Dry Eye in Dogs

Category: Eye
Inheritance: Multifactorial
Breeds documented: 11
Published sources: 10

Overview

Too little watery tear fluid can leave the eye surface dry and inflamed. This is known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye. The most common cause is inflammation caused by the immune system attacking the glands that make tears. The cornea, the clear front covering of the eye, can develop painful sores and scars if dry eye goes untreated, sometimes leading to lasting loss of vision.

Signs to watch for

Thick yellow or green material collecting around the eyes
Eyes that look red
An eye surface that looks dry or dull
Holding the eyes partly closed
Rubbing or pawing at the face

Dry eye is seen most often in middle age, but dogs of any age can develop it.

When to get help Contact a vet about eye changes; seek care right away if one eye looks abnormal and the other looks normal.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets use the Schirmer tear test to measure how much watery tear fluid an eye makes. A small paper strip sits under the eyelid to collect moisture. The vet may also use a special dye to show damaged areas of the cornea, including sores called ulcers.

Breeds with documented risk

11 breeds

By breed size

8 Small
3 Medium

Most popular breeds on this list

BulldogMedium · Non-Sporting Group
West Highland White TerrierSmall · Terrier Group
PekingeseSmall · Toy Group
Kerry Blue TerrierMedium · Terrier Group
CavapooSmall
ChugSmall
Griffon Fauve De BretagneMedium · FCI Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds)
MalshiSmall

All 11 breeds, A to Z

Bulldog Source doi.org

Cavapoo Source petmd.com
Chug Source petmd.com

Griffon Fauve De Bretagne Source genodog.fr

Kerry Blue Terrier

Malshi

Pekingese

West Highland White Terrier

Inheritance

This condition has more than one known form, and different breeds inherit it in different ways. The sources list the form found in each breed.

Multifactorial
Several genes and the environment together set the risk. Diet, growth rate, weight and exercise can all play a part. There is no single DNA test. Screening the parents (for example hip or elbow scores) and choosing from lines with good results lowers the risk, but does not remove it.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal recessive
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by OMIA

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.