clean towel, dry the coat.
Step 4:
This is a vital step to ensure that your dog is properly cleaned and all stains have gone. It is the step of brushing its fur using a slicker or pin brush. Your brush choice will depend on the type of coat.
A pin brush is for dogs with a thick coat and long hair, while a slicker brush is for those with sensitive skin or finer fur. Brush well, especially those areas where those dark stains were there and where stains are seen quite often. It is wise to do so along the fur growth direction to avoid tangles.
Step 5:
Now, make a paste by mixing cornstarch and hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the stained fur areas. Using your hands, apply it gently into the coat. If the fur is long and thick, consider using a comb for spreading the paste to the fur’s base. Allow this paste to settle for 5 to 15 minutes.
The exact duration will vary as per how deep, severe, and dark the stain is. Now, rinse the coat using warm water, brush the stained spots to take off any residue, and dry the coat with a towel.
Step 6:
Finally, trim the fur of those areas of your dog where dark or brown stains tend to surface. They are usually the muzzle and chest. Use thinning shears to perform this task. Remember to remove only a slight amount of hair on each spot.
If the stains are still there and trimming is impossible at present, consider repeating the procedure the next day or once in a week or four times in a month. This is because frequent washing your dog is unwise, as it can make its hair brittle.
Chemical-based products should be your last resort and should be used only after consulting your vet. At times, stains can be hard enough to be removed or the coat is quite sensitive. In this case, you will have to go for safes stain removal alternatives prescribed by your vet.
How Do You Remove Dog Beard Stains?
Apart from daily fur wiping, try a paste featuring hydrogen peroxide. Create a thick paste by mixing hydrogen peroxide and milk of magnesia in 1:1 ratio along with one to two teaspoons of cornstarch. Now, apply the paste on the beard’s fur without letting it go into the mouth and allow it to remain for four hours. Finally, wipe using a damp washcloth. You can do so daily until the stains are gone.
Which Products Are Available for Cleaning Dog Fur Stains?
Not all cleaning methods work for all dogs. Thus, many fur whitening products and methods are available. You may try combining two or more products to remove the stains. So, let’s check them out!
- Tear stain removers or eye cleansers applied externally with a moist cotton ball and available as powder or solution
- Anti-tear stain supplements for preventing and eliminating stains; available as natural remedies
- Enzymatic shampoos, which work by consuming the tear, urine, and saliva proteins to remove the stains
- Grooming and eye wipes without chemical fragrance for clearing saliva and tear stains for dogs
- Fur whitening shampoos such as:
- Bluing shampoos for removing mild stains and make you perceive the stained area as white due to the added optical boosters
- Clarifying shampoos, which remove oil stains but are harsh due to which its use is restricted
- Bleaching shampoos, which work by opening the follicles but are harsh due to which they are to be used only after consulting your vet
Most shampoos function by bleaching the fur, which can harm it after sustained use. Thus, rather than bleaching, consider a whitening shampoo for your white dog. Non-harsh whitening shampoo is the right choice.
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