Surgical approach to nasolacrimal duct atresia in a German shepherd puppy

Authors: Caruso KA, Miller W, Koch S, Giannoni PM, Reynolds BD, Whittaker CJ
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 50, Issue 2, pp 84-92, Jun 2020
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Dog
Subject Terms: Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Clinical examination, Surgery
Article class: Clinical Report

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Abstract:

A 4.5-month-old intact male German shepherd dog presented to a referral small animal hospital with epiphora of the left eye, noted since the owners acquired the dog at 8 weeks of age. After examination, a disorder of the nasolacrimal apparatus was suspected, so the dog was anaesthetised to flush the nasolacrimal system and to perform dacryocystorhinography.

Atresia of the nasolacrimal duct was diagnosed and surgical correction via rhinotomy with placement of a stent was performed the following day. The epiphora was dramatically diminished at one month post-operatively, and almost completely resolved at 6 weeks post-operatively, at the time of stent removal. The dog was re-examined at 4 and 10 months post-operatively, at which times there was no recurrence of epiphora and minimal scarring at the surgical site.

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