Gerber water

[Nancy1999]

Just want to remind people that many things can cause tearing, allergies to foods, environmental allergies, an improper pH, a low grade infection, or even too many minerals in the water. The Gerber water worked for Joey when he was a puppy, but at around 11 months, I didn’t need to use the Gerber water anymore. His eyes were clear until we did a food change and then he had a terrible tearing problem, but switching back to his regular food cleared it up. If your dog has just an occasional eye bugger, I wouldn’t worry about it. Tearing is bad, when the hair on the face is wet most of the time, and this can lead to other things like yeast infections. The Gerber water is a safe easy fix if minerals are the problem and to really test it, you should give it at least a week without any other water, if the eyes are much better than your dog might be sensitive to something other than the minerals in water.

Here some more information on tearing: Tear Staining: The Causes & Cures

[jadabug]

I have been using the Gerber Nursery water for about a year now. I always get mine at Wal-mart for $1.00 a gallon. I think it does make a difference Bogie used to have the ugly brown tear stains and with his lighter face it was really noticeable. He still has a little tearing but they don't stain his hair now.

[linz06]

Nancy, I read that link and I actually started putting white vinegar in Layla's water this week because of it. Her "tears" are more like eye goobers... dark brown gunk I pull out of the corners of her eyes. We have switched food a few times since last fall and don't see much of a difference! I was hoping to wait for some more results from others before trying the Gerber water.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by linz06

Nancy, I read that link and I actually started putting white vinegar in Layla's water this week because of it. Her "tears" are more like eye goobers... dark brown gunk I pull out of the corners of her eyes. We have switched food a few times since last fall and don't see much of a difference! I was hoping to wait for some more results from others before trying the Gerber water.

Some people have results adding vinegar; it’s an acid and will make the dogs system more acid. Some have results adding Tums, it's an alkaline and it will make the body more alkaline. You never want to add both, although some people do, but they would neutralize each other, so it’s silly to do that. As I said earlier the eye buggers aren’t really a big deal, and it could even be due to tiny hairs irritating the eyes, some people have had success growing out those hairs and using a topknot gel until they are long. It’s really the excessive tearing that you need to be concerned with.

[linz06]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Some people have results adding vinegar; it’s an acid and will make the dogs system more acid. Some have results adding Tums, it's an alkaline and it will make the body more alkaline. You never want to add both, although some people do, but they would neutralize each other, so it’s silly to do that. As I said earlier the eye buggers aren’t really a big deal, and it could even be due to tiny hairs irritating the eyes, some people have had success growing out those hairs and using a topknot gel until they are long. It’s really the excessive tearing that you need to be concerned with.

Good to know! Thanks! I think some of our problem is that Layla can't scratch herself anymore, so if there is a hair poking her in the eyes, there's not much she can do about it She will try to rub her face on things, and we try to stay on top of trimming, but I wonder if that's the issue here.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by linz06

Good to know! Thanks! I think some of our problem is that Layla can't scratch herself anymore, so if there is a hair poking her in the eyes, there's not much she can do about it She will try to rub her face on things, and we try to stay on top of trimming, but I wonder if that's the issue here.

I'm almost sure that's the problem. Joey vet said that those little hairs can cause major problems because they will rub their faces on carpet which can scratch the cornea and cause eye ulceration, and Joey did have that at one time. My foster has more of a bugger problem than an actual tearing problem, I mean his facial hair isn’t wet, but he has the eye buggers, and his hair was clipped short around the eyes. His owner said to clip it once a week, but I’m not sure that was even enough. I'm letting it grow out now and I've noticed a greatly reduced bugger problem, some days he has none! You might think you're keeping on top of the clipping, but those hairs can grow so fast. Anyway, there was another thread about that here, and several people had success with growing the hair out, so that’s what I’m trying with him.

[linz06]

I was going to grow Layla's out to begin with, but at her first ever grooming it was shaved, so I just kept up with that. It's been 6 years of clipping now!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by linz06

I was going to grow Layla's out to begin with, but at her first ever grooming it was shaved, so I just kept up with that. It's been 6 years of clipping now!

Oh geez, it might be time for a change. I actually could tell a difference in about a month. I'm using Petsilk Topknot gel pretty thick to keep those short hairs out of his eyes. He has really thick hair, and it grows fairly fast, it's been a couple of months and I'd say they are around 1/4 of an inch now.

[Roccosmommy]

Count us in for jumping on the Gerber bandwagon - just to see what happens. Rocco's tearing and boogies have improved since his food was switched a few months ago, but he still has them. The water can't hurt, so to me it's worth a try. I'll report the results.

[randi88]

This is so interesting. I am going to be trying this for our little Rudi. His tears are not terrible but his face does stay wet and slightly stained a lot of the time. I am sure he would greatly appreciate less moments of me poking around cleaning out his eye boogies :P

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Originally Posted by jadabug

I have been using the Gerber Nursery water for about a year now. I always get mine at Wal-mart for $1.00 a gallon. I think it does make a difference Bogie used to have the ugly brown tear stains and with his lighter face it was really noticeable. He still has a little tearing but they don't stain his hair now.

Taycie does tear... depending on the weather, allergy season, and it doesn't help we are growing out her nose hair, I will be glad when this part is over! But her tearing has subsided substainually since using it. However, she does not stain.. not at all.. and before her face was always super wet, and she was really getting horrible tear stains.

I know changing her diet made a huge difference. But I really think the Gerber Water helps.

[Maximo]

I know I shouldn't get too excited after less than 48 hours using Gerber water, but Teddy didn't have any eye gunk today and his face is completely dry. He is having a bath tomorrow, so I will see if his face stays clean.

[Pateut]

Celine just turned two. I read this link a while back and tried distilled water. I don't know why but it works. My DH says oh that's bologna, so we filled with regular water again, sure enough her face was constantly wet. If he adds tap water to it, I guarantee I will be able to tell!

[barbielb]

I found the gallon Gerber baby water at Wal-Mart today. It was in the water aisle. Thanks for the info! We're anxious to see if it works for Tessie.

[McheleM]

We use filtered water (from the fridge) or if we're traveling to the deer lease or a job site, we use bottled water. Allie has horrible eye boogers/goop. Westley seems to have them ocassionally, and Noah doesn't seem to have any, but I also keep his hair shorter. I'm going to jump on the gerber band wagon and try it too.