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No shampoo can stop a Shih Tzu’s tear stains, because the stains come from tears, not dirty fur. What works is two different products: a tearless facial cleanser for the stained fur under the eyes, and a gentle tearless shampoo for the body. Our top pick for the face is TropiClean SPA Facial Cleanser. Add a whitening shampoo for the body only if your dog has a white coat, and keep it well away from the eyes.
- Best for the face: TropiClean SPA Facial Cleanser
- Best gentle body shampoo: Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy
- Best fragrance-free: Burt’s Bees Tearless 2-in-1
- Best whitening (body only): Chris Christensen White on White
- Budget whitening (body only): Bio-Groom Super White
Shih Tzus get tear stains because their flat faces and large, prominent eyes let tears spill onto the fur instead of draining away. On a white or light coat, the reddish-brown marks show up fast, and they sit right next to the eyes, which is the one place you can’t scrub with any old shampoo.
So this isn’t a list of “best dog shampoos.” It’s the short list of products that are gentle enough for a Shih Tzu’s face, plus the body shampoos that pair with them, and we say plainly which ones should never go near the eyes.
From my own dogs: Tear stains were the grooming problem that took me longest to get on top of with my 5-year-old Shih Tzu. What I learned is that the products matter less than the routine: a clean, dry face every day does more than any bottle. Every product below is marked as a research pick. When I’ve used one long enough with my own dog to judge it fairly, I’ll mark it 🐾 tested and share what I found.
New or sudden staining? See your vet firstHeavy tearing can be caused by eye problems such as blocked tear ducts or inward-rolling lids. A cleanser only treats the fur. Read why Shih Tzus get tear stains to check which signs need a vet.
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Best shampoos for Shih Tzu tear stains: comparison table
| Product | Use on | Tearless? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 TropiClean SPA Facial Cleanser | Face only | Yes, per maker (keep out of eyes) | Stained fur under the eyes |
| Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo | Face and body | Yes | Gentle everyday baths, puppies |
| Burt’s Bees Tearless 2-in-1 Puppy | Face and body | Yes | Fragrance-sensitive dogs |
| Chris Christensen White on White | Body only | No | Brightening a white coat |
| Bio-Groom Super White | Body only | No | Whitening on a budget |
How we choseEvery product here is a 🔍 research pick. We checked each manufacturer’s and retailer’s listing for tearless claims, eye warnings, ingredients and directions, then compared them against what a flat-faced, long-coated Shih Tzu actually needs. We don’t list prices or star ratings because they change often. Read our full review process.
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Does shampoo actually remove Shih Tzu tear stains?
Partly. A facial cleanser can lift and fade the stain from the fur, but it can’t stop new stains forming. Stains come from a pigment in tears, so daily face cleaning and drying is what keeps them under control.
Tear stains are caused by porphyrin, an iron-containing pigment in tears that tints the fur when it stays damp. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that facial shape, eyelid structure and blocked tear drainage all play a part, which is why flat-faced breeds like the Shih Tzu are so prone to it.
That gives you three realistic goals for any product:
- Clean the fur safely without stinging the eyes.
- Fade existing stains gradually. Expect weeks, not one bath.
- Keep the face dry afterward. Damp fur is where the stain sets.
A whitening shampoo can make a white body coat look brighter, but it isn’t designed for the face. Use a face-specific product under the eyes.
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What should you look for in a tear stain shampoo for a Shih Tzu?
For the face, choose a tearless, soap-free cleanser made for dogs. For the body, choose a gentle, pH-balanced dog shampoo. Avoid whitening shampoos, bleach and hydrogen peroxide anywhere near the eyes.
- Tearless for anything used on the face
- A Shih Tzu’s eyes are large and close to the stained fur, so some product will get near them. Even tearless products say to keep them out of the eyes, so rinse carefully.
- Made for dogs, not people
- The AKC notes dog skin has a different pH from human skin (about 6.2–7.4 versus 5.5–5.6) and is thinner, so regular human shampoo can dry it out. Use a dog shampoo for routine baths.
- Gentle cleansers, few extras
- Sulfate-free, soap-free and fragrance-light formulas are kinder to skin that gets washed often. The face is washed far more often than the body.
- No bleach or peroxide near the eyes
- VCA Animal Hospitals advises avoiding hydrogen peroxide near the eyes and warns against using tear stain products without asking your vet first.
- Whitening only where it belongs
- Whitening shampoos are for the body coat. Both whitening picks below say to avoid the eyes, so don’t use them on the face.
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The best shampoos for Shih Tzu tear stains, reviewed
TropiClean SPA Facial Cleanser & Tear Stain Remover
Face cleanser · Tearless, soap-free formula (per retailer listing) · Blueberry and vanilla scent · 8 fl oz bottle
This is the product made for the exact job: washing the stained fur under a Shih Tzu’s eyes. It’s sold as tearless and soap-free, and the directions are simple: wet the area, lather, gently scrub, leave it for 3 minutes, then rinse. The listing says heavy staining may need daily use and weekly use helps prevent new stains, which matches how tear stains really behave.
Pros
- Made specifically for the face and tear stains
- Tearless and soap-free, per the listing
- Marketed for all coat colors, including white
Cons
- Still has to be kept out of the eyes, despite being tearless
- A 3-minute wait is hard with a wriggly dog
- Contains fragrance and dyes (Blue 1, Ext Violet 2), which some owners prefer to avoid
- Fades stains over time; it won’t stop new ones forming
Earthbath Ultra-Mild Wild Cherry Puppy Shampoo
Body and face shampoo · Tearless, pH-balanced · No parabens, sulfates, soaps or dyes (per listing) · Concentrate, dilutes 10:1 · For dogs over 6 weeks
For full baths, a Shih Tzu needs a shampoo that’s gentle enough to use near the face without stinging. This one is sold as tearless and pH-balanced, is free of sulfates, soaps and dyes, and is labeled for puppies and adult dogs. Because it’s a 10:1 concentrate, one bottle goes a long way on a 9–16 lb dog.
Pros
- Tearless, so it’s safer around the face during baths
- No sulfates, soaps or dyes
- Suitable for puppies from 6 weeks
- Concentrated, so it lasts
Cons
- Has a cherry fragrance
- Doesn’t whiten or treat stains; it’s a gentle cleanser
- The retailer page we checked didn’t show a full ingredient list
Burt’s Bees 2-in-1 Tearless Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner
Body and face shampoo with conditioner · Tearless, pH-balanced for dogs · Buttermilk and flaxseed (linseed) oil · Free of fragrances, sulfates and colorants (per listing) · 16 fl oz
If your Shih Tzu sneezes at scented products or has easily irritated skin, a fragrance-free option is worth having. This one is sold as tearless and pH-balanced, and the listing says it’s free of fragrances, sulfates and colorants. The built-in conditioner is handy for a short puppy or teddy bear cut.
Pros
- Fragrance-free, per the listing
- Tearless, so it’s gentle near the face
- 2-in-1 saves a step at bath time
- Widely available
Cons
- A 2-in-1 usually isn’t enough conditioning for a long Shih Tzu coat
- No stain-fading or whitening effect
- The retailer page didn’t list full ingredients
Chris Christensen White on White Shampoo
Whitening shampoo · Use undiluted · Leave on 2–10 minutes · No bleach (per manufacturer) · 16 oz and gallon
If your Shih Tzu has a white coat that looks dull or yellowed, this is a professional grooming brand’s whitening shampoo. The manufacturer says it neutralizes stains that cleansing alone doesn’t remove and contains no bleach. But it is not sold as tearless, and the directions say to avoid the eyes, so use it on the body, not the stained face.
Pros
- Made to brighten white coats
- No bleach, per the manufacturer
- Professional grooming brand
Cons
- Not tearless; keep it away from the face and eyes
- Must be used undiluted, so it goes faster
- Expensive
- The maker recommends a spot test first
Bio-Groom Super White Shampoo
Whitening shampoo · Dilutes with up to 8 parts water (per Chewy answer) · Not tearless · Contains sodium coco sulfate · 12 oz to 5 gallons
A cheaper way to brighten a white or light coat, and because it dilutes, a bottle lasts. We’ve listed it with caveats: Chewy’s answer confirms it isn’t tearless, it contains a sulfate cleanser, and the listing calls it dye-free even though Blue 1 and Red 33 appear in the ingredients. Fine for an occasional body wash on a white coat; not for the face.
Pros
- Affordable, and dilution makes it last
- Made for white and light coats
- Some owners report a visible brightening effect
Cons
- Not tearless; keep it off the face
- Contains a sulfate cleanser, harsher than our gentle picks
- The “dye-free” claim conflicts with the listed dyes
Products help. The routine does the real work.
What causes tear stains, which signs need a vet, and the simple daily face routine.
Read the Shih Tzu tear stains guide05
How do you wash a Shih Tzu’s tear-stained face?
Use a tearless facial cleanser on the stained fur only, work away from the eye, rinse with a damp cloth, then dry the area completely.
- Trim first if needed. Long hair that touches the eyes keeps the fur wet. Ask your groomer to keep the hair around the eyes short.
- Wet only the stained fur with a damp cloth, not the whole face.
- Apply a small amount of cleanser and work it in with your fingertips, moving away from the eye.
- Follow the label’s wait time, then rinse well with a clean, damp cloth. Never pour water toward the eyes.
- Dry completely. Pat with a towel. Damp fur is where staining sets in.
- Wipe daily between washes with a soft damp cloth, and keep the face dry.
Bath day orderWash the body first with your gentle shampoo, then do the face last with the facial cleanser. That way, a whitening shampoo used on the body never ends up near the eyes. For the full bathing and drying routine, see our Shih Tzu grooming guide.
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Shih Tzu tear stain shampoo FAQs
What is the best shampoo for Shih Tzu tear stains?
For the stained face, use a tearless facial cleanser made for dogs, such as TropiClean SPA Facial Cleanser. For the rest of the Shih Tzu’s body, a gentle tearless shampoo like Earthbath Ultra-Mild works well. Whitening shampoos are for the body only.
Can I use whitening shampoo on my Shih Tzu’s face?
No. The whitening shampoos we checked are not sold as tearless, and their directions say to avoid the eyes. On a Shih Tzu’s face, use a tearless cleanser made for the face instead.
Will shampoo get rid of Shih Tzu tear stains permanently?
No. Shampoo can fade existing stains on a Shih Tzu, but new stains form as long as tears keep wetting the fur. Daily wiping and drying, plus a vet check for any eye problems, is what keeps them under control.
Can I use baby shampoo on a Shih Tzu?
It’s not ideal for regular use. The AKC notes dog skin has a different pH from human skin and recommends dog shampoo. A tearless dog shampoo gives a Shih Tzu the same gentleness around the eyes.
How often should I wash my Shih Tzu’s face?
Wipe a Shih Tzu’s face daily with a damp cloth and dry it well. Use a facial cleanser as the label directs; TropiClean, for example, suggests daily use for heavy stains and weekly use for prevention.
Sources
- TropiClean Spa Dog Facial Cleanser & Tear Stain Remover: listing, ingredients and directions (Chewy)
- earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo, Wild Cherry (PetSmart)
- Burt’s Bees 2-in-1 Tearless Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner (PetSmart)
- White on White Shampoo (Chris Christensen)
- Bio-Groom Super White Dog Shampoo: listing, ingredients and Q&A (Chewy)
- Epiphora in Dogs (VCA Animal Hospitals)
- Can You Use Human Shampoo on Dogs? (American Kennel Club)
Update log
- : Published. Product claims, directions and links checked against manufacturer and retailer listings.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Consult your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet or care.