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Dry Eye and Corneal Scarring in a Very Young Cocker Spaniel

by A reader



Reader Question
A 45-day-old male Cocker Spaniel puppy was brought to my practice for a first checkup. On examination, the cornea of the right eye was rough and cloudy, especially in the center, where it was white, with visible blood vessels. The seller said the lesion had been there since the puppy opened his eyes and would go away. A Schirmer tear test showed low tear production in both eyes, lower in the right, and we diagnosed dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). We started antibiotic eye drops in the affected eye and a lubricating gel in both eyes. A week later the cloudiness was slightly reduced at the edges, but the blood vessels were still obvious, so we switched to a combined antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drop, tapered over 12 days, continued the lubricant, and added a tear-stimulating ointment to both eyes. A week after that, the cloudiness and vessels were slightly reduced again.

In your opinion: a) Is the improvement satisfactory so far? We plan to repeat the tear test 3 weeks after starting the tear-stimulating ointment. b) Should we switch to drops that combine an antibiotic with a steroid? The puppy is not yet vaccinated. Do steroid eye drops or the tear-stimulating ointment affect how well vaccines work? c) Should we expect the lesion in
the right eye to clear completely? d) If tear production improves, how should we manage both eyes after that?


Answer from Our Team

Thanks for the detailed case. Dry eye in a puppy this young is uncommon. It can be congenital, from underdeveloped tear glands, or follow an early infection. A lesion present from when the eyes opened may also be a developmental or early-infection scar, which won't fully clear even if tear production improves.

Slow reduction of cloudiness and vessels is typical. Repeating the tear test a few weeks after starting the tear-stimulating ointment is reasonable, and many vets continue lubricants until the tests stay normal. Steroid-containing drops should only be used once a fluorescein stain confirms there is no ulcer, and many ophthalmologists prefer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops or the tear-stimulating ointment alone when vessels are the main concern.

Topical eye steroids and the tear-stimulating ointment are unlikely to have a meaningful effect on vaccine response, but it is still reasonable to vaccinate on schedule. Expect partial rather than complete clearing of the central scar. If tear production improves, many dogs can taper lubricants, but tear tests should be repeated regularly. Consulting a veterinary ophthalmologist directly is the best way to fine-tune treatment.

See dry eye in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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