Dry eye

Dry eye, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a shortage of the watery part of the tears. The eye becomes red and sticky with thick discharge, the cornea can ulcer and scar, and the dog rubs at its face. In a UK study of 364,000 dogs, 0.4 percent had confirmed dry eye in a year; the American Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Pug and Lhasa Apso had by far the highest odds, and the English Cocker Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were also predisposed¹.

Diagnosis is a simple tear test at the clinic. Treatment is usually lifelong eye drops that stimulate tear production, plus lubricants; most dogs do well once drops are given consistently¹. That consistency is where a reminder app earns its keep. A dog with a red eye, squinting, or a discharge that returns after treatment should be rechecked, because an untreated dry eye can lose its sight.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.

Sources

1. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: an epidemiological study (O'Neill DG et al.). Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2021 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.