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Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Reply to this Message

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Miss Maddie
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 11:30
Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post

I found this information on Beard Stains. Hope it will be helpful.

Most Westies will have stained beards at some point in their life. To some extent, this will relate to the coat type. A softer, curly coat is more likely to stain than a hard, coarse coat. A city dog is likely to be cleaner than a country dog since constant digging in the dirt with the nose tends to stain over time. Stains can also be caused by excessive licking. In this case, the feet will often be stained also. But there are things you can do to reduce and maybe even eliminate the stains. Here are some suggestions....
Use stainless steel or ceramic water bowls; even better, hang a water bottle and don't use bowls at all. Constant water on the beard will stain it.
Check the ingredients in your food. If it had red food dye or even other colors of food dye, it is likely to stain. Beets and other red-type ingredients are more likely to cause stain. Choose a food that doesn't use "red" ingredients
Fresh mulch will sometimes leach color into the beard and stain. Find a mulch that has no artificial colors (avoid cocoa shell mulch for poisoning reasons also.)
During your daily grooming, wet a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and wipe the beard thoroughly each day. This won't really bleach it but sometimes helps keep it white
Some people bleach their dog's beard. We don't recommend this be done regularly and it must be done with great care. If the dog licks the mixture during the process, it will likely make him sick. A mixture used by some breeders is 1 part peroxide (the kind to bleach hair) and 1 part white milk of magnezia. Add corn starch to thicken. Dab on and leave on for several minutes. Again, if you do this be very careful to keep it out of the dog's eyes and to prevent the dog from licking it while it is on them.
If the dog gets the face dirty during play, wash it off right away instead of letting it sit and stain.
Many people feel that a daily Ester C 250 mgs will help keep the beard white
For temporary whiteness such as when you want to take a photo, groomer chalk can help. But it won't really cover up dark stains.

The Oregon Girlies...
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 11:46
Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message

The Girlies are country girls, they live life to the fullest. In the Winter their beards do get stained, and they get white in the summer. We just don't worry about it.I do give the Girlies vitamin C, not for this reason, but because it is good for the immune system and helps prevent UTI's
I have heard that using only distilled water will help as well.
xxxxBetty and the Girlies...

Miss Maddie
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 11:58
Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Distilled water is an excellent tip Betty and one that was not mentioned in this acticle.

I would not do any bleaching that is suggested in the acticle. I don't feel it is safe so I don't recommend it to anyone.

Lynda and the Minkies
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 14:00
Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message

I think it's dodgy too, especially when it's a vanity thing !! People that go in for that probably have botox.
XXX.

Miss Maddie
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 17:28
Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Too Funny Lynda!!
You gave me a good giggle.

Hugs
Sandra
Ruth, Miss Molly and Bridget
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Member PageMember Page June 08 at 12:27
Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message

I don't do any thing for Miss Molly and she doesn't have any staining and never has had. I have wondered why some dogs have it. She does have the soft curly coat and Bridget will have the coarse coat (Ithink). We have good water in this area but since I have lived all over the world I have experienced different types of water that might stain. I have seen dirt that tended to stain childrens clothes and might do that to a pup. The beet ingredient in food was interesting.
Beck&Cass
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Nov 24, 2013 at 13:33
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Re: Beard Stains-Causes and prevention Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

Hi Guys! I'm new to this & was hoping to get some advice regarding my beautiful Westie Cassie :) She's 18 months old and has recently started getting brown around her mouth and on 2 front paws. I've replaced her water from tap water to bottled. I don't know what else to do. Can someone help me please?

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