Dry Eye in an American Cocker Spaniel, Jelly, KCS or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

The little American Cocker Spaniel, Jelly, had so many health problems (severe anemia, tooth abscess, loose teeth, fleas, tapeworms, miliary dermatitis on her chin, yeasty skin infection) that it took a 2^nd look at her to realize she also had problems with her eyes. Jelly’s tears were thick & grey, hanging on her lower eyelid at the inner canthus. When her eyes were wiped clean, the thick tears reformed within a day.

While our wonderful volunteer, Tanisha, held Jelly, we placed a thin strip of paper with one end just under the lower lid and watched as it wicked tears. This is the Schirmer tear test (STT). The tiny strip of paper has lines on it every millimeter. As the tears from the eye travel up the strip of paper they carry a tiny bit of ink so it’s easy to see how far the tears travel. In a healthy dog with normal tears, the tears travel from 15 to 25 mm in 60 sec. The tears in Jelly’s right eye travelled 10 mm and the tears in her right eye 14 mm. The STT diagnosed dry eye in Jelly.

Dry Eye or KCS

Dry eye is also called KCS or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. KCS can be painful because without wet tears, grit and debris isn’t flushed from the eye. The tissues that cover the eye become opaque and grey as they dry out.

Tears also carry IgA, an immune globulin that helps rid the eye of bacteria. Without tears flushing IgA over the eye, bacterial infections occur and tears become green or yellow rather than just dry-eye grey.

Optimmune for Dry Eye

Once we had a diagnosis of dry eye for Jelly, we began treatment by placing Optimmune (Cyclosporine) ointment into each eye twice a day. In a week, we’ll repeat the STT and ensure that Jelly’s eyes have tears that contain enough water they will wick down the test strip to at least 15 mm. If not, we’ll switch Jelly to a stronger medication, Tacrolimus.

Treatment for a lifetime

Jelly may need Optimmune or Tacrolimus for life, but in some dogs we can reduce the frequency so it isn’t needed every day. Unfortunately, Jelly, like other American Cocker Spaniels is genetically prone to develop dry eye.

Diet to benefit the eyes

Because the eyes are nourished, just as all organs are, by the food that Jelly eats, we’ve put her on a great diet with lots of fresh veggies run through the blender, raw and cooked red meat, and Missing Link. She’s also on antibiotics because of the abscesses in her mouth, and receives probiotics so the antibiotic Clavamox doesn’t wipe out the good bacteria in her gut.  The antioxidants in her veggies and the Omega 3 fatty acids in her Missing Link will help nourish her eyes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulas to benefit dogs with dry eye

There are TCM herbs that help dogs with dry eye. We’ll go into detail in another Caring for Pets entry and include information on nine formulas that help with dry eye or KCS:

• Nourish the Liver,
• Supple Spine,
• Rehmannia Six,
• Dry Derma Relief,
• Calm Repose,
• Free and Easy Wanderer,
• Blood’s Palace,
• One Linking Decoction
• APR Nourishing.