Vinegar has many uses around the home. Many believe that it is also great for your body. But what you might not know is that vinegar, both white and the apple cider variety is great to prevent and remove tearstains from your dog's eyes. If your dog often gets these unsightly dark stains under their eyes, on either side of their nose, this guide can help you get rid of them and prevent them from returning. 

Add White Vinegar to Food and Water

Tearstains often occur if your dog's pH level is off. Add about a teaspoon of Apple Cider vinegar to your dog's water or food. After a few days, the acidity in your dog's body rises slightly to kill yeast and bacteria in your dog. Continue adding Apple Cider vinegar, as it will help to prevent future stains from appearing.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar in the Bath

Apple cider vinegar is another tool that you can use to increase your dog's pH level and help prevent tearstains. Bathe your dog as you normally do, but use a water and apple cider mix to rinse off the suds. 

Mix the white vinegar with water and pour it over your dog. Rinse the mix away with lukewarm water.

An additional benefit of using apple cider vinegar is that it is a natural way to prevent fleas.

Caution: Apple cider vinegar can sting your dog's eyes so be careful around your dog's head and face.

Spot Wipe the Eye Area With Vinegar

Wet a clean cloth lightly with apple cider or white vinegar, and then wipe the stain itself. Have someone hold the dog's head from behind them, so you can use both hands to control it's head and guide your wiping with precision. This technique requires some patience because you want to wipe around the eye, not in it.  

Consideration: Some dogs naturally get tearstains frequently, while others don't. Keep in mind that some infections, such as an ear infection in dogs can cause tearstains. If you notice that that stains are suddenly occurring when they didn't before, and your dog is not one that is prone to them, take him or her to the vet for an examination, to ensure that antibiotics are not needed.

Don't worry about the smell of vinegar on your dog. It dissipates in a couple of hours. Once you have tried these methods to rid your dog of tearstains and they are still there, seek help from a vet at a place like Beaver Lake Animal Hospital so they can properly diagnose what's causing the problem.