Dry Eye
Dry eye is a common condition seen in dogs. It is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS. The normal tear reading for a dog is over 15mm/min. Dry eye is diagnosed when the tear reading falls below 10 mm/min.
Clinical signs:
Causes:
There are many causes of dry eye, but the most common cause is immune-mediated dry eye. Breeds at risk include West Highland White Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Shih-Tzus, Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Other causes of dry eye include certain drugs, removal of the third eyelild gland and nerve related dry eye.
Medical management
Surgical management
For cases that do not respond to medical management, delicate surgery can be performed by a Registered Veterinary Eye Specialist. The surgery of choice in these cases is a parotid duct transposition (PDT), which allows the duct that carries saliva from the parotid gland to the mouth to be relocated to the eye. This means the eye will be moistened with saliva.
Cleaning the eyes:
It is vital that your dog’s eye(s) remain free from mucky discharge. Always clean your pet’s eyes with artificial tears after they have been outside to remove any debris.
Should you have any questions or concerns please contact us on 03 9545 0103.
Dry eye is a common condition seen in dogs. It is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS. The normal tear reading for a dog is over 15mm/min. Dry eye is diagnosed when the tear reading falls below 10 mm/min.
Clinical signs:
- Red eye
- Watery to mucky discharge
- Rubbing the eye/s
- Brown colour changes to the eye
- Corneal ulceration
Causes:
There are many causes of dry eye, but the most common cause is immune-mediated dry eye. Breeds at risk include West Highland White Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Shih-Tzus, Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Other causes of dry eye include certain drugs, removal of the third eyelild gland and nerve related dry eye.
Medical management
- Lubricating the eye and keeping it free of harmful discharge is vital. Many over the counter artificial tear supplements such as Tears Naturale, Tears Refresh or Systane UD can be used to remove excessive discharge. Where possible, use preservative free compounds as this will reduce the amount of irritation to the eye.
- Immune suppressive medications such as Optimmune, Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus are used to control the cause. If the gland has been badly damaged, however, these medications may not help.
- Do not apply any medication over mucky discharge as it does not allow the medication to work.
Surgical management
For cases that do not respond to medical management, delicate surgery can be performed by a Registered Veterinary Eye Specialist. The surgery of choice in these cases is a parotid duct transposition (PDT), which allows the duct that carries saliva from the parotid gland to the mouth to be relocated to the eye. This means the eye will be moistened with saliva.
Cleaning the eyes:
It is vital that your dog’s eye(s) remain free from mucky discharge. Always clean your pet’s eyes with artificial tears after they have been outside to remove any debris.
Should you have any questions or concerns please contact us on 03 9545 0103.
