Dog eye wipes for tear stains: what they do and which to pick
Burt's Bees Dog Eye & Ear Wipes are the pick for tear stains: the ingredient list we found has no Benzalkonium chloride, no fragrance and no essential oil, and it is the one tear-stain wipe here that is dog-only by name. Eye wipes remove tear residue and crust from the fur and skin beside the eye. They do not stop the tearing, and they never go on the eye itself.
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Not veterinary advice. This page has not been reviewed by a veterinarian; it summarizes published veterinary sources, linked in the text. If your pet has a skin problem, a wound, or symptoms that do not clear up, talk to your vet.
If the tearing is new, heavy or comes with squinting, skip the wipe and call a vet. Dental wipes, a different product for teeth, have their own page: dog dental wipes. Wider safety guidance is in the pet wipe safety hub.
Why dogs get tear stains
VCA says the red or brown color comes from porphyrins, iron-containing molecules found in tears, saliva and urine, easiest to see on light coats. Staining is only cosmetic when it stems from normal eyelid shape, but excess tearing may point to conjunctivitis, allergies, injuries, abnormal eyelashes, corneal ulcers or glaucoma.
VCA's epiphora page describes tear overflow as a symptom. Causes include poor drainage through the tear ducts, rolled-in or rolled-out eyelids, and the flat faces of brachycephalic breeds, which do not let the tear film drain properly. VCA recommends a vet visit to rule out an underlying condition before home care.
What wipes can and cannot do
VCA's tear-staining article suggests eye-cleaning pads for the face and around the eyes, or a warm, wet washcloth, and says to dry the area afterward with a clean towel. The epiphora page adds that keeping the area clean and dry and trimming fur short around the eyes can help.
A wipe cannot fix a blocked duct, correct eyelid anatomy or treat an infection. The epiphora page says none of the remedies has been proven 100% effective and that over-the-counter products have not been proven in research trials. It also says daily probiotics have some evidence but can take a couple of months, and that low-dose antibiotics are no longer recommended. Expect tidier, drier skin, not a permanent fix.
When to skip the wipe and see a vet
Our advice is to call a vet the same day for any of these (VCA does not set a timeframe):
- squinting, a tightly closed eye, or pawing and rubbing at it. VCA's corneal ulcer page lists these, calls an ulcer very painful, and says a worsening ulcer can result in blindness;
- a red, swollen or cloudy eye, or discharge that is thick, colored or increasing;
- new or heavy tearing in a dog that never had it;
- sore, red or smelly skin under the eye.
Don't treat with leftover eye drops or home remedies, and keep hydrogen peroxide products away from the eyes, as VCA warns.
How to use a dog eye wipe
- Use a fresh pad for each eye.
- Wipe the fur and skin below and beside the eye, away from it. Never wipe the eyeball or push the pad under the lid.
- Stop if the dog flinches or squints; if it continues, call your vet.
- Dry the area with a clean towel, as VCA suggests.
- Keep body, paw and medicated wipes away from the eyes. Chlorhexidine can cause corneal ulcers if it gets into the eye, per VCA.
Preservatives and plant extracts to check
- Benzalkonium chloride. On Nootie, Petpost and the Angels' Eyes formula. Our ingredient reference rates it high risk for cats, based on a case report of severe oral burns in a kitten exposed to a 5% product. We found no source that assesses it near a dog's eye. If a cat shares your home and licks the dog's face, choose a wipe without it.
- Essential oils. Petpost lists juniper fruit oil. Cats are more sensitive to essential oils; see are dog wipes safe for cats.
- Witch hazel. Pure and Natural Pet lists Witch hazel. Some distillates contain alcohol, and the full ingredient list was not found, so we can't say.
- Fragrance. Burt's Bees is recorded as fragrance-free; Nootie, Petpost and Angels' Eyes don't say.
- Peroxide or bleach. None here lists it, and Petpost's maker states there is none.
Burt's Bees Dog Eye & Ear Wipes: the pick
Per the ingredient list we found (from a retailer; the Burt's Bees site was not read), the formula uses glucoside cleansers and glycerin, preserved with potassium sorbate and phenoxyethanol, and is fragrance-free. It is dog-only by name, 100 wipes, and also covers outer-ear debris. With one wipe for two jobs, use a fresh one for each, eyes first. Read our Burt's Bees review.
Burt's Bees
Burt's Bees for Dogs Eye & Ear Cleansing Wipes
Best for one gentle fragrance-free wipe for tear-stain residue around eyes and outer ear build-up
Skip if you want medicated action; do not wipe directly into the eye; see a vet for red, painful or discharging eyes or ears
Source: retailer listings; we could not read a maker page, checked 2026-10-15.
Other tear stain wipes for dogs
| Spec | Nootie Nootie Tear Stain Wipes for Dogs & Cats | Petpost Petpost Tear Stain Wipes for Dogs | Burt's Bees Burt's Bees for Dogs Eye & Ear Cleansing Wipes | Angels' Eyes Angels' Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes | Pure and Natural Pet Pure and Natural Pet Tear Stain Removing Under Eye Wipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack counts | 60 | 100 | 100 | 40, 100 | 50 |
| Material | Not stated | 100% cotton pads (pre-soaked) | Not stated | pre-soaked textured pads | Not stated |
| Scent | Not stated | Not stated | unscented | Not stated | Not stated |
| Fragrance-free | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Active ingredients | None listed | None listed | None listed | None listed | None listed |
| Minimum age | Not stated | 8 weeks | Not stated | 12 weeks (1-800 PetMeds listing of juniper version) | 12 weeks |
| Safe for cats? | labeled for dogs and cats (maker title) | maker title: for white fur dogs & cats | dogs only per product name | conflicting: some listings say dogs only, Walmart says dogs and cats | not stated |
| Eco claims (as stated by maker) | None stated | None stated | 98% natural origin (maker claim) | None stated | None stated |
| Where to buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Petpost Tear Stain Wipes: cotton pads for dogs only
The maker page describes 100 pre-soaked cotton pads, made in the USA, for dogs 8 weeks or older, with no bleach, peroxide, antibiotics, parabens or sulfates. The ingredients include juniper fruit oil and benzalkonium chloride. The maker's title also mentions cats, but given those two ingredients I'd treat it as dog-only.
Petpost
Petpost Tear Stain Wipes for Dogs
Best for dog and cat owners wanting cotton-pad tear-stain wipes for pets 8 weeks and older
Skip if your pet is sensitive to essential oils (juniper fruit oil is listed); eyes red or discharging (see a vet)
Source: maker page (petpost.com), checked 2026-10-15.
Nootie Tear Stain Wipes: labeled for cats, with a preservative to weigh
The maker page confirms 60 pre-soaked small pads with plant-based glycerin and aloe vera, and the title says dogs and cats. The ingredient list includes benzalkonium chloride, which our reference rates high risk for cats, so the cat label and the ingredient list conflict. Ask your vet before using it around a cat.
Nootie
Nootie Tear Stain Wipes for Dogs & Cats
Best for tear-stain cleanup for households with both dogs and cats
Skip if eyes are inflamed or discharging (see a vet); benzalkonium chloride sensitivity
Source: maker page (nootie.com), checked 2026-10-15.
Angels' Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes: for small white-coated dogs
Retailers show two formulas, one with chamomile and one with juniper berry oil, and we could not confirm which is current. The ingredient list we have includes benzalkonium chloride, and listings conflict on species (dogs only, or dogs and cats). The maker site was not read. Check the pack in your hand.
Angels' Eyes
Angels' Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes
Best for daily external tear-stain cleanup on small white-coated dogs
Skip if the eye is red, swollen or discharging (see a vet); keep to the outside of the eye area; benzalkonium chloride sensitivity
Source: retailer listings; we could not read a maker page, checked 2026-10-15.
Pure and Natural Pet: plant extracts, incomplete ingredient list
The record shows a water base with witch hazel, aloe, glycerin, chamomile, cucumber, vitamin E and coconut-derived cleansers, for dogs 12 weeks and older, 50 count. The full ingredient list was not found, and "claimed enzymes" is the seller's wording. There is no maker page in our data, so this is the weakest-documented option.
Pure and Natural Pet
Pure and Natural Pet Tear Stain Removing Under Eye Wipes
Best for plant-extract tear-stain wipes for dogs 12 weeks and older
Skip if eyes are red or discharging (see a vet)
Source: retailer listings; we could not read a maker page, checked 2026-10-15.
Cats and tear stain wipes
None of the wipes above is one we would use on a cat. Cats react differently to preservatives and plant oils, and cat eye problems are a vet matter. Cat-specific advice is in cat ear and eye wipes.
Dog face wipes and wrinkle wipes
If the problem is a facial fold rather than the eye, two products here are made for it, both from maker pages. Keep both away from the eye itself.
Squishface Wrinkle Wipes: for wrinkles beside the eyes
Alcohol-free and fragrance-free at 7 x 5 inches, with phytosphingosine and no aloe, essential oils or lanolin. Tear-stain areas are among the listed uses. The pack count and full ingredient list are not stated.
Squishface
Squishface Wrinkle Wipes
Best for gentle cleaning of wrinkles, tail pockets, paws and tear-stain areas on flat-faced breeds
Skip if you want a medicated (antifungal/antiseptic) wipe; you need a full published ingredient list
Source: maker page (squishface.com), checked 2026-10-15.
Vetnique DermaBliss Face & Skin: lightly medicated
It has 0.2% Chlorhexidine gluconate and 0.2% ketoconazole and is for skin folds under a vet's guidance, not the eye. The maker text does not say which species it is for. For red or smelly folds, see dog wipes for yeast and chlorhexidine wipes for dogs.
Vetnique Labs
DermaBliss Advanced Vet Strength Face Cleansing Wipes (Face & Skin)
Best for lightly medicated face-fold, ear-area and skin-fold cleaning on flat-faced breeds under vet guidance
Skip if you need a stronger antiseptic (this is 0.2% chlorhexidine); you suspect an infection (see a vet); sensitivity to lanolin or ketoconazole
Source: maker page (vetnique.com), checked 2026-10-15.
How we picked: wipes made for the eye or face area with a stated ingredient list or a maker page (Pure and Natural has neither in full, and the card says so). We did not test them or use Amazon ratings or listing text; see how we research.
Where the vet advice comes from
Frequently asked questions
Do tear stain wipes remove tear stains?
They clean stained fur and skin under the eye, which is a cleaning job. VCA says none of the tear-stain remedies has been proven 100% effective and that over-the-counter products have not been proven in research trials. Staining returns while the tearing continues.
Are dog eye wipes safe?
Used on the fur and skin around the eye, and not on the eye itself, many are. VCA says not to use any product without consulting your vet and to avoid anything with hydrogen peroxide near the eyes.
What causes tear stains on dogs?
The reddish-brown color comes from porphyrins, iron-containing molecules found in tears, saliva and urine, per VCA. Tears that overflow onto the face, from poor drainage, blocked ducts, allergies or eye problems, deposit them, and they show most on white fur.
Can I use face wipes or baby wipes on my dog's eyes?
Not on the eye. A plain dog face wipe can clean the muzzle, but the eye area needs a product made for it. See baby wipes on dogs.
How often should I use tear stain wipes?
Follow the pack; most makers do not state a frequency. If you need to wipe far more often than the pack suggests, the tearing needs a vet check.
What about dog dental wipes?
They are a different product for teeth and gums and are not covered here; see dog dental wipes. Our advice is to keep each wipe to its own job: no eye or face wipe in the mouth, no dental wipe near the eyes.
Can I use dog eye wipes on a cat?
Don't take the label's word alone. Nootie's tear stain wipes name cats but list benzalkonium chloride, which our ingredient notes rate high risk for cats, so none of the tear stain wipes here is one we would use on a cat. See cat ear and eye wipes and best cat wipes.