Welcome to Renaissance Havanese
Located in Southwest Connecticut

Only a small percent of dogs with tear staining have it as a result of an illness. However, if your Vet finds your Havanese  to be in excellent health, then you should know there there are ways to prevent, reverse and control tear staining.

Tear staining is caused by yeast. Yeast is a bacteria, this particular bacteria thrives in conditions that are wet and warm. For dogs that tear excessively rule out a clogged tear duct or ingrown eyelash.

For most dogs tearing is a normal process of cleansing the eye, over time "goo" will collect under the eye, if you do not clean this area bacteria will begin to grow and fester, it is warm and wet and so therefore, a perfect spot for a yeast feast. When the area dries, the yeast leaves it's mark, a rusty stain, if we ignore it, it gets worse and spreads.

There are a lot of products on the market, none of which will immediately remove the stains. Most of these products require that you use them several times a day, every day, forever. Which may not be practical for most owners.

I prefer products that I feel are healthy, natural and work from the inside out. My favorite is a product called I-Stain® by Thomas Laboratories. This powder is a mixture of probiotics, which are good in more ways than one. As always follow the manufacturers instructions. I give about 1/4 tsp once or twice per day for a 12lb dog. A small tub will cost you about $12.00 and will last the owner of a singleton up to six months or longer. If your dog is a picky eater, place it in a  dollop of moist food. This is my first choice.

Another popular choice is Angel Eyes® this product is much more expensive for much less product. However, it has very good reviews. Good reviews means that it works but is it worth the high price? Apparently, many dog and cat owners think so. My concern however is that it contains an antibiotic but the manufacturer assures us that it is just a small amount.

Keep in mind that the active ingredient can cause staining of of un-erupted adult teeth. This would have to be considered if using it in a puppy.        This is similar to a product that can be offered through your Veterinarian called Tylan powder, an antibiotic usually prescribed to treat bacterial overgrowth, which interestingly enough works on tear staining.

Some other things that you can do is to make yeast vacate the premises is to dilute vinegar with water and carefully wipe the area under and around the eye, you should avoid getting it in their eyes. Otherwise, dust under the eye area with corn starch, the corn starch keep the area under the eyes dry and will dry up any tears that may fall from their beautiful eyes. However, this can cause caking and so you'll have to comb more. Use a simple flea comb to remove debris once moistened.

If your dogs already has stains, (for a pet) you can begin treatment and as new hair grows, trim off the stained hair, it will take as long as it takes for the hair to grow for you to reverse it. You will have to be consistent with giving the powder daily according to the instructions.

Just because your dog is dark colored does not mean there is no yeast. Yeast can grow under the eye and spread to the face, head and chin making for itchy skin. If your dog has debris under the eye and a sour smell, he is likely to have yeast, make sure you remove the debris.

Sometimes, the beards on the Havanese can get wet from drinking water or eating wet food and cause itchiness, If you think this may be the case with your dog, go ahead and ask your groomer to thin the hair under the chin to let air circulate and prevent breeding yeast. Instead of messy canned food you can opt for a food roll, like Natural Balance®

A puppy that is teething will usually have more tearing during that time. You may notice it around five to six months when their adult teeth will start coming in.

There are different rules for the show dog vs the pet with regard to trimming, refer to the AKC breed standard for complete details.

© All text and photography contained within this website is the exclusive property of Renaissance Havanese and is not to be removed, reposted or copied without written permission from the author, Veronica Guillet.

The Havanese is a very talented dog, they were once used as circus dogs to entertain families and children with their amazing antics. Yet, you may find that you're the one jumping through hoops to get him to eat!

The most popular concern I hear from families is their dog's lack of interest in food. It is not uncommon for the Havanese to love their food one day and turn their nose up at it the next.

I recommend all dogs be fed a high quality kibble, preferably one with human grade ingredients and stick to it for at least six months before switching to a different brand or formula. Rotation is good for health but do not change because you assume he's lost interest in the brand. Switching food is a delicate process that should take 7 days and you will likely do all that in vain.

You may want to reconsider adding sauces and canned foods, it may only make the food popular for a short time and perpetuate finickiness. However, more importantly,dry kibble helps to remove plaque from the teeth. Offering it as a treat here and there is fine but if you do not take the time to brush your dog's teeth, feeding soft foods will contribute to dental deterioration.

Another question people often have is about the amount their Havanese should be eating. Of course this varies considering the size and age of your dog. Often, the manufacturer recommends much more food than Havanese will consume in a day. So how do you determine the appropriate amount of food? I say, let your Havanese tell you. If you offer them food and if they eat it all, offer a little more, if they don't, offer a little less next time.

I always like to start with 1/4 cup three times per day for the puppy up to six months, remember  my dog's appetite overrules. So it may be more for one and less for another. Over six months of age,  I feed about 1/4 cup twice per day for a 10lb Havanese. How do you know if they are eating enough when it looks like they consume so little? In this case, let nature give you the answer, that is, if your dog is "peeing" and "pooping" then he is drinking and eating enough.

Of course, sudden loss of appetite accompanied by lethargy or changes in behavior is often the first sign that something is wrong and you should call the Veterinarian.   

Treats are often high in calories and protein, so this too can affect your dog's appetite at meal time. If your entire family enjoys giving your dog a treat. Choose a specific amount of treats per day and place in a special container, once they are gone, that's it for the day. If you choose to feed your dog a holistic diet, you should make sure that his treats are as well. 

All puppies under twelve weeks of age should be fed free choice, or have access to food and water at all times. Small breeds are susceptible to low blood sugar and so they need to refuel frequently or risk hypoglycemia which can lead to a life threatening medical emergency if not recognized and treated promptly.

Does your dog ignore the bowl at mealtime? If so, leave the food down for 15 minutes, if they do not eat, take it away and offer it at the next meal time. This will train your dog that the food disappears after a certain time and that it is best to consume it when offered. In order to break your dog of the grazing habit, you must be consistent or you will not make progress. I would consider it being consistent of you have done the same routine everyday for three weeks. Remember if they are doing their "business" they are eating and digesting food.

Not working? Then you may elect to grate a moist food over his kibble. A nice choice would be a food roll like Natural Balance. This is my choice because it is a complete food and is not as messy as some canned foods. You can slice up the roll, reserve a piece or two for the week and place in the refrigerator and freeze the left overs, it lasts a long time. If you cut it up in pieces and mix it in the kibble, your dog will pick out the pieces and leave the kibble, trust me! This is why it is best to grate it over the kibble.

Still not working? Try feeding your Havanese in his crate. Create a boring routine in the morning, start off with allowing your dog to relieve himself, place him in his crate and offer the food, pay as little attention as possible, as hard as it is. Reserve the fun and affection for AFTER he eats breakfast.

If you are wanting to begin housebreaking or having trouble housebreaking, it is imperative that you feed on a schedule because it will help you get familiar with when your dog will need to "go ".

©All photography and text contained within this website is the exclusive property of Renaissance Havanese and is not to be removed or copied, without written permission from the author Veronica Guillet.