Abnormal tear production in dogs is a problem that has been known for many years by both owners and veterinarians. The tear production causes permanent moisture of the fur in the corners of the eyes and may cause discoloration. Beyond not looking very nice, excessive tearing can irritate the skin, may cause bacterial infection and it may cause pain in the eyes in really bad cases.

Abnormal tear production is not an illness in and of itself but rather a symptom of a problem in the tear system or even outside the system itself. The causes can be many and they may include the following:

Abnormally placed hair on the eyelid
Hair from around the eyes
Foreign bodies in the eye
Entropic eyes
Ectropic eyes
Cyst on the edge of the eyelid
Problems in the tear channel
Infection of the tear channel system or the eye itself
Allergy

As mentioned, there can be many causes for this abnormal tear production. When inspecting the individual dog the problem is often found to have multiple causes. A veterinarian visit may be needed and may call for an exact and systematic examination. The vet's job is to determine the cause. The eye examination requires special light and other enhancement equipment. In some cases, the vet may believe that there is a scar on the cornea. The vet will administer a color test on the eye which will cause even the smallest scars on the cornea to show.

An examination of the tear canals should also be performed. Such an examination calls for a localized anesthetic to the eyes and a light sedation of the dog. Then, flushing of the tear ducts is performed in order to verify that the flow is unencumbered.

Since there can be more than one cause for the problem it may prove difficult to solve the problem completely. However, your vet should be able to give you valuable assistance. The following are examples of possible treatments:

Abnormal hair on the eyelids is removed by freezing of the hair follicles or removal by electro depilation.
Entropic or ectropic eyelids are changed by surgery.
A clogged opening of the tear duct is corrected through a small incision inside the eyelid.
Scars on the cornea and infections in the eye are treated pharmaceutically or through surgery.
In some instances it may be necessary for more than one treatment and this requires patience on the part of the owner.

Pay attention. You should immediately see a vet if your dog has excessive tear production, especially in the puppy stage.

In many cases the excessive tear production is not just a cosmetic problem with discoloration around the eyes. The dog can be in constant pain due to the irritation. This cornea problem caused by lack of tear production has for many years been a dreaded illness. The illness causes chronic infection of the cornea, which becomes foggy. The result is that the dog's sight is waning. In some cases blindness can occur. Recently, several forms of medication have been tried with disappointing results. Many types of medicine have been tried. The most common medication is a synthetic tear liquid that requires numerous daily applications. This can be a very trying treatment for any dog or for any dog owner. And no product can replace the dog's naturally produced tears. In some cases it has been possible to save a dog's sight by surgery.

Help is on the way. A new pharmaceutical product, Sandimmum, has resulted in great improvements in the treatment of the cornea. Humans during kidney and heart transplants use Sandimmum in an effort to avoid rejection of the organs. The reason for the use of Sandimmum in the treatment of the eye problem is based on new knowledge, that infection of a dry cornea has its cause in the body's normal immune protection system. In more than 70% of the dogs with the infection of the dry cornea it has been found that Sandimmum will reestablish the tear flow with use of only one or two drops per day. The infection of the eyelids disappears and the scars and the fog on the cornea disappear. This miraculous result was not possible with earlier treatment methods.