Dry Eye in Dogs

According to Pet Education, the technical term for dry eye in dogs is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS. There are a number of reasons why a dog may suffer from dry eyes. This condition can lead to infections, corneal scarring and eventual blindness. A veterinarian can make a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment for your pet.

  1. Causes

    • According to information found at the Veterinary Partner and Pet Education websites, a dog can develop KCS because of immunological problems, as a result of a head injury, or from taking certain kinds of antibiotics, especially those containing sulfonamides. Sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause of the problem. Some breeds are more prone to developing KCS than others. Both Medicine Net and Veterinary Partner indicate that cocker spaniels and west highland white terriers are especially likely to suffer from this malady.

    Symptoms

    • The most evident symptom of KCS or dry eye is a thick, gooey, yellowish discharge. According to Medicine Net, the eye will look dull and dry rather than smooth and shiny. The dog may also suffer from conjunctivitis, which Pet Education describes as an inflammation of the tissue around the eye itself.

    Diagnosis

    • A veterinarian can diagnose KCS by performing a Schirmer tear test. Veterinary Partner and Pet Education explain that the doctor will place an absorbent test strip, which looks like a small strip of paper, in the lower eyelid so that the strip rests against the surface of the dog's eye. The strip is left in the dog's eye for about a minute, just long enough for the tears to soak up into the paper. The veterinarian will compare the test strip to a healthy sample. In a healthy dog, the wet area of the strip should be about 20 millimeters in length, but in dogs with KCS, the wet area will be less than 10 millimeters.

    Treatment

    • Pet Education indicates that a medication called cyclosporine can be used to treat KCS. The Veterinary Partner website explains that cyclosporine, which is often used for human patients who have had organ transplants, controls the disease by suppressing the dog's immune system. Another drug called pilocarpine can be used as well to help the eye produce tears. Sometimes antibiotics, artificial tears or even surgery may be necessary depending on the severity of the case.

    Prognosis

    • Medicine Net explains that there is no cure for dry eye, but the condition can be managed through a life-long course of treatment. Veterinary Partners claims that even dogs with severe dry eye have an 80 percent chance of having a positive response to cyclosporine, but Medicine Net warns that if the medicine is stopped even for a short period of time, the condition will most likely recur.