Abstract
In this study, ophthalmic examinations including a Schirmer tear test and pathological examination of the ocular tissues, including the lacrimal glands, were carried out in two dogs with corneal ulceration. The two dogs were diagnosed with Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) based on the clinical findings. Inflammatory cell infiltration, dominated by lymphocytes, was observed in the interstitium of the lacrimal gland tissues. Occasional destruction of the acinus structure was associated with the lesions. Association of the immune-mediated inflammatory changes in the lacrimal gland tissues is suggested as one of the underlying factors responsible for the development of canine KCS. Further study is required for elucidation of possible association of the auto-immune mediated mechanism, which is similar to Sjögren's syndrome in humans, with the observed changes in the present two dogs.
