What Pet Owners Should Know About Abnormal Tearing in Dogs

When you see tears streaming down your dog's face, it doesn't necessarily mean they are feeling sad or crying. In fact, excessive tearing is a key indicator that your pet may be experiencing an underlying eye health issue. Today, we’re going to dive into the details of 'Abnormal Tearing' (Epiphora) and what it means for your furry friend.

Common Symptoms You will notice the fur underneath the eyes is constantly wet, especially near the inner corners (medial canthus). This is particularly visible in dogs with white or light-colored coats, as the chronic moisture often leads to reddish-brown staining.

Causes of Abnormal Tearing

• Overproduction of Tears This can be triggered by irritation from corneal ulcers, ectopic cilia (ingrown eyelashes), entropion (eyelids folding inward), inflammation of the tear glands, or the presence of foreign objects in the eye.
• Drainage System Abnormalities This occurs when the tear drainage pathway is compromised, such as inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct, congenital absence of tear duct openings (puncta), or chronic conjunctivitis, which can lead to further inflammation and blockage of the drainage system.

Professional Eye Diagnosis & Examination

• Ocular Examination Inspecting for eye and tear gland inflammation, foreign bodies, or ectopic cilia (ingrown eyelashes).
• Schirmer Tear Test (STT) Measuring tear production. A result exceeding 25 mm/min indicates excessive tearing (Epiphora).
• Fluorescein Dye Test Checking for corneal ulcers and evaluating the patency of the nasolacrimal duct by observing if the dye drains through the nostrils.
• Nasolacrimal Flushing Flushing the tear ducts with a sterile ophthalmic solution to identify and clear any blockages.
• Advanced Imaging Utilizing Contrast Radiography or CT Scans to detect complex tear duct obstructions or potential tumors within the nasal cavity.

Treatment and Solutions for Eye Issues

• Medicated Eye Drops To reduce inflammation and alleviate eye irritation.
• Antimicrobial Treatment Targeted use of antibiotics in cases of bacterial eye infections.
• Surgical Procedures Corrective surgery to enlarge obstructed tear ducts or removal of eyelid tumors.
• Corneal Ulcer Management Treating corneal ulcers and thoroughly flushing out any foreign bodies.
• Ectopic Cilia Removal Professionally removing ingrown or misplaced eyelashes.

Commonly Affected Breeds

American cocker spaniel, Bedlington Terrier, Golden retriever, Maltese, Miniature schnauzer, Pekingese and Standard poddle 

Eyes are a vital window to the world for both humans and our canine companions. We recommend pet parents regularly check their dog's eye health, keep the eye area clean, and trim facial fur to prevent irritation. Most importantly, don't forget to schedule an annual eye exam with our specialists to keep those beautiful eyes bright and healthy forever.