Get Rid of Tear Stains from the Inside Out
by Rebecca Rose – Founder and Product Developer for InClover
Pet owners of many brachycephalic (short-nosed) and white dogs are all too familiar with unsightly tear stains.
The cause of these tear stains is often a chemical called porphyrin, which is part of the process of red blood cells delivering oxygen to the body.
Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen throughout the body. Red blood cells are naturally broken down in the body during this normal process. Porphyrins are the waste product of this process. This rusty red substance accumulates in the liver and is excreted from the body through feces, urine, saliva, and tears. Exposed to light, such as with tears and saliva, porphyrin can turn caustic and destroy surrounding tissues, leaving rusty red stains around the eyes and muzzle. An excess of porphyrins can indicate specific enzyme deficiencies. Often, these deficiencies are genetic. Additionally, the shape of the short-nosed dog’s head and muzzle cause tears to accumulate.
InClover’s Optagest contains natural enzymes to break down excess porphyrins, minimizing the toxin load in the liver and those excreted from the body. This process naturally decreases tear stains. Optagest also contains clinically tested levels of prebiotics, which selectively feed the native beneficial bacteria found in the digestive tract. This allows the body to maintain a healthy balance of good native bacteria and a healthy immune system.
Important: Dogs with tear staining should be evaluated by their veterinarian to rule out underlying ophthalmic problems.
Bonus: If you want to read more about why people in the Middle Ages believed those with sensitivity to excess porphyrins were vampires or werewolves, check out this Scientific American article!