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Watery Eyes and Tear Stains in Dogs

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Watery eyes mean too many tears or poor drainage.
  • Flat-faced and small breeds often have watery eyes and tear stains.
  • Sudden watering in one eye can mean a foreign body or scratch.
  • Clean daily and keep hair trimmed; avoid tear-stain products with antibiotics.
  • No food ingredient has been proven to cause tear stains.

Table of Contents

Research Causes Diagnosis and treatment Tear stains FAQ Sources

Dog Eye Quicklinks

Eye Problems Red Eyes Watery Eyes Dry Eye Swollen Eyes Eye Injuries Eye Infections Eye Discharge Conjunctivitis Eye Drops Eye Wash Eye Tumors Eye Surgery

Watery eyes (epiphora) mean tears are overflowing onto the face. It's a sign, not a disease, and happens for one of two reasons:1,2

  • Too many tears, from irritation: allergies, dust, eyelids that roll in, extra eyelashes, a foreign body, an ulcer or glaucoma
  • Poor drainage, from a blocked tear duct, a tear duct opening that never opened, or face shape

Flat-faced and small breeds, such as Shih Tzus, Pugs, Poodles and Maltese, often have watery eyes and reddish-brown tear stains because tears spill onto the face instead of draining into the nose.1,3,4 The color comes from porphyrins, iron-containing pigments in tears.4 Many stained dogs have no eye disease, but a vet should rule one out, especially if watering is new.4,3 Keep the face clean, dry and trimmed. Avoid tear-stain products that contain antibiotics.1,5

See your vet soon if your dog has watery eyes and:

  • Squints, paws at the eye or keeps it closed3,6
  • Has yellow or green discharge, or a red or cloudy eye3,7
  • Started watering suddenly in one eye, which can mean a foreign body8
  • Has red, sore or smelly skin under the eyes7,1

What the Research Says

  • Allergies often cause tearing. In a 2023 study of 122 dogs with allergic eye inflammation, 69% had watery eyes.9
  • Face shape matters. In a study of 93 flat-faced dogs, 22% had lower eyelids that rolled inward at the inner corner, which can block tear drainage.10,11
  • Evidence for tear-stain products is thin. No remedy works every time. One small 2026 trial in 40 dogs found certain herbal-extract diets reduced staining over 4 weeks. Some authors worked for the company that supplied the test diets, so the results need confirming.1,12
  • Antibiotic stain products are a concern. The FDA warned a maker of a tear-stain product containing an antibiotic that it was an unapproved drug, and an infectious disease specialist says these products misuse antibiotics.5,13

Why Are My Dog's Eyes Watery?

Too many tears

  • Allergies and irritants, such as pollen, dust and smoke3,9,14
  • Eyelids that roll in (entropion), common in Shar Peis, Chow Chows and Labradors, and at the inner corner in flat-faced dogs15,10
  • Extra or misplaced eyelashes (distichiasis and ectopic cilia) that rub the eye. Some are so fine that a vet needs magnification to see them.16,17
  • Hair at the inner corner touching the eye2
  • A foreign body, scratch or ulcer. See eye injuries.8,1
  • Conjunctivitis, glaucoma or cherry eye1,3

Poor drainage

  • A blocked tear duct, from debris, inflammation, a foreign body or a mass18,2
  • A tear duct opening that never opened, an uncommon cause in young dogs, more common in Cocker Spaniels19,3
  • Face shape: shallow eye sockets, nose folds and a small tear pool in flat-faced breeds2,1

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your vet will look for irritation first, checking the eyelids, lashes and cornea, and measuring tears and eye pressure.2,3 To check drainage, the vet puts a drop of dye in the eye. It should appear at the nose within a few minutes.1 Treatment depends on the cause:1,3,18,15,16

  • Flushing a blocked tear duct, usually under sedation or anesthesia, with antibiotic drops if it's infected
  • Surgery to open a closed duct opening, fix rolled-in eyelids, or permanently remove extra lashes
  • Allergy treatment or artificial tears

Plucking extra lashes gives only short-term relief.16 If no treatable cause is found, many dogs keep watering on and off for life, and the staining is mostly cosmetic.1

Tear Stains: What Helps

  • Clean daily: wipe away from the eye with a warm, damp cloth or a pet eye-cleaning wipe, then dry the fur.4,20
  • Keep hair trimmed around the eyes.1,4
  • Keep products out of the eye, and keep hydrogen peroxide away from it. Don't use makeup remover or home remedies near the eyes.1,21
  • Avoid products that contain antibiotics. Vets no longer recommend low-dose antibiotics because of resistance.1,5,13
  • Probiotics have some evidence, but it can take a couple of months to see a change.1
  • Use stainless steel, ceramic or glass bowls. Plastic can crack and harbor bacteria that irritate the face.21

Vets don't know which food ingredients, if any, cause tear stains in most dogs, and we found no evidence linking food coloring to staining.21 See also eye discharge and dog eye problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my dog's eyes watering all of a sudden?

Often irritation, a foreign body or a scratch. See your vet if it lasts or your dog squints.

Will my dog's watery eye go away on its own?

Mild irritation may settle, but watering that lasts needs a vet check.

What foods cause tear stains in dogs?

No specific ingredient has been proven to cause them.

Do tear stain removers work?

Cleaning helps, but no product works every time. Avoid ones with antibiotics.

Which dogs get tear stains?

Flat-faced and white-coated breeds, such as Shih Tzus, Maltese, Poodles and Bulldogs.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 27, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Barnes C, Llera R, Ward E. Eye discharge (epiphora) in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, August 2023.
  2. Ofri R. Lacrimal System and Third Eyelid Diseases. European Veterinary Conference Voorjaarsdagen, Amsterdam, 2008 (IVIS).
  3. Boldan M. Epiphora in dogs: causes and treatment. PetMD, April 2026.
  4. Koehler R. Dog tear stains: causes, treatment, and prevention. PetMD, April 2023.
  5. US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter to a maker of a tear stain remover containing an antibiotic (CMS 524285), May 2017.
  6. Barnes C, Weir M, Ward E. Corneal ulcers in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, July 2025.
  7. VCA Animal Hospitals. Eye issues (urgent care).
  8. Lort Smith Animal Hospital. Foreign body in the eye in dogs, updated March 2025.
  9. Delgado E, Gomes É, Gil S, Lourenço AM. Diagnostic approach and grading scheme for canine allergic conjunctivitis. BMC Veterinary Research, 2023.
  10. Costa J, Steinmetz A, Delgado E. Clinical signs of brachycephalic ocular syndrome in 93 dogs. Irish Veterinary Journal, 2021.
  11. Plummer CE. Understanding and addressing brachycephalic ocular syndrome. Today's Veterinary Practice, April 2026.
  12. Wang E, Wu P, Xu J, et al. Effects of traditional Chinese herbal extracts on tear staining, iron status, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in dogs. Animals, 2026.
  13. Weese S. Cry me a river: crackdown on a tear-stain antibiotic product. Worms & Germs Blog, August 2014.
  14. Barnes C, Hunter T, Ward E. Conjunctivitis in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, May 2023.
  15. Bromberg NM. Entropion. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
  16. Mosunic CB. Distichia. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
  17. Hamor RE. Eyelids in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  18. Gelatt KN. Disorders of the nasal cavity and tear ducts in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated September 2024.
  19. Hamor RE. Nasolacrimal and lacrimal apparatus in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  20. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. How to clean your pet's eyes.
  21. Cerulli P (reviewed by Bey G, DVM). Tear staining in dogs. GoodRx Pet Health, May 2025.

About this article

Last updated : rewritten using the Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, ACVO, an FDA warning letter, IVIS proceedings and studies published 2021 to 2026.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.