How to Prevent Eye Stains and Beard Stains on White Dogs

Do you have Red or Brown stains on your dogs beard, face or fur?   If you do, I would like to share some solutions that work really well for my white Schnauzers.  I have owned white Schnauzers for 10 years so it has been a learning process.


We have all seen dogs with ugly brown staining under the eyes, or beard.   Most people just think the dog is dirty and needs a bath.  But it usually cannot be washed off.  People think it is a white dog problem...but it can be a problem for any dog.  It is most visible on a white dog.   Dogs with long growing fur are more susceptible since the fur can grow into the eyes and wick moisture onto the face, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.  The same is true around the mouth.  Thick fur around the mouth can stay moist and also be a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast overgrowth.

What causes Red Stains on the fur?

The strain of Yeast that causes the Red Stains on dogs is called Pityrosporum or Malassezia  (and commonly mispelled in articles as Ptyrosporin.)   Yeast thrives in warm moist areas.   The problem is often seen in dog ears where fur can trap moisture and create an environment that is perfect for yeast to thrive.   Dogs that tear from teething, or allergies, or tear duct problems often have Yeast overgrowth under their eyes.   The area around the mouth and beard on the White Schnauzer is a very common area of staining..   And when dogs lick their paws because of allergies or boredom, that too creates a breeding ground for yeast.   Finally the skin of a dog is also a place where yeast overgrows.  IF your dog has itchy flaky skin and especially a somewhat orange tinge to their fur on their back, that is possibly a Yeast problem.   Although fur stains are most obvious on a white dog, Yeast overgrowth can be a problem for a dog with any fur color.   If you suspect your dog has a problem with yeast read on....


How to STOP Yeast overgrowth from within....

The best way to stop yeast from growing is to remove the Yeasts Food Source!
What does yeast grow on?   Sugars and Carbohydrates that change to sugars in the body.  Therefore, you MUST remove all carbohydrates from your dogs diet.  Switch your dog to Grain Free Food and treats.  I like Petco's Whole Hearted Grain Free Dog Food.   For treats I like to use real food.  I cut up real liver, or chicken and freeze them to have on hand.   Once you change the diet, the yeast will start dying off within days.  You won't see the stains disappear immediately.   They are stains, so you have to give the fur a chance to grow out.   Give yourself a month and you will see noticeable results.   Cut away the stained fur if you like, and it will come back nice and white.

Is eliminating carbohydrates healthy for a dog?   YES..
Most inexpensive dog foods are full of carbohydrates because they are a cheap filler. But carbohydrates are not very good for dogs nutrition.   Experts say that the dogs digestive system is not meant to break down carbohydrates.... "Since dogs do not have flat grinding teeth, a long digestive tract, or amylase in their saliva, they have a difficult time digesting diets high in carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates tend to stay in the dog's digestive tract longer, which slows down the digestive process and can cause spasms and irritations in the large intestine as the dog labors to process them."  Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson, PhD.

So again, the best way to get rid of Yeast is to take out the sugars and carbohydrates that convert to sugars.  This will give you the best results with the least effort and expense.

 The next step, Proper Grooming around Eyes

Regular grooming is necessary for reducing eye infections and yeast.  Fur that pokes into the eyes, will cause moisture to wick out of the eyes.  Build up of debris at the corner of the eye is a breeding ground for bacteria.  So yes, keep your the area under the dogs eyes clean by occasionally removing any build up and washing your dogs face to keep it nice and clean.

Other products that I have tried....
Before I thought to change my dogs diet, I also tried a multitude of products.  They worked to some extent and can be used in conjunction with a diet change to help stop the Yeast growth faster.    But used alone the methods below are really just band aids on the problem.   It is still best to solve the problem from within.   

1) Angel Eyes Original. -  The active ingredient Tylosin Tartrate is a low-grade antibiotic.  It really works to eliminate Yeast...but in 2014 the FDA banned the sale of products containing Tylosin Tartrate without a veterinary prescription.  There is the concern that continually giving a dog an antibiotic will develop an antibiotic resistance that will be a problem for a dog.   Nonetheless, this product does work.  And will reduce the yeast in your dogs system.  Most people use it over a period of 3-4 months.   It is not as fast as a diet change.  But it does work.  

Angel Eyes Natural - This product has no Tylosin. I have NOT found this product to be very effective in my experience.  But I did not use it for very long.  Perhaps it needs to be used for a longer period of time.

2) Organic Apple Cider Vinegar -  The idea is to put a little in the dogs water.  Organic Apple Cider vinegar is unfiltered unpasteurized vinegar and has beneficial bacteria in tact.  It is beneficial in creating an environment that is inhospitable to yeast.   So I have used a solution of 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to soak paws and to rinse the back of a dog with yeasty skin.  One can also put a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in with your dogs water it is a healthy supplement for people and for dogs.  Not only is it good for the system.  But it will change the acid level of the saliva around your dogs mouth and beard... and the yeast will have a harder time growing there.   

3) Eye Envy for Dogs has been a good product that I have used to clean under the eyes of a dog with staining.  The product recommends that you clean the dogs eyes every day and some people do it more than once a day.  It does remove some of the red yeast.  It is a bit expensive.  With daily use it will help a lot.  I use this in conjunction with a grain free diet on new white puppies that have stains from teething.   It really helps to stop the yeast stains quickly.  



For EAR infections:

4) Pet King Brand Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone. This product combats bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections in the ears.  It works without antibiotic.  The enzymatic action naturally cleans and disinfects while destroying even the most resistant microbes.   When a dog is shaking his ears and miserable from the itchy yeast in his ears, you should get this product immediately.  I used it on one puppy that came to me with terrible Yeast overgrowth in her ears.  I took her to the vet but the antibiotic they gave her only made the yeast worse.  Two weeks later I was about to go back to the vet  but bought the Zymox Otic Ear Treatment instead..  It cured her itchy ears so quickly and saved me a second trip to the vet. The 5 stars from 7,300 people on Amazon are no lie.  If your dog has Yeast in his ears this will take care of it!

For Skin:
5) Moosh Natural Dog Shampoo... Bathing a dog with itchy skin is the most under-utilized treatment for skin problems but is the very effective.  Moosh shampoo is antibacterial and antifungal so it will reduce the yeast that is causing itchy flaky skin on your dog.  Veterinarians recommend washing the dog every 2 days.  Because this shampoo does not have detergents it will not dry out the dogs skin.   I have used this shampoo and found it very effective.  But washing a dog every few days is a LOT of work!  So hopefully when you change the diet you won't need to bath your dog so often. 

Conclusion:    I have owned many white dogs over the last 10 years.   All of my dogs have experienced yeast overgrowth at some point in their life and occasionally during pregnancy.  I have taken my dogs to the veterinary for the problem and the antibiotics they prescribed did not do much to help the problem.  The best thing I have found to reduce staining is to feed my dogs a GRAIN FREE diet.   All my dogs have done very well not getting yeast problems once I made the switch.   The grain free food is also the healthiest way to feed your dog anyway.  

When I first changed my dogs diet, Winnie was still a puppy and had a very terrible yeast problem in her ears and under her eyes.  After the diet change, I literally could see the white fur growing in on Winnie's face and the Red Stains growing out as clearly as night and day!  The happened within weeks of changing to a grain free diet.  The Yeast in Winnie's ears disappeared and never returned.    My dogs have never looked so beautifully white before.   So if your dog has any staining on his or her fur, I do hope you will try a Grain Free diet.  Take Before and After photos!   Let me know how it works for you!