Epidemiology of Canine Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca and the Efficacy of Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus in its Clinical Management and Tear Production: A Comparative Study

Authors

  • Apeksha S Bhalodi M.V.Sc. Scholar, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, KU, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India.
  • Abhi S Patel Department of Veterinary Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India.
  • Bhautik N Saripadiya Department of Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India
  • Abhishek K Patel Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India
  • Arnold R Mecvan Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India
  • Ankush J Mayani Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India
  • Pinesh V Parikh Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.1.14

Keywords:

Canine, Cyclosporine, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Schirmer tear test, Tacrolimus, Tear production

Abstract

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eye is a significant cause of ocular morbidity in dogs. This study was aimed to determine the  incidence of KCS and to compare the therapeutic efficacy of oil-based 2% cyclosporine and 0.03% tacrolimus ointment. Over a period  of one-year, KCS was the most frequently diagnosed ophthalmic condition (24.70%, 41/166) among canine ocular affections. Incidence  of KCS was the highest in dogs aged 1-5 years (65.85%), in females (58.54%), and in the Pug breed (43.90%). For the therapeutic trial,  26 client-owned dogs (52 eyes) were divided into two treatment groups: cyclosporine and tacrolimus and monitored for 60 days. The  key clinical parameters, viz., ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperaemia, corneal pigmentation and Schirmer tear test (STT) values were  systematically scored. Both treatments significantly mitigated the inflammatory signs of ocular discharge and conjunctival hyperaemia  (p<0.05). Treatment with tacrolimus successfully arrested the advancement of pigmentation, particularly in mild KCS cases, showing a  statistically significant (p<0.05) advantage over 2% cyclosporine. 0.03% tacrolimus was also found to be significantly superior (p<0.05)  to 2% cyclosporine in increasing STT values across all severity groups (mild, moderate, and severe) by day 60. In severe KCS cases, only  tacrolimus produced a statistically significant increase in tear production. These findings underscores that while both agents address  superficial inflammation, tacrolimus has a superior lacrimostimulant effect providing a superior therapeutic outcome by controlling  the vision-threatening progression of corneal pigmentation for the management of canine KCS. 

 

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Published

2026-01-10

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026): The Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology (IJVSBT) (Jan-Feb ) 2026

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology

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How to Cite

Bhalodi, A. S., Patel, A. S., Saripadiya, B. N., Patel, A. K., Mecvan, A. R., Mayani, A. J., & Parikh, P. V. (2026). Epidemiology of Canine Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca and the Efficacy of Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus in its Clinical Management and Tear Production: A Comparative Study . Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, 22(1), 72-76. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.1.14