Dry Eye (KCS) and Medications that Cause It

You Can Cause Dry Dye Without Realizing It
Dry Eye, which is also called KCS (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), causes pain and blindness.

In previous blogs, we’ve covered the nature of tears, and why an eye that is dry and no longer makes tears is more likely to become blind. We’ve looked at which dog breeds are genetically predisposed to develop dry eye, and we discussed having veterinary exams twice a year in order to catch dry eye before it causes blindness.

Now, let’s consider medications you may be giving your pet that actually cause dry eye--especially in those breeds naturally inclined to having problems with their tears.

Medications That Cause Dry Eye
These medications damage the tear-production mechanism and may increase the likelihood that your pet develops dry eye:
• sulfa antibiotics, such as Sulfasalazine, Sulfadimethoxine, and Albon
• calming medications, such as chlorpromazine
• antihistamines, such as Benadryl
• arthritis and pain NSAID medication, such as etodolac (EtoGesic), and
• anesthetic gasses.

What Should We Do?
Because the medications listed above don’t cause dry eye immediately, it’s tempting to think they’re ok to use for a little while. Well, they are ok for dogs that don't inherit the tendency to develop dry eye, but for the following dogs they are not:
• dogs genetically predisposed to develop dry eye
• dogs in homes with smokers
• dogs that spend most of their time outdoors.

If your veterinarian prescribes one of these medications, ask for an alternative, such as a herbal medication. If you don’t, you may fix one of your pet’s problems today only to have it develop dry eye in the future.

Tommorow, we’ll discuss conventional medications used to treat dry eye and my favorite herbal medication for preventing and treating dry eye.