Parotid Eye Surgery for Dogs
Inflamed, mucus-encrusted eyes are symptoms which may be indicative of a condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or more commonly referred to as dry eye. There is no cure for this condition, but there are treatments, including surgery, to help relieve your dog's discomfort.
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Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)
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Dry eye, or KCS, occurs when the lacrimal glands in your dog's eyes do not produce enough fluid to keep eyes properly lubricated. They become irritated, and mucus can accumulate on and around the eye.
Causes
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Your dog may suffer from dry eyes for a variety of reasons. Certain drugs may cause dry eyes, or your dog may have an autoimmune disorder that attacks the lacrimal gland tissue or a congenital defect causing underdeveloped lacrimal glands.
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Treatment
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Your dog's eyes may be treated by the use of lubricating eye drops, drugs to stimulate the tear ducts to produce more tears or by parotid duct transposition surgery.
Parotid Duct Transposition
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A specially trained surgeon can reroute your dog's parotid salivary gland output into the eyes, thereby providing salivary lubrication. Surgery is not the first choice for treatment, but it may be the only effective one for dogs with underdeveloped lacrimal glands.
Surgery Considerations
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Salt crystals may form in the eyes after a parotid duct transposition. Saliva is not produced as prolifically as tears and is not considered to be a perfect tear replacement.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of João Paulo Corrêa de Carvalho
