How can you recognise dry eyes in your dog?
A dog with dry eyes may experience various symptoms. These often include red, irritated eyes and thick, stringy or yellow-green eye discharge. Your dog may blink more frequently, squint or rub the eye with a paw. The surface of the eye may also appear dry or dull.
Long-term KCS can damage the cornea. Ulcers, scar tissue and pigmentation may develop, for example, which can eventually reduce your dog’s vision.
However, red eyes and eye discharge can have many different causes. You can also read our blog about inflamed eyes in dogs.
What causes KCS in dogs?
KCS can have various causes. In dogs, an immune response against the body’s own tear gland tissue is an important cause. The immune system attacks the tear glands, causing them to produce progressively less tear fluid.
Some dog breeds have an increased predisposition to KCS. Certain medicines, nerve damage, infections or other conditions can also play a role. Sometimes no clear underlying cause can be identified.
How is KCS diagnosed?
Do you suspect that your dog has dry eyes? Ask a vet to examine your dog’s eyes. Looking at the eye alone is not enough to diagnose KCS with certainty.
The vet can perform a Schirmer Tear Test (STT). A small test strip is placed beneath the lower eyelid to measure how much tear fluid the eye produces over approximately one minute.
The cornea can also be stained with fluorescein to check for damage or a corneal ulcer. Depending on the symptoms, further eye examinations may be necessary.
How are dry eyes in dogs treated?
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the KCS. Medicines are often needed to stimulate tear production and suppress the inflammatory response in the tear glands. The vet may prescribe eye medication containing ciclosporin or tacrolimus, for example.
Artificial tears or lubricating eye products are also often used to keep the surface of the eye moist. Products containing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid can help moisturise the eye and keep the tear fluid on its surface for longer.
KCS is often a chronic condition. This means that long-term and sometimes lifelong treatment is usually necessary. Do not stop using the prescribed eye medication when the eyes appear healthy again unless your vet advises you to do so.
Eye care for a dog with dry eyes
In addition to treatment by the vet, you can care for your dog’s eyes at home. You can carefully remove dried discharge around the eye using a suitable eye-cleaning product. Lubricating eye drops or artificial tears can also help make dry eyes more comfortable.
In our eye care for dogs category, you will find various products for cleaning and caring for the eyes.
Do not simply use human eye drops for eye problems. Some products contain ingredients or medicines that are not suitable for your dog. KCS also often requires more than lubrication alone.
Can KCS in dogs be cured?
This depends on the cause. With the most common immune-mediated form, KCS is usually a chronic condition that cannot be cured permanently. With the right treatment, however, the symptoms can often be kept under control and further damage to the eye can be prevented.
Regular check-ups are therefore important. A Schirmer Tear Test allows your vet to check whether tear production is improving sufficiently and adjust the treatment if necessary.
When should you visit the vet?
It is better to contact your vet sooner rather than later if your dog has eye problems. A prompt examination is particularly important if your dog is clearly in pain, keeps the eye closed, rubs it frequently, the cornea becomes cloudy or there is a large amount of yellow-green discharge. Damage to the cornea can deteriorate quickly.
Does your dog repeatedly suffer from red or inflamed eyes? It is also advisable to have your dog examined to determine whether insufficient tear production is playing a role.
