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KCS in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

amniotic eye dropsKeratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), often referred to as dry eye, is inflammation of the cornea and surrounding tissues due to inadequate production of tears. Tears are necessary to lubricate the cornea and remove debris or any infectious agents that come in contact with the eye. The tear film is a mixture of mucus, fatty liquid, and water.

Symptoms of KCS in Dogs

Most dogs with KCS will have painful, red, irritated eyes. Squinting and excessive blinking often signal a dog’s mom or dad to get their pet to a veterinary professional for treatment. Additionally, KCS often includes symptoms of thick, yellowish mucous discharge due to the lack of the watery component of the tear film. Corneal ulceration may also be present.

Patients with chronic cases of KCS often present with a history of conjunctivitis, eye injuries, and ulcers. Corneal scarring, hyperpigmentation, usually occurs with cases of KCS and looks like a dark film covering the dog’s eye.

Is A Dog More Likely to Contract KCS Because of Their Breed?

KCS most commonly affects middle-aged to older dogs. It’s more likely to be seen in the following breeds:

  • American Cocker Spaniel
  • Bloodhound
  • Boston Terrier
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • English Bulldog
  • English Springer Spaniel
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Pekingese
  • Pug
  • Samoyed
  • Shih Tzu
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Both eyes are typically affected in dogs with KCS, but one eye may appear worse.

Treatment of KCS in Dogs

There are two main objectives when treating KCS in dogs:

  • Stimulate tear production
  • Replace the tear film and protect the cornea

Tear film replacement and tear production stimulants are often used in combination first. However, Veterinarians manage most KCS cases in dogs with a combination of tear stimulants, tear substitutes, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories. Surgery for KCS is reserved for dogs who do not respond to medication and are experiencing persistent pain. Secondary bacterial conjunctivitis is common in dogs with KCS due to debris accumulation and a lack of natural antimicrobial tear properties. Additionally, patients often experience much discomfort and pain with KCS and the ulceration that often accompanies it. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic combinations are helpful for improving comfort and diminishing corneal opacities.

Vetrix created a solution for veterinarians, EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops, to deliver natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components alongside traditional therapies when treating KCS. EyeQ is an easy-to-use, non-surgical option for treating corneal defects and ulcers and keeping a dog as comfortable as possible throughout treatment. What’s more, EyeQ allows easy administration for veterinarians and dog owners alike. The medicine comes in a convenient dropper bottle and is available to veterinary professionals in 6-pack, 12-pack, and 24-pack options.

Provide The Best Care for Your Dog

Getting attached to dogs you see regularly (even if they aren’t your dog) is easy. We can all agree that when it comes to treating dogs with KCS, all we want is for the animal to get better. If you’re a Vet who intends to provide the best care for the KCS and ulcer cases you see in dogs, try out a 6-pack of EyeQ for yourself. If you’re not completely satisfied, Vetrix will work with you to return your purchase.

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Corneal Uclers in Pets: Symptoms, Treatment & More

Eye Drops for Pets

The cornea, which is transparent in normal conditions, covers the front part of the eye and allows light to pass into the eye. The eyelids cover the cornea to protect it from trauma and help spread tears (essential to corneal health). Most corneal ulcers in pets result from trauma, such as scratches, dry eye, eyelid anomalies, or abrasions due to foreign objects in the eye.

Corneal Ulcer Symptoms

A corneal ulcer is an open wound within the cornea. Ulcers are painful for pets; most heal within a week if appropriately treated. However, if a corneal ulcer becomes infected, it can quickly turn into a deep wound. The most common symptoms of corneal ulcers to watch for in pets include the following:

  • Squinting
  • Redness
  • Ocular discharge
  • Excessive Blinking
  • Excessive tears
  • Swelling
  • The eye appears cloudy

If the ulcer results from a tear deficiency, you may see a thick discharge resembling mucous that ranges from transparent to white, green, or yellow. If you are a cat parent, a dog parent, or a veterinarian who wants to provide helpful materials to your patients of specific pets, please read the following information:

Corneal Ulcer Diagnosis

Any of the signs mentioned above should prompt pet parents to make an appointment with their veterinarian. The vet will use several diagnostic methods at the appointment to accurately diagnose the ulcer. Once the affected eye (or eyes) are examined, your vet will discuss the best possible treatment plan.

Corneal Ulcer Treatment

How a pet’s corneal ulcer is treated is determined by the type of animal in need of treatment and the type of ulcer they are being treated for. Treating corneal ulcers properly from the start is crucial to ensuring a pet’s comfort and healing without further complications or damage to its vision. Mild corneal ulcers will usually heal on their own in 3-7 days, depending on the size of the ulcer. While healing, vets may recommend a treatment plan to prevent further damage or cornea infections. 

Here are common treatments used to treat corneal ulcers in pets:

  • Antibiotic eye drops or ointments to prevent infections
  • Pain medication to keep your pet comfortable
  • An E-collar to prevent your pet from rubbing and allow the cornea to heal properly
  • Regenerative eye drops 

Regenerative eye drops, like Vetrix EyeQ Eye Drops, are a simple way to provide regenerative care for a pet’s eye. Regenerative medicine works with the body’s natural abilities to heal itself. EyeQ Eye Drops deliver natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory components to aid in healing corneal ulcers in pets. 

As part of the healing process, a follow-up care plan must be issued and adhered to by the patient. Pets should continue treatment with all prescribed medications until a veterinarian says the ulcer has fully healed.

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Here’s Why Not to Underestimate Dry Eye in Dogs

What Is Dry Eye in Dogs?

The simplified explanation for dry eye is an inadequate production of tears. However, the condition is so much more complicated than that definition would lead you to believe. The eye is a complex ecosystem containing germ-fighting cells and pH balanced glands.

A dog’s eye is covered by what’s called a tear film: a thin, complex fluid that covers the eye. To keep the eye healthy, tears are produced to cover the cornea, washing away debris and harmful bacteria.

Dry eye isn’t just a condition in dogs; humans can suffer from it, as well. However, the symptoms and severity are not as pronounced.

How to Spot Dry Eye

Flat-faced breeds of dogs (shih tzus, pugs, Boston terriers, etc.) are more susceptible to dry eye than others. If you’re attending to a dog in that breed category, you’ll want to do a thorough check of their eyes and talk with their owner to make sure the patient isn’t exhibiting any irritable behavior when it comes to their eyes. Dogs are most likely to develop dry eyes between 4-6 weeks old, but this condition can still appear at any age. 

There are a few signs and symptoms you can be on the lookout for caused by dry eye in dogs. The first symptoms you may notice are red eyes and mucoid discharge. This is usually due to the lack of tears produced to adequately coat the eye and keep it free of irritants. It can also be due to underproduction of a specific type of high-quality tear. The former cause is the most common.

Other signs include pawing at the eyes due to pain and excessive blinking to keep the eyes closed.

Like pannus in dogs, dry eye is an immune-related condition in that it is caused by the dog’s own immune system attacking a part of its body. What it thinks is a foreign invader, is actually functioning as it normally should. In this case, the immune system attacks and shuts down the lacrimal glands—the structures that produce tears. If left untreated, dry eye can lead to painful ulcers that can rupture or pigment build-up causing permanent blindness.

Less common causes include medications, like oral antibiotics containing sulfonamide, and genetic factors that cause abnormally small glands.

What to Do About Dry Eye

Once dry eye is confirmed by a Schirmer tear test or using special stains on the cornea, there are a couple of different treatment options. Like many conditions, one of the most important factors when it comes to treatment for dry eye in dogs is early detection. But no matter how early the detection, treatment is lifelong.

The most common and effective treatments today are medicated drops or ointment that goes directly on the affected eye. By stimulating the lacrimal glands to produce more tears or start producing tears again, the drops or ointment should be able to give some relief to your patient.

Vetrix is a trusted resource for veterinary practices and the devoted owners they continually serve. Browse other topics of interest that provide you with much-needed information.

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A Primer on Pannus in Dogs

What Is Pannus in Dogs?

The scientific name for pannus is Chronic Superficial Keratitis (CSK). It’s an autoimmune disease that affects the cornea part of the eye. Pannus is most commonly found in breeds such as German shepherds, border collies, and greyhounds but is not limited to these breeds only.

CSK occurs when the cornea is damaged by UV light rays. The dog’s immune system sends small blood vessels to the cornea in an attempt to repair the damage. Since corneas do not have blood vessels, the immune system assumes these vessels are a foreign invader and attack the corneal tissue and vessels.

The attack on corneal tissue leads to the formation of scar tissue. If this goes untreated, it will lead to severe visual impairment and, ultimately, blindness. While there’s no cure for pannus, it can be managed and treated in a way that allows your patient to continue living a full and active life.

Symptoms of Pannus

One symptom of pannus is the visual presentation of the blood vessels sent to heal the UV light damage. Reddening at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock hours of the pupil becomes visible when this happens. Changes in pigmentation, cloudiness, and blood vessels begin to form on the outer edges of the cornea and move inward.

Further progression of this autoimmune disease leads to discharge, thickening, and loss of pigmentation in the third eyelid of dogs. At this point, the pannus has progressed to a subclass of CSK called plasmoma.

Management and Treatment Options

Pannus can be easily confused with other eye issues in dogs, such as dry eye or corneal ulcers, so it’s important to be sure of your diagnosis before prescribing a treatment plan. If you confirm pannus in your patient, warn the owner about being especially vigilant with UV light exposure if they live at higher altitudes or are commonly exposed to such environments. If you know this is an issue for your patient, you may want to suggest to their owner a pair of UV dog goggles for when they’re outside or moving to an area of lower altitude.

When caught in its early stages, pannus is very manageable and unlikely to cause much disruption to the daily life of the pet and owner. Stopping the formation of blood vessels is key in this process. The most common treatment options are medical-grade eye drops, such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, or cyclosporine. Over time, application frequency will likely decrease if the owner continues to be cautious about UV light exposure.

However, in severe cases, sometimes surgery is necessary to remove the excess scar tissue. Otherwise, visual impairment to the point of blindness is a possibility.

Vetrix is a trusted resource for veterinary practices and the devoted owners they serve. See other topics of interest that provide you with the information you need. 

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SEQUESTRUM REMOVAL BIOSIS PLUS+

Dr. Enry Garcia da Silva, DVM, DACVO of VCA Aurora Animal Hospital – 4YOMN DSH Sequestrum Removal BioSIS Plus+

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