Clinical and Histopathological Studies on Dilatation of the Superficial Third-Eyelid Gland of the Dog

Abstract

Ten dogs were found to be affected with the swelling and extraordinary exposure of the nictitating membrane, or the third eyelid. Clinically, they were diagnosed as cases of abnormal dilatation of glandular cells of the glandula palpebrae tertiae superficialis accompanied by slight, partial hyperplastic change of the gland.
Histologically examined, the abnormal glandular dilatation was presumed to have been induced by such intrinsic factor as excessive secretion of the gland itself. The role of extrinsic factor, if any, seemed to be minor or insignificant. Further histopathological studies must be done to determine whether this malady will develop into adenitis or tumor.