Harvey: The Dog Who Couldn't Produce His Own Tears

Harvey has a condition called Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, more commonly known as “Dry Eye.” Dry Eye occurs when either not enough tears are produced or the tears are of poor quality and evaporate too quickly. This causes the eyes to dry out, leading to pain, discomfort, infections, corneal ulcers, and potentially permanent damage.

Dry Eye is a common eye disease in dogs, and typically, this condition is managed with daily, lifelong medication to improve tear production. However, Harvey’s condition didn’t respond to medication, leaving his eyes persistently dry. As you can see in the before photos, his eyes were dull, irritated, gunky, and he often squinted. Poor Harvey was quite uncomfortable and at risk of serious eye damage.

It is rare for the medication to fail, meaning a rare solution was needed. Harvey’s owner opted for Dr. Gavin Newman to perform an uncommon surgery called a “Parotid Duct Transposition.” This procedure relocates saliva ducts from the mouth to the eye pockets, providing lubrication with saliva to prevent the eyes from drying out.

An interesting side effect of this surgery is that excessive salivation, such as during mealtimes, can lead to increased eye lubrication. This may cause Harvey to appear to “cry” while eating!

Harvey was an absolute superstar and made a full recovery. His eyes are now much healthier and brighter, making him a happier boy. As you can see in the after photo, his eyes are clear and shiny, all thanks to the power of saliva!

Thank you to Harvey’s owner for allowing us to document and share his incredible story.