Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Meibomian gland problems in dogs with eye surface disorders
By Viñas, Marta et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2019·Policlinico Veterinario Roma Sud, Italy·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), as diagnosed by non-contact infrared Meibography, in dogs with ocular surface disorders (OSD): a retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 70% of dogs with eye surface problems (ocular surface disorders) also had meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which affects tear production. The research included 81 dogs, mostly older and with a higher prevalence in males. The presence of MGD was linked to a very thin lipid layer in the eyes, which is crucial for tear stability. If your dog has eye issues, especially if they are male or older, it might be worth discussing MGD with your veterinarian, as it could be a significant factor in their condition.
People also search for: dog eye problems · meibomian gland dysfunction in dogs · treatment for dog ocular surface disorders · why is my dog’s eye watery · older dog eye issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the possible conditions underlying ocular surface disorders (OSD). Prevalence of MGD in dogs affected by OSD has not yet been reported. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MGD among OSD canine patients, which had been assessed by non-contact infrared meibography and interferometry, and to identify MGD associated factors that might guide its diagnosis. Medical records of canine patients examined for OSD between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed. The frequency of MGD was evaluated within different categories (skull conformation, gender, eye and STT-1). The putative MGD risk factors and frequency of MGD within grades of interferometry were evaluated in a regression analysis model and reported as odd ratios (ORs). RESULTS: One hundred fifty eyes from 81 dogs with OSD were included with median age 75 months (range 3-192) and female representation with 52%. MGD was present in 70% of the examined eyes. MGD risk was higher in males OR = 3.015 (95% CI: 1.395-6.514) (P = 0.005) and older patients OR = 1.207 (95% CI: 1.081-1.348) (P = 0.001). No significant differences were found between left and right eyes (P = 0.66) or between the two types of skull conformation (P = 0.477) and MGD presence. MGD was associated to the lowest lipid layer (LL) thickness, as assessed by interferometry (grade 0) OR = 16.00 (95% CI: 2.104-121.68) (P < 0.001). STT values were not significantly associated with the presence of MGD (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MGD is a common underlying pathology in OSD. Being male and higher age are risk factors for MGD. An interferometry grade 0 may guide OSD diagnosis towards MGD.
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/31805929/