Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery to remove eye tear sac foreign bodies in dogs
By Allgoewer, Ingrid et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2025·Animal Eye Practice, Germany·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: A transconjunctival surgical technique for dacryocystotomy in dogs with foreign body-induced dacryocystitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with tear duct infections caused by foreign bodies underwent a new, less invasive surgery to remove the blockage. In 85% of the cases, a foreign object was found during the procedure. Most dogs had a catheter placed to help with healing, and 87% of them had clear tear ducts at their follow-up visit about a month later. This technique proved to be effective and had a good success rate, making it a promising option for treating this condition in dogs.
People also search for: dog tear duct infection treatment · foreign body in dog's eye · dacryocystitis in dogs · Golden retriever tear duct surgery · dachshund eye problems
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe a simplified, less invasive dacryocystotomy technique that allows for complete inspection of the canine lacrimal sac and to retrospectively evaluate this surgical technique in a larger series of dogs. The anatomical background of the canine nasolacrimal system is described as a basis for the surgical technique. METHODS: Records of dogs from 2003 to 2023 which were diagnosed with dacryocystitis due to presumed foreign body and underwent surgical exploration and removal of foreign bodies within the lacrimal sac using this technique were reviewed. Postoperative treatment and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Records of 48 dogs were included. A foreign body was discovered during the surgery or upon retrieval of the catheter in 85% of cases (41/48). An indwelling catheter was placed in 83% of cases (40/48) for a median of 21 days. At the last recheck, the nasolacrimal duct was patent in 87% of the cases (41/47). The median follow-up time was 34 days (3-1255 days). The most commonly affected breeds were Golden retrievers (11) and dachshunds (8). The following complications occurred: two dogs removed or partly removed the catheter themselves (day 7, day 14), and one dog showed marked irritation at the catheter site which had to be removed by day 10. CONCLUSIONS: The transconjunctival dacryocystotomy technique is simple and less invasive than other described techniques with a successful long-term outcome in the majority of cases.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597216/