Petkin Jumbo Eye Wipes

Tear staining is largely a problem of contrast. The same amount of discharge that nobody ever notices on a black labrador turns a white bichon's face rust-coloured within a fortnight, so the owner of the white one buys wipes for years while the owner of the black one never gives it a thought. Neither dog is necessarily doing anything different.

These are the jumbo size: 80 wipes, each 7 by 5 inches, which is bigger than a standard eye wipe and means fewer passes per face. They come pre-moistened with what Petkin describe as a gentle cleanser, for lifting dirt and discharge from the fur and skin around the eye. Petkin's own instruction is to use them daily as a routine. Sharples are the sole UK distributor.

• 80 wipes per pack
• Each wipe measures 7 by 5 inches
• Pre-moistened, ready to use
• For the area around the eye, not the eye itself
• Petkin recommend daily use
• Described by Petkin for pets generally rather than one species

Nothing is published about what is on the wipe. "A gentle cleanser" is the entire declaration - no ingredient list, no pH, no named preservative. That gap matters more on an eye product than on almost anything else in the cupboard, so if your animal has ever reacted to a wipe, ask your vet before starting. Be clear on what the job is, too: this cleans around an eye. A red or squinting eye, sudden weeping, a change in one eye and not the other, or staining that has appeared out of nowhere is an appointment, not a wipe, because tear staining that starts is usually reporting something.

Who it's for: owners of white and light-coated animals, flat-faced breeds, and anything whose weepy eyes are a permanent feature of the face rather than a new development.