Does anyone have any info on this surgery? My puppy has severe dry eye and my vet has told me that the best option is to take some of her saliva glands and put them in her eyes. Any additional info would be great. Especially cost as my vet can't give me an idea because the surgery would be done by a specialist outside of their practice. Thanks

I haven't a clue about cost.  But, having researched this operation, I wouldn't go into it lightly.  It really is a last ditch attempt.  So many folk have reported bad side effects for their poor dogs.

My westie developed dry eye when she was very young, this was managed for years with optimmune and viscotears, this stopped working about a year ago. She was referred to the eye specialist at the vet school. I had no desire to go with the op because she has other medical problems etc, she is now on viscotears and protopic (used for human skin conditions). She is doing very well. Ask to see the eye specialist, but would be wary of this op as the one westie that I know that did have it had problems. Good luck with whatever you decide. (hope you are insured)

Hi, thanks for the info. She's on pilocarpine at the moment but it's only working on one of her eyes and that drug itself has some nasty side effects. I'd rather not have the surgery but I don't want to leave her on this medication either. The problem isn't that she doesn't have tear ducts, it's that the nerves controlling them aren't telling her to produce tears, and the pilocarpine stimulates the nerves. I don't know if there are any holistic treatments otherwise. I'm doing all the research I can before going the surgery route. It's definitely something I'll avoid if I can. Unfortunately when I bought her I was told she came with 6 weeks free insurance, but I wasn't told I needed to register for this so when she had her first appointment at the vet for her eye problem, she wasn't actually insured and now my insurance won't cover it. I've been saving up incase she has to have it. xx