Evaluation of results for Schirmer tear tests conducted with and without application of a topical anesthetic in clinically normal dogs of 5 breeds.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, for clinically normal dogs, results of Schirmer tear tests in eyes without topical anesthetic (STT) and to detect differences associated with breed, sex, age, day, and time of day in eyes in which STT was performed after use of topical anesthetic (STTa).


METHODS
41 Beagles, 43 Labrador Retrievers, 25 Golden Retrievers, 26 English Springer Spaniels, and 22 Shetland Sheepdogs.


METHODS
Beagles had STT and STTa values measured twice daily for 5 days. Client-owned dogs of 4 other breeds had STT and STTa values measured once.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD values of Beagles for STT and STTa were 20.2 +/- 2.5 and 3.8 +/- 2.7 mm/min. Mean values for STT and STTa were as follows: Labrador Retriever, 22.9 +/- 4.1 and 9.6 +/- 3.8 mm/min; English Springer Spaniel; 20.7 +/- 3.2 and 5.4 +/- 3.4 mm/min; Golden Retriever, 21.8 + 3.7 and 8.8 +/- 3.1 mm/min; and Shetland Sheepdog, 15.8 +/- 1.8 and 3.6 +/- 2.8 mm/min. Overall mean values for STT and STTa were 20.2 +/- 3.0 and 6.2 +/- 3.1 mm/min. Differences for STT and STTa were detected among breeds, but significant differences were not associated with sex or age within each breed or in overall values for all dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Results for the STT reported here compare favorably with reported values, except for results of Shetland Sheepdogs; however, results for the STTa differ dramatically from reported values. Clinicians should consider effects attributable to breed when evaluating results of STT and STTa in dogs.
Hamor
R E
RE
Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
Roberts
S M
SM
Severin
G A
GA
Chavkin
M J
MJ
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000367:Age Factors; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000662:veterinary*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011430:Propoxycaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; C005717:proxymetacaine; D011430:Propoxycaine