Dogs Get Dry Eye Too...Some Breeds More Than Others

Humans with dry eye have probably been confronted with far too many eye-drop recommendations, commercials that list countless alarming side-effects, and eye doctors getting far too close to them with an incredibly bright light.

Your dog might not be happy to learn this, but they are also susceptible to dry eye (thankfully without all the pharmaceutical commercials). Take my client Chelsea, for example.

Chelsea is a five-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. At her appointment, she peered suspiciously at me through half-open eyelids as her family described the goopy eye discharge that went away with topical medication but returned as soon as they stop applying it. Chelsea was not interested in playing ball as much as before and spent most of her time curled up in her bed snoozing — behavior hardly expected from a champion ball-catcher.

Related article

Common Eye Problems in Dogs and How to Treat Them

Your dog sees you as their best friend, so keep those eyes healthy.

I took a closer look at her eyes with my slit lamp and saw thin blood vessels growing within what should be crystal-clear corneas. Instead, they were a hazy gray, and the conjunctiva — the mucous membrane that covers the exposed portion of the eyeball and lines the inside of her eyelids — was red and puffy. I used special little paper strips divided into millimeter increments to measure Chelsea’s tear production and found that she has less than a third of what she should have. I then applied a topical stain that coats her cornea in a rough and patchy pattern. The combination of Chelsea’s clinical history, her eye exam, and the test results gave me a diagnosis: keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

What is keratoconjuctivitis sicca? KCS, also known as “dry eye,” is a chronic inflammatory condition in dogs where not enough tears are produced to keep the eyes properly lubricated. KCS is just one canine eye disorder that can affect the precorneal tear film, (PTF) which keeps the cornea and surrounding eye tissues healthy. The function of the PTF is to provide oxygen and nutrition to the eye tissues and carry away debris from the surface of the eye.

Causes Of Dry Eye In Dogs

Much of the time, dry eye is caused by an immune-mediated problem that creates inflammation within the tear glands and reduces the amount or quality of the tears they produce. Dry eye can also be caused by another medical condition known as cherry eye in dogs, which, left untreated, can reduce tear production. Some drug interactions and systemic health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, may also affect the tear film. Hypothyroidism can also cause damage to the nerves that stimulate these glands to work properly. Additionally, the movement of the eyelids spreads the tear film across the cornea, so a dog’s inability to fully blink can also affect eye health.

Any dog can develop dry eye, but some dog breeds are predisposed to KCS. Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and Pugs top the list in my practice, but dry eye is also common in English Bulldogs, Westies, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkies, Pekinese, Boston Terriers and Cavaliers, like my new friend Chelsea. The brachycephalic (squished-faced) breeds often have big buggy eyes that are more exposed to the world, so they need even better tear production and quality than a breed with deeper-set eyes, such as a Standard Poodle or Collie.

Related article

Bulldogs and Other Flat-Faced Breeds Are Being Banned. Here’s Why

Breeds with those squished-in faces are charming — but their health issues are not.

Symptoms Of Dry Eye In Dogs

What happens when your dog has dry eye and they don’t produce enough tears?

• Red and irritated eyes

• Noticeable discomfort or pain in the dog’s eye

• Excessive squinting or blinking

• Reduced tear production

• Attempts to keep their eyes shut

• Thick goopy discharge

A sticky, goopy eye discharge known as mucoid ocular discharge is often the most common sign of dry eye in dogs. With dry eye, dogs can develop irritated red eyes that are painful and susceptible to bacterial infections and corneal ulcerations. Superficial corneal ulcerations can rapidly turn into deep ones that need surgical treatment to save the eye. If KCS is left untreated, the cornea will often become cloudy, with scarring over the surface and blood vessels growing across it. The corneal surface can even pigment and become so opaque that it obstructs vision.

Treatment for Dry Eye in Dogs

Fortunately, there are medications available to control the immune-mediated inflammation within the tear glands. Notice I said control, not cure. By suppressing the inflammation in the tear glands, the medication allows your dog to produce more of their own tears. There is no “cure” for dry eye in dogs, but you can manage it.

The most important factors in treating KCS are consistently applying the medications as prescribed and following up with your veterinarian to determine if the treatment plan is working as expected. Don’t give up if you don’t see instant improvement; it may take several weeks of consistent application of medication before you see a difference.

Related article

What’s This Weird Red Bump On My Dog’s Eye?

That would be a cherry eye, and you’ll want to see your vet.

Chances are your dog will respond to medication relatively quickly. Don’t stop, reduce, or change the medication until you follow up with your veterinarian. Your dog will look better because you’re treating the dry eye, not because the KCS is cured. Stopping the medication allows the inflammation to recur, and you’ll have to start all over again. Keep repeating this cycle, and your pup’s little tear glands may scar to the point where they can’t produce the tears needed even with treatment.

As for Chelsea, she went home with medication, and I received a call a couple of weeks later reporting that she was back to her energetic, ball-playing self.

That’s news that keeps me happy!