Description of partial excision of third eyelid gland tissue on the bulbar aspect of the T-shaped cartilage and postoperative observations in 102 dogs: a retrospective technical report

Abstract

This record contains the English version and Japanese translation of a non-peer-reviewed retrospective veterinary technical report. Abstract This study aimed to describe a surgical procedure for dogs with persistent epiphora, tear staining, or both, and to retrospectively summarise postoperative findings. All macroscopically identifiable glandular tissue on the bulbar aspect of the T-shaped cartilage was excised while the cartilage and glandular tissue on its palpebral aspect were preserved. This single-centre, uncontrolled retrospective case series included 102 dogs that underwent bilateral surgery between January 2023 and March 2026; all procedures were performed by one surgeon. In 41 dogs with paired photographs, the extent of tear staining in each eye was scored on an exploratory 0–3 scale. At the last available photographic assessment (median, 42 days after surgery), the median bilateral score was 0 compared with 6 preoperatively. Scores decreased in 40 dogs and remained unchanged in one; none increased (two-sided exact sign test, P < 0.001). Overall, 40 of 41 dogs (97.6%; 95% CI, 87.4–99.6%) were classified as showing complete resolution or improvement on photographic assessment. At the last available medical-record-based assessment (median, 62 days after surgery), medical records indicated complete resolution or improvement of epiphora or tear staining in 91 of 102 dogs (89.2%; 95% CI, 81.7–93.9%). The available records contained no documentation of a new diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, initiation of treatment for this condition, an additional procedure, or reoperation; however, tear production and ocular surface examinations were not standardised. Without a comparison group and standardised case selection, follow-up, and testing, causality could not be established, and safety and long-term outcomes could not be determined. Files 1. English version2. Japanese translation License Except for the photographic panels in Figures 1–4, the files in this record are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). The photographic panels in Figures 1–4 are excluded from the CC BY 4.0 license and may not be reproduced or reused without prior written permission from the corresponding author.