Tear Stain Products: More than Meets the Eye
I’ve gotten a number of questions about Angels’ Eyes, the oral product that proclaims to rid little white dogs of their unsightly red-brown tear stains. Small breed dogs and brachycephalic cats commonly experience epiphora, or excessive tearing. Products like Angels’ Eyes promise to rid a pet of its tear stains with a daily oral supplement. I typically consider such claims nothing more than another gimmick. However, it seems as though this product might actually work for little Fluffy. I researched the miracle product and was surprised to find the secret ingredient is Tylosin.
Tylosin is a macrolide antibiotic commonly used in food animals but can also be used to treat campylobacter and mycoplasma spp infections among others in dogs and cats. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory to treat colitis, much like metronidazole. It is in the same drug family as erythromycin and azithromycin (Z-Pak). The company claims the product kills yeast, which they mistakenly call a bacterial infection, that are responsible for producing red pigment. Tylosin actually kills the bacteria that, when interacting with the yeast, cause the formation of pigment and subsequent stain.
I have some major issues with this product:
Tylosin tartrate is labeled by the FDA for OTC use in food animals. When it comes to use in dogs and cats, the FDA notes federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. This drug should not be sold OTC for pets. Period. Loopholes in the supplement labeling system allow companies like the manufacturers of Angels’ Eyes to sneak around FDA regulations with the disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This disclaimer does not make the act of dispensing this drug legal, it merely allows the manufacturer to make the product without going through the expensive and arduous process of FDA approval. Because the FDA typically has bigger fish to fry, companies like this cruise under the radar.
Antibiotic resistance is a problem that affects all facets of medicine. Many common antibiotics have dual use in both veterinary and human medicine. While tylosin is a veterinary only drug, drug resistance to one drug can potentially result in resistance to an entire class of antibiotic. I am concerned there are voices on the web who say that, because tylosin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, resistance is not a worry. Say what? First of all, tylosin has broad spectrum coverage against gram positive bacteria. Second, if an antibiotic has activity against ANY bacteria that bacteria can become resistant. Those same voices also claim tear staining leads to eye infections. Sorry, wrong again. Staining leads to unhappy owners; Improper tear production and tear flow coupled with shallow orbits, bulging globes, and underlying pathology leads to infection.
I also have serious concerns for any use of an antibiotic to treat a cosmetic issue. This is bad medicine no matter which way you slice it. Angels’ Eyes gets my stamp of disapproval.
Verrry interesting! What do you think of this product, which we use on the hospital cat, a rescued Exotic Shorthair with typical Persian eye issues. We like how it works for her.
Eye Envy
1http://www.eyeenvy.com/
Thank you for posting this. I have tried, repeatedly, to tell clients at work that this is an antibiotic and nit should not be wasted on cosmetic issues, but I get nowhere. It’s good to know that others feel the same way I do about it.
2I’m a 4th year vet student about to graduate in May, and trying to accumulate all these bits of wisdom before I head out into the world of silly clients. So, all this being said about Angel Eyes, what do you think is the most effective way to address this product with clients so that they understand it shouldn’t be used OTC?
3“I also have serious concerns for any use of an antibiotic to treat a cosmetic issue.”
I don’t disagree with you about Angel Eyes and overuse of antibiotics, but . . . acne?
4I had a cat with a blocked or malformed tear duct. She nearly always had some goup (technical medical term?) under her eye. Best thing we were told to do…soft cotton pad with warm water. I wouldn’t have considered using something like the Angel’s Eyes on her. Stains didn’t show – she was a sable Burmese.
5Dr K you are a STAR!!!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!!
I have to admit that I used to use Angels Eyes. I rang them and ordered some. in about 2 weeks I could see that it was working but was curious as to how.
I was very annoyed that no one had mentioned that the active ingredient was an antibiotic.
From my research online I discovered that tylosin does not have a marketing authority for dog or cat use any where in the world. And as you stated it would be prescription only (under the Extra Label Rule or the Cascading Rule in the UK).
This means that the info on their site is very misleading- they say it is safe for dogs (how do they know that- there is no long term research!!!) – they say it is FDA approved but do not mention that it is not FDA approved for dogs or cats (their target market!!!).
In the UK Angels Eyes et al have been officially banned for a couple of years
http://www.vmd.gov.uk/Publications/MAVIS/Full/mavis66.pdf
In the US the FDA admit that Angels Eyes is illegal but have not yet enforced the law.
I do sympathise with people that used Angels Eyes years ago but now there are natural products that prevent the bacteria from metabolising the iron content WITHOUT the need for antibiotics.
No metabolism means no yeast and ultimately no red stains.
With the likes of
Angels Delight by Bichon Hotel – http://www.bichonhotel.co.uk/angels_delight
and
Naturvet tear stain supplement- http://www.naturvet.com
plus other new products
there is NO EXCUSE for using OTC tylosin based products to deal with tear stains.
Warmest regards and keep up the good work
6Hungover – I second your recommendation of Naturvet’s product, and would like to add HappyTail’s Eyemmunity to the list. Antibiotic free, and great results.
7It is a shame that so many people think that Angels eyes is the only tear stain remover that works.
Thanks to this site i have found someone that sells Angels delight locally.
http://bologneseofphoenix.com/shop/index.php?productID=124
Not only does it stop the tear stains but it even helped with Rose’s hot spots.
Why is it taking so long to ban the likes of Angels Eyes and Angels Glow?
I know that some stores have stopped selling them- eg Petsmart but there are still thousands of others out there.
8Oh come on! This is ridiculous!! Tylosin works and it will CURE the infection causing the staining. Macrolide antibiotics are used for yeast infections. They work on curing yeast infections.
Tylosin is completely harmless. If you eat meat, you are eating Tylosin every time you eat meat and so is your pet.
These vets that go on and on about OTC products, THAT REALLY DO WORK BY THE WAY, are just mad because they are not making any money off the product because they don’t get to prescribe it. But they are so quick to recommend the world’s crappiest, unhealthiest pet food called Hills/Science Diet. That stuff is what is going to kill your pet, not Tylosin.
It’s NOT just cosmetic! Those tear stains are YEAST. Yeast infections are EXTREMELY ITCHY. It is awful to not cure the infection when there are means to do it and try to just pass it off as “cosmetic”. If your pet had a bladder infection wouldn’t you give it antibiotics? If your pet had mange, a skin infection, wouldn’t you give it antibiotics? Then tear stains are no different. The INFECTION requires antibiotics to cure it.
9Bichongal,
I am not sure where you have gotten your information but I certainly appreciate your illustration of common misconceptions about antibiotic use. I never disputed the product may work. In fact, if you read my post, I note I believe it could work. My major issue is with labeling and the bad rap we veterinarians get from the medical community about promoting antimicrobial resistance. A well documented medical condition, like chronic colitis, is a reasonable reason to use long-term tylosin.
Some veterinarians DO use tylosin to treat tear staining but most are not sure of the EXACT mechanism by which it works. The major consensus is the medication prevents the production of porphyrins, a pigment, that causes the red stain. We do think the medication alters bacteria counts but it is not treating a yeast infection. Antibiotics, by definition, affect bacterial growth. Antifungals, however, are the appropriate treatment options for yeast infections.
NO MEDICATION IS HARMLESS. None. Not one. Every drug, supplement, and herb has some type of side effect. To say otherwise is negligent and irresponsible.
There is no Tylosin in meat. There are very specific wash-out periods that farmers must adhere to (or risk being shut down) where there can be no trace of any medication in meat and milk.
“Milk [and meat] from animals receiving antibiotics, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory drugs or other medications must be discarded until freedom from residue can be established, or the animals consuming the treated milk must be withheld from slaughter until a similar withdrawal time has been observed. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank is a valuable resource for determining appropriate drug withdrawal times.” – Joan Dean Rowe, DVM, MPVM, PhD Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California
Davis
As for the accusations that I am against OTCs because of money, I suppose it doesn’t matter what I say because it appears you have your mind made up about the veterinarian mentality. I can say that thought never crossed my mind and still has no hold on me now that you brought it up. If I was in medicine for the money, I’d have been an MD.
10You try and do the right thing but end up wasting your time
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=23219&post=210822&uid=78697430614#post210822
DR K- care to wade in???
Oh BTW Bichongal- I live in Europe and our beef is no longer pumped full of tylosin in the name of cutting food costs…
And with respect to the yeast- when was the last time you saw a dog with tear stains scratching its eyes? or beard?? I haven’t- ever.
Vaginal yeast infections or athlete’s foot, for example, are not of the the same magnitude as tear staining.
The next time I have a friend that contracts MRSA I shall ask them to forward the associated bills to you.
Stop being so selfish and irresponsible- there are natural and safe products that work- use them!
Sorry Dr K – i hope you publish this- my ire is raised following the facebook (link) conversation. There are too many blinkered stoopid people out there that really do highlight the flaws in the education system.
Thanks for providing the opportunity, for those of use that have the luxary of being able to wear standard gloves without the need to cram to extra digits into one, finger hole to discuss what really is a part of a much bigger and scary picuture
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