Chihuahua Tear Staining and How To Remove It.

Tear Staining, The Cause and Correction

 Brown or pinkish brown streaks on the cheeks of dogs is a common sight.  When tears overflow from the eyes, they run down the face creating wetness that provides the perfect environment for bacterial growth.  As bacteria replicate they cause skin irritation and produce pigment that stains the hair brown or pinkish brown.  In dark-coated dogs this colour change is of little consequence, but in white furbaby's tear staining is obvious.

There are two causes of tear staining.  The first is tear-duct blockage.  In the normal canine eye, tears leave the eye via two small openings called “puncta”. One is in the upper eyelid and the other is in the lower eyelid.  Once through the puncta, tear fluid enters the tear duct that carries it to the nose.  This occurs in people as well, that’s why your nose drips when you cry.

Unperforated puncta can be surgically opened but success depends on the rest of the tear-duct system being intact.

Many tear-stained dogs have a subtle eversion (turning out) of the lower eyelid, which compresses the puncta, preventing normal tear drainage.  Surgical correction of the eyelids can reverse tears overflowing in these cases.

The second cause is excess tear production, too much volume for normal tear ducts to handle.  Any eyelid deformity that causes chronic eye irritation (rubbing on the eye surface) such as an inverted eyelid or extra eyelashes along the edge of the eyelid or fur from the dog’s body, stimulates increased tear production.  Many of these conditions are simply flushed out by themselves and when this does not happen, can be corrected surgically.

If you’ve ever seen a dog with red or brown marks in the areas around and just under the eyes, you’ve seen a dog that is suffering from Tear staining . The staining can matte around the dog’s eyes and leave a gooey, thick mess that is hard to clean. Most people assume that the stains are caused by excessive moisture from the dog’s eyes and that they’re just a fact of life. In fact though, tear stains have many different causes, and figuring out the root of the problem could end up saving you some work and also improve your dog’s life.

 Ear Infections

Tear staining can be linked back to ear infections, so it’s important to keep your dog’s ears as clean and dry as possible. If you notice that your dog is getting a lot of ear infections which also coincide with excessive tearing, the two are probably related. Use a good cleansing product to make sure the ears are clean and your dog’s tear stains might be reduced as a result.

Allergies

Dogs can experience reactions to thing just like humans, and tear staining can often be a reaction to allergens or irritants. In fact, some dogs will suffer reactions to their food which will change the pH level in your dog’s system which in turn can cause excessive tearing. If you notice that your dog’s Tear stains get worse in certain situations than it might be an environmental factor that is adding to the problem.

Blocked Tear Ducts

Some dogs are born with tear ducts that are closed which need to be surgically opened by a vet, but this isn’t the only way a duct can be blocked. At times, a dog can develop clogged tear ducts which can add to excessive tearing, and unfortunately, a trip to the vet will be needed to irrigate the ducts. Luckily, this isn’t a very common problem, but if you suspect clogged tear ducts, it should be taken care of, lest your dog suffer unnecessarily.

Red Yeast

One of the biggest causes of Tear Stains is from a dog having an excessive amount of tears. This high level of moisture can keep the hair around the face wet, which then becomes an area where bacteria can breed. One of the most common forms of this bacteria is called Red Yeast, which causes a yeast infection around the eyes and leads to the brownish-red stains that you sometimes see on dogs.

 Water

Some waters contain a high mineral content, which can cause staining on a dog’s entire face and beard. A lot of moisture can remain on the face trapped in the hairs after a dog drinks, which can be moved to eye level by the dog trying to lick his face clean. And, if the mineral content is high, it will increase the level of red-brown staining on a dog’s face. If you notice both tear stains and a discoloured beard, try switching your dog’s water to combat the problem. Red or brown Tear stains are not attractive to look at, and they can be a symptom of a larger problem. If your dog has excessive staining around they eyes and on its face, it might be worth looking into what the cause of the staining is.

Most furbaby owners of small light and white dogs take great pride in keeping their furbaby spotlessly clean. You can imagine then how frustrating it is to have to deal with those annoying tear stains below the eyes.

Tear stains can occur in any breed of dog, it’s just less obvious and therefore not as big a problem on dogs with darker coats. While the tears are initially clear, bacteria can grow on the moist hair, and that’s what’s responsible for making the stains the familiar red colour.

I’ll Cry If I Want To..

There are really only two causes of epiphora, which is the scientific word for tears spilling down the face. Firstly, it can be caused by excess tear production which doesn’t drain down the tear duct. This little duct goes from the inner eyelid to inside the nasal cavity, and carries excess tears away. That’s why when you cry, you usually get a runny nose too! The tear duct is narrow, and if there are too many tears being produced, it just can’t cope with them all, and the tears trickle down the face.

Weepy eyes often occur in dogs with allergies, infections or irritation due to dust. Some dogs have eyelashes growing in unusual places, such as inside the eyelid. These will rub on the eye and cause pain and increased tear production. A similar problem occurs in short nosed breeds such as British Bulldogs or Pugs – their short nose may result in the facial skin being pushed up towards the eyes, which can also lead to hair rubbing and irritation.

The second reason tear spillage occurs is because the tear duct is blocked, and doesn’t drain tears from the eyes. This is usually a conformation, or head shape, problem. Some breeds of dog such as the Bedlington Terrier or Lhasa Apso may be born without a tear duct opening in their eyelids, so the tears can’t drain at all. Other breeds have very prominent eyes, and this doesn’t leave much space for tears to collect and drain down the tear duct. This may happen in Chihuahuas, Pekingese and similar breeds. 

Why So Sad?

If your furbaby  has a chronic tear staining problem, it’s a good idea to have him checked by your veterinarian. You need to find out if there is an underlying medical problem. Hair rubbing on the eye is painful, and may lead to more serious conditions such as an ulcer on the cornea. Infections usually need a course of antibiotics to clear them up. Stray eyelashes and skin folds which cause hair to rub on the eyes may need corrective surgery. If your dog has any of these problems, you’ll probably notice other symptoms such as squinting, or rubbing at the eye with a paw.

If your furbaby has a blocked tear duct, sometimes flushing it can help. However, because the problem with the duct is usually related to the dog’s conformation, this doesn’t often improve the situation. 

Your only real option is to control the staining.

Dry Those Tears

Your first step is to keep the hair around the eyes trimmed nice and short. This helps the hair dry out quicker and slows the growth of any bacteria.

Some vets recommend using antibiotics to control the bacteria that cause the staining. This isn’t a good long term solution because you may end up with the bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotic. 

There has been some suggestions that changing a dog’s diet can reduce tear staining. It’s not known if the change in diet has a direct effect on the staining, or whether the tear staining is secondary to a food allergy, and the dietary change reduces the symptoms of that allergy.

There are also many anecdotal cures, such as giving your dog demineralised water to drink, avoiding foods containing beet pulp, and adding buttermilk to the diet. None of these have been proven to consistently make any difference.

Chihuahuas experience problems with tear staining at the corners of the eyes. Tear stains typically manifest in the form of dark yellow or brown stains. Such stains are typically the result of some kind of eye irritation, which may be caused by long hair, ingrown eyelids or blocked tear drainage holes. If your Chihuahua shows signs of tear stains, try a home remedy to clean them. Once you have cleaned your dog's eyes, you can take a few simple steps to prevent the stains from coming back.  

 This is what I use and do, Items you will need.

Damp Cloth, Milk of Magnesia, Corn Starch Cotton Swabs Peroxide and Ophthalmic Ointment.

Check your Chihuahua's eyes to be sure there isn't anything stuck in it, causing irritation and tearing. If your furbaby's eyes are red and swollen, or if deformities are visible, take them  to see your vet immediately.

Step 2

Wipe the area around your Chihuahua's eyes gently with a damp cloth to remove any buildup of crust around the eyes and to soften the dried stains.

Step 3

Use a cotton swab dipped in warm water if your furbaby's eyes are particularly crusted and they need a bit of extra attention to clean. This is not uncommon when you haven't been maintaining the dog's eyes regularly. Avoid making contact with your Chihuahua's eyeball, and do not apply enough pressure with the swab to cause discomfort.

Step 4

Combine equal parts milk of magnesia and peroxide with enough corn starch to make a paste. Spread a small amount of the paste on the tear stains around your dog's eyes, working it into the fur.

Step 5

Let the milk of magnesia mixture dry for up to four hours, then wash it out completely and let your Chihuahua's fur dry. Apply a thin layer of opthalmic ointment to the area around your dog's eyes after washing out the milk of magnesia mixture, to prevent irritation.

Step 6

Repeat the milk of magnesia treatment every other day for one week or until the tear stains have lifted.

Step 7

Trim the fur around your dog's eyes using a pair of blunt-nose scissors. Fur growing too close to the eye is one of the most common causes of tear stains, so trimming the fur should help prevent irritation and thus future stains from forming.

Step 8

Consult your veterinarian if excessive tear stains persist. This is what I do for Miss Mildred and it does work, But like I have said if you think there might be a problem with your fur baby's eyes and tear staining take them to the furbaby doctor and have them checked over, Because they might have a tear ducts that are blocked or maybe eye lashes causing problems.

 

  Miss Mildred and myself Miss Squeak really hope this information has helped you understand tear stains and why they can occur and what you can do to keep them at bay the trick I use works well for Miss Mildred and her fur brother 

Sir George, I also put white vinegar in the water that they drink as it helps balance the ph level in the water and another thing I use a stainless steel water bowl as I was using a red plastic bowl and was told by Miss Mildred's Furbaby Doctor that the dye might leach out in to the water hence adding to the red stain on her face, So once again I hope my blog as helped you a little more in understanding why this happens and what you can do to prevent it from getting to bad.

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Chihuahua Tear Staining and How To Remove It.

If you have any other suggestions on how to remove the tear staining let Miss Mildred and I know in the comments below so we can share this information with other furbaby Mums and Dads, Once again Thankyou for reading and we will see you back here on our next blog, 

Sending Love, Laughter and Light to you all.

 xx Miss Squeak and Miss Mildred xx

Miss Squeak Talks About Miss Mildred The Chihuahua and All Her Outfits!

 So today I thought I would talk about Miss Mildred and the amount of outfits she has, Is it just me or are there others that dress their furbabys up? As you all might know Miss Mildred is a chihuahua and she is 2yrs old in September and she is my little shadow, best friend and my favourite way to waste time, She makes me laugh and giggle everyday she looks after me when I am not well. She is truly my protecter nurse and the class clown,

Miss Mildred is just so amazing.

 I have dressed her since she was a puppy. We got Miss Mildred in November 2014 and she was 4mths old and so very tiny like many chihuahua she was so fragile and I just wanted to protect her. 

In the picture above she was in her very  first dress and it was Summer here in Perth Western Australia so little sun dresses were just perfect for getting Miss Mildred used to wearing dresses,

I also wanted her to be ready to wear coats for winter because she is so small and fragile I didn't want her to be cold, 

My little girl wears some sort of clothing everyday and when she is naked after her bath she will go and stand in the wardrobe and bark at her clothes so I think she enjoys wearing them as much as I enjoy dressing her.

I have so many outfits with matching shoes and collars and her clothes hang up on cute little pink hangers and she is starting to have more then me and that might be starting to become a problem!  I love looking for new cute jackets,  jumpers, shirts and  dresses along with collars and necklaces we need a whole room just for her stuff not to mention the leads and harness. 

Below is a snap shot of some of the things she has gee whizz. 

I think she is just a little spoilt!

 Today Miss Mildred has on the animal print mink coat with satin red lining just so fancy and she looks so cute.

Its very cold at the moment and I don't want Miss Mildred to be cold she I get her dressed each morning in something that will keep her warm and toasty and because she doesn't like walking on the cold or we  floor she get her shoes put on for outside and it is not mean or cruel to do so as if she has no shoes on my little princess will wee on the floor so shoes it is. Do any of you dress or  put shoes on your furbabys? I can't be the only one can I ?? 

I would love to hear about what you do to keep your furbabys warm and toasty!

  So as I said before today was just a quick little blog about the things I do to keep my little Chihuahua happy and comfy.

I would like to thank  everyone that comes and has a little  read or a look at my pictures of Miss Mildred, I really enjoy doing this and your feed back is just lovely !!

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We hope to see you all back again!

See you soon.

Miss Squeak and Miss Mildred xx 

Miss Squeaks Is A Chihuahua Right For You.

Hi everyone and welcome to my latest blog today i thought we could talk about if a Chihuahua is the right breed of furbaby for you. Miss Mildred and myself Miss Squeak have been very busy over the Christmas New Year break so we haven't blogged that much and  

we are sorry about that so now lets get in to it. Remember we would also love to hear about your furry furbabys too!

Is the Chihuahua Right for Me?

Chihuahuas actually are an exquisite very little breed, however they're not the correct breed for everybody. Because they're terribly tiny, special thought must be given on the sort of home they are going too.  Chihuahuas might not be safe with different breeds of dog, like sight-hounds. As furbaby lovers it's our job to do the best research and this suggests asking lots of questions. No one wants his puppy to lead a stressed life, be hurt or abused by babies or different pets, or end up in an animal shelter or not cared for correctly. So here are some things to think about before heading out to get a Chihuahua!

   

 Before acquiring any breed of dog, it's vital to research that breed to make sure this can be the correct breed for you. certain breeds have common health issues, some need voluminous grooming or exercise, some have breed traits like excessive barking in conjunction with several alternative factors that will make it a pleasant breed for one person, however not the correct breed for another. never purchase a puppy impulsively before doing research; keep in mind, this is often a life long commitment. the typical lifetime of a Chihuahua is twelve to sixteen or additional years.

Children: 

Children and Chihuahuas don't mix. This is often not necessarily because the Chihuahua may be aggressive towards kids, however as a result of toddlers and little kids will simply fall or drop a toy on a Chihuahua, or kick a Chi when suddenly racing across the space, or slamming a door on it. A Chihuahua will instinctively sense that a nipper or kid is comparatively speaking, uncoordinated and "out of control" and may create a danger. This is  particularly  true as kids are more uncoordinated and clumsy than adults. 

Chihuahuas don't seem to be only tiny, however the overwhelming majority of Chihuahuas have a soft-spot on top of their head, making them more at risk of injury. Even a baby which means well and loves the small dog will accidentally hurt the little breed by cuddling a Chihuahua too hard or dropping it.  Also, kids move quickly and impulsively, and may kick or tread on a Chihuahua once they come across the room. A energetic family, however well-meaning, are often very hard on a Chi.   The mother, who already has enough to do within the family, would have the worrisome task of "watching out for the Chihuahua" round the clock on a daily basis added to her responsibilities. 

For families that would like to get A little furbaby dog, we'd recommend either obtaining another little breed like a Bichon Frise, a pug or a Cavalier King Charles spaniel which may be ready to stand up to kids better, or at the very least, a bigger sized Chihuahua that is to a small degree more durable. These different pleasant breeds are also affectioned and make nice companions for the entire family.   The bonus would be that lifestyle at home would be more relaxing while the youngsters get older.

Other Pets:

Chihuahuas will get on quite well with different breeds of dogs and different pets, particularly once raised from a young age in this sort of setting, however usually, Chihuahuas mustn't be within the same family as larger breeds of dogs. A larger, robustious dog will simply hurt a Chihuahua in play, or if it suddenly needs to safeguard its food or chew toy, a snap at a Chihuahua may be serious. 

Chihuahuas are typically not good with hunting dog breeds that have a hunting dog temperament (that are food/toy protective, will challenge other dogs, etc.) Because the  Chihuahua themselves have a terrier-like temperament. therefore a hunting dog and a Chihuahua would possibly clash with their similar personalities, and this may be terribly dangerous as a Chihuahua doesn't grasp its size.

Chihuahuas are at risk of eye injuries due to their giant unprotected eyes, therefore having a cat within the house might or might not be a good plan. Laid back cats are best. A cat that's shy or excessively mischievous might scratch the Chihuahua's eyes.

Small Size Consideration:

Chihuahuas don't seem to be the correct breed for everyone because of their little size. Because they're little, they will simply get into places which may not be safe, like places with electrical cords, or beneath a fence or gate. Fences should be properly secured (we nail boards on the bottom) so the Chihuahua can't escape. As described above, they are not essentially the perfect pet to introduce to a family that has kids or different pets. Also, great care should be taken once these very little guys are outside. Birds of prey (hawks, etc.) As well as some cats and other wildlife (such as coyotes) could consider the Chihuahua as being a pleasant snack. Chihuahuas ought to never be left unattended for long periods of your time, and once they are outside, they must be properly boxed in (including with a roof if birds of prey frequent the area). I actually have heard of many instances where a bird of prey snatched a Chihuahua off the ground before the owner knew what happened.

Breed Traits:

Chihuahuas are terribly loyal, and may be terribly protective of their owner. Chihuahuas really are an enormous dog in a very little body. Some folks think about a Chihuahua shaking, and terrified of everything, but in reality, they do not grasp their size and most can challenge larger dogs. Chihuahuas love human attention, and are true lap dogs. Chihuahuas are very personable and have their own personality and temperament, a bit like us . 

Chihuahuas can be terribly intelligent, to the point of outsmarting  you or being downright stubborn. Most are motivated by toy, food, or tenderness to make training easy. Several Chis try to please.

Some Chihuahuas are barkers, whereas others don't seem to be. This trait really varies with the bloodline and therefore the individual. Chihuahuas are not the happy little ankle-biters as they used to be best-known, and their temperament has improved by leaps and bounds with the assistance of accountable breeders doing their part to boost the breed.

As mentioned above, before selecting any breed of dog, make certain to do thorough research on the breed, ask completely different breeders questions about the breed, meet friends/family that have a pet Chihuahua, etc. There are several fascinating books out there to learn more regarding Chihuahuas, and most are useful regarding explaining a way to take care of them.

I also want to address the issue with the  weather as my little Miss Mildred gets so very cold in winter and I dress her most days unless it to hot but on the days its to hot and she has to go as I say naked haha I put sunscreen on her ears nose and head as I don't wan her to get burnt just like you wouldn't like your human baby burnt. Miss Mildred has so many outfits its sometime hard to pick one for her to wear! We have dog shoes for summer and winter.  Well some people think its silly or that I am a crazy Chihuahua lady and gee if thats what they want to think let them, I don't  allow other peoples opinions to trouble me i learnt that lesson a long time ago.

So start your furbaby wearing light tops to begin with then when it comes time for the winter coat you won't be having to struggle with your little love bug! 

I hope you enjoyed the new blog and 

if you have any ideas on what you might like Miss Mildred and I to talk about don't be shy post it in the comments below we are excited to hear them.

Live Love Laugh!

 Once again thanks for reading  

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and we hope to see you back soon 

xx Miss Squeak and Miss Mildred xx

Miss Squeaks Fun Tricks For Furbaby Chihuahua's.

Hello everyone hope all is well and your furbabys are giving you lots of love cuddles and kisses.

So i was thing lets talk about teaching our furbabys to do some sweet little tricks and a few came timing as I do train Miss Mildred to do tricks and it was very easy as the Chihuahua breed is very smart and they want to please. So after I give some more information on theChihuahua breed we will get started wth the few easy tricks I get 

Miss Mildred to do daily as our furbabys are small fragile and ever so tiny its hard to keep treat training as they can put on weight haha and I say this as Miss Mildred put weight on while i was training her but now a kiss and a cuddle makes her just as happy !

The Chihuahua is a terribly intelligent dog; as a matter of truth this breed has the biggest brain in comparison to body size out of all of the dog breeds within the world. therefore whether or not your Chihuahua may be a puppy or an older dog, you'll be able to definitely teach your dog some cute tricks. The key and secret to training your Chihuahua to perform tricks to repetition.

If you show your dog one thing over and over again; continually teaching him the same method, he can eventually learn it. This breed picks up info quite quickly; some tricks can solely take a matter of a week or 2 to find out.

When you are teaching your dog, it's best to do so during a quiet area wherever there aren't any distractions. make learning fun, act excited once he learns one thing and never scold him if he's taking time to catch on. when he will master a trick, take care to reward your Chihuahua with lots of happy words of praise.

When a Chi is first making an attempt to be told and is putting in effort, do provide a tasty treat as reward... however don't fret regarding always having to offer food as motivation. when you additionally offer praise at the same time, after a while a dog can have an automatic response... and at that point your smile, praise and therefore the attention that your Chi receives are going to be all that's required for him or her to require to stay playing. 

Some other smart tips to keep in mind is that taking time on a daily basis to work on these commands can create the simplest success... After all, sporadically having sessions once or twice per week merely will not provide the repetition that's required.

And, you need to be in an passionate mood in order for your Chihuahua to be in one! Dogs scan body language and tone as if they were ready to read our minds. If an owner is feeling positive with a decent attitude that learning is fun and a gradual process, a dog can typically mimic that perspective...And that is what's required to set a decent learning foundation. 

Cool Trick 1 - What  Hand? 

A really cute trick to show your Chihuahua will make it seem as if your dog could be a bit psychic! you must have your dog sitting in front of you. Reach to grab a handful of little treats; however take care that it's a small enough quantity in order that your hand will completely cover the food whereas creating a clenched fist.

Put your hands behind your back. Then, place each hands out toward your Chihuahua at a similar distance from him.

Say the command words of "Which hand?" using an excited voice. Your dog should be able to understand which hand holds the treats merely from the smell. A dog's ability to smell is totally amazing! once your dog put his paw on the proper hand, open your hand to reveal the treats. in this case, the treats are going to be the reward. 

Do not provide the treats till your Chihuahua puts his paw on the hand that hides them. this may teach him that merely nosing it's not enough.

Neat Trick 2 - Saying Grace

This is a good trick to show your Chihuahua, particularly when you have company over for dinner. In order  for this to work, you may want a small toddler's chair or booster seat that's placed on the ground.

You may additionally use a solid box or alternative object that is sometimes in your room or eating space. The height of the object must be so that your Chihuahua will stand and rest his or her front legs on the object.

This trick is "Saying Grace" but you must not have food out after you are training your Chihuahua to try and do this trick, because it can distract him from learning this. Have him sit in front of the item. Say the command words, "Say Grace" while you gently elevate his front paws and place them on the object.

Again, repeat the command words and gently place his face softly down upon his front paws. Your Chihuahua can currently be during a position that seems that he's expression a prayer. you must pat his head and say encouraging words to stay his face down for a number of moments.

Never hold his head if he resists. after a count of three or four, release your gentle touch and reward him with excitement, pats and hugs. 

The key to a dog learning to do this automatically once hearing the command words is to train him often. 

Doing this four to five times on a daily basis for one to two weeks ought to have your Chihuahua ready to do an amusing supper time trick.

Trick 3 - Greetings!

This trick is simple however can make your Chihuahua appear very smart! Sit your Chihuahua in front of you. Gently acquire one of his paws and gently shake it while expression the command word, "Hello". 

Act terribly happy while you're doing this and show your Chi that you simply are more than happy that he's permitting you to do this. After a while, say the command word again, however this time you may just gently touch his paw without shaking it. Act as if you expect him to require action. If he doesn't, lift the paw and repeat the hand shake.  

After a jiffy, your Chihuahua can perceive what to do after you sit before of him and say, "Hello". this is often a beautiful trick to have your dog grasp for when you introduce him or her to friends, family and other.

Super Cool Trick 4 - Sweet Kisses

This is a beautiful Chihuahua dog trick and extremely simple to show. You need to  sit your dog in front of you. Before you are doing the next step, do bear in mind that this is often temporary and very soon you will be able to eliminate this 1st part! 

Put a really little dab of wet pet food on the cheek of your face. Say the command words, "Kisses" and permit your Chihuahua to lick the treat off your face. As he's doing so, repeat the command word. 

Then, attempt to do so by merely pointing to your face and saying, "Kisses". If your Chihuahua kisses you, make certain to praise him with happy word and excited pats. After a while you should be able to merely say "Kisses" and obtain a sweet Chihuahua kiss. 

Miss Mildred loves to do all of these tricks and she is very happy to show anyone them!

I have put a lot of training into my sweet little Chihuahua and I am so happy she was so eager to learn we alway practice the shake before she is allowed her dinner so now she sits waiting for her command shake or paw so she can have her dinner. Its really cute and lots of fun too. 

 Miss Mildred and I Miss Squeak 

would like to thank everyone for coming and reading our new blog 

Fun Tricks For Your Furbaby Chihuahua

And we would love to hear any trick that you do with your furbaby so let us know below in the comments and don't be shy !

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We also hope this blog has helped you to train your new furbaby. Come back soon for some new information and if there might be something you would like to know use the comments and tell us !!