Observation of Canine Meibomian Gland with Noncontact-Type Meibography

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related changes in the morphology finding obtained in noncontact type meibography, and to compare the histopathological findings of the meibomian gland with the meibography findings in dogs using noncontact-type meibography. We examined 88 eyes in 46 Shih Tzu dogs with no ocular symptoms, and sorted them into three groups according to age. The rate of appearance of atrophy findings and loss of meibomian gland findings were higher in the middle-aged group and the old-aged group than in the juvenile group. Further, we examined the histopathological findings of areas where changes in the meibomian findings were evident in four dogs. The results suggested the canine meibomian gland form was closely related to aging, and the meibography findings were correlated with meibomian histopathological findings.