Dog Dry Eye or Canine KCS Especially Common in Winter Says Sharon Kleyne
Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) January 27, 2016 -- Winter is not only the worst season for dry eye symptoms among humans, it is also the worst season for pet dry eye. "Dog dry eye," also known as “canine KCS” (“keratoconjunctivitis sicca”) can pose a serious winter health risk to pets. Water advocate Sharon Kleyne, host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® radio show and a lifelong dog owner, recently reported on recognizing dog dry eye and on strategies for keeping the eyes of house pets healthy and well hydrated through the winter months.
Kleyne will discuss dog dry eye, Canine KCS and winter dry eye precautions for pets on her Sharon Kleyne Hour™ Power of Water® radio show of Feb. 1, 2016. The globally syndicated, education oriented radio show is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica (Health and Wellness, and Variety Channels) and Apple iTunes. For the live broadcast, or podcasts of past shows, go to http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2207/the-sharon-kleyne-hour
Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere, body surface evaporation, dehydration and education. The Research Center’s signature product for dry eye is Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®.
According to Kleyne, dry eye syndrome is far more common among dogs than cats, although cats can also develop dry eye. Dogs are extremely curious, constantly poke their faces into underbrush, and often walk with their noses close to the ground. This leaves their eyes susceptible to dust, twigs, insects, etc. Other dry eye causes in pets include eye injuries, medications such as sulfa, and genetic predisposition.
Dry eye symptoms in dogs include pawing or rubbing of the eyes (which can also cause further injury), eye redness, a dull, dry look to the cornea (the clear part of the eye); gummy, stringy or crusty ocular discharge, hypersensitivity to light, eyelid twitching, inflamed eyelids, squinting and blinking, corneal ulceration and obviously impaired vision..
Dry eye occurs more often in winter than summer, Kleyne explains, because cooler air cannot hold as much humidity (water vapor) as warmer air. Wind makes dry cold air especially dehydrating to eyes. Also, more time is spent indoors in winter, exposed to forced-air heating. Cool air and forced-air heating can both increase the rate at which water evaporates out of the eye’s protective tear film and into the atmosphere. A healthy tear film should be 99 percent water.
The best dog dry prevention is to keep pets away from high risk situations such as extreme cold, especially where wind is present, and low humidity indoor rooms. The same measures will also prevent dry eye in humans.
According to Kleyne, several dog breeds are believed to be especially susceptible. They include West Highland White Terrier, American Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Pug, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Boston Terrier, Dachshund, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, English Springer Spaniel, Lhasa Apso and Shih-Tzu. Females and neutered males are more commonly affected, especially female Westies.
Numerous commercial medications for pet dry eye, says Kleyne, can be obtained from the veterinarian or pet store. If there is a secondary eye infection that also must be cleared up. Any crusty discharge should be wiped away with a clean, wet, warm compress.
Dog dry eye can also be soothed by applying an all-natural humidifying water mist. Kleyne suggests the product Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®. Although normally marketed for humans, the product is equally beneficial to pets. Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® is a product of Bio-Logic Aqua Research, founded by Sharon Kleyne.
According to Kleyne, Nature's Tears® EyeMist® is quickly and easily applied as a humidifying vapor around the eyes, without, fuss, resistance or pawing at the eyes.
© 2016 Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®. All rights reserved.
Mikaylah Roggasch, Bio-Logic Aqua® Research – Water Life Science® -Rogue Media, http://www.biologicaqua.com, +1 (800) 367-6478, [email protected]
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