The Bichon Frise is a total fluffball of a dog. With that fluffy white coat and idiosyncratic jolly personality, it’s not hard to see why the Bichon Frise has become such a popular pet throughout the world. That being said, the Bichon Frise is also prone to a number of minor health problems.
One of these health conditions is the Bichon’s propensity towards a large amount of black gunge appearing in their corneas. Also known as tear stains or eye stains, this dark goo can be a real problem for a Bichon Frise. It can lead to infection if not addressed. So, it’s really important to keep on top of cleaning your Bichon Frise’s eyes.
But do all Bichon Frise have tear stains? And how do you stop your Bichon’s tear stains? Let’s take a look at this:
Why does my Bichon Frise have tear stains?
All flat-faced or brachycephalic dogs, like the Pug, Boxer, or Chihuahua, are prone to tear staining to some extent, and the Bichon Frise is no different. However, the Bichon Frise also has quite shallow eye sockets on top of this. These shallow eye sockets cause a Bichon Frise’s tears to move down their snout rather than down their throat and away from their eyes, as with the typical dog.
Another contributing factor to the Bichon Frise’s increased tendency towards tear stains is the fact that the Bichon has loads of hair around their eyes. This curly fur becomes a dense surface for your Bichon Frise’s tears to gather on. So, be sure to keep the fur around your Bichon’s eyes trim.
Other common causes of excessive tear staining include having eyelids that turn inwards and tear ducts that are blocked, so that draining is prevented. Blocked tear ducts may also be caused by an infection, or by scarring.
Are tear stains in a Bichon Frise bad?
No, tear staining in your Bichon Frise isn’t bad. The ability to produce tears is an important trait for any dog. Without this capability, your Bichon Frise’s eyes would become dry and uncomfortable. Most dogs have problems with tear stains in their puppyhood, too, and tear stains are very common in most white dog breeds, But the Bichon Frise has a noted tendency towards overproduction of tears.
This being said, if you don’t keep on top of your Bichon Frise’s tear staining, it can lead to not only your Bichon being uncomfortable, but also infection, illness, and even lasting eye damage.
Are tear stains permanent?
Though it’s notorious for the Bichon Frise to have tear stains, no – these stains are actually not usually permanent. Only in extreme cases of neglect can a Bichon Frise’s eye staining end up permanent.
Instead, your Bichon Frise’s tear staining can be cleaned away by wipes and gentle chemicals, as well as keeping on top of grooming and trimming the fur around your Bichon Frise’s eyes.
How do you prevent tear stains on a Bichon Frise?
Though tear stains are perfectly normal for a Bichon Frise, excessive tear staining can quickly lead to infection and harm. If you don’t remove your Bichon’s tear stains, your pooch may injure themselves while trying to scratch the gunk off themselves. Even if your Bichon Frise simply accepts their tear stains, the staining can start to obstruct their vision and damage their coat. So, it’s important to mitigate your Bichon Frise’s tear staining as much as you can.
One way to decrease tear staining for your Bichon Frise is to take a look at their diet. A grain-free diet is the best for all dogs since too much grain can irritate their body. Some Bichon Frise owners swear by additives like powdered buttermilk, apple cider vinegar, or green tea to limit their Bichon Frise’s tear production.
And then there’s their water. You’ll find many a Bichon Frise owner who only allows their Bichon to drink water that has been boiled, filtered at home, or both! Tap water does contain added chlorine and fluoride, after all. Filtering these out may help to reduce irritation for many dogs.
All this being said, there’s no well-known, surefire way to get rid of your Bichon Frise’s eye gunk completely. So, there’s no need to rush out and buy a filter jug, especially for your Bichon. A certain amount of tear production is normal and natural, anyway. It’s more important to simply clean your Bichon Frise’s eyes every now and then.
How do I keep my Bichon Frise’s eyes white?
Regardless of whether your Bichon Frise’s eye gunk production is in overdrive or consists of two thin orange wispy trails, you’ll need to keep on top of your Bichon Frise’s eye staining for both their comfort and aesthetic reasons.
You can find natural pet eye stain removers in most pet stores. These pH-neutral solutions work to break down those pesky stains as gently as possible, without hurting your Bichon’s skin. You can
also, get Tear Stain Wipes which are perfect for using between bathing.
Certain chemicals you may have around the homework are great on Bichon Frise eye staining too. After a bath, saline solution – or salted water – works well on eye stains without harming your Bichon’s eyes if it gets in. Even just warm water on a cotton ball or face cloth used often can go a long way.
Never use any eye-cleaning solutions intended for humans on your Bichon Frise. These probably aren’t appropriate and may cause harm. Instead, ask your vet what they recommend for severe eye staining.
Check on and dab at your Bichon Frise’s eyes regularly, and soon, you won’t have any problems with eye staining!
