Why this dog literally drools from his eyeballs

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A partially sighted dog can see again after vets re-routed his saliva glands to keep his eyes moist – whenever he smells food.

Miniature Schnauzer Teddy had a rare condition which meant his tear ducts didn’t work so his eyes were constantly drying up.

His owner Tracey Bonser, 53, became concerned about Teddy after he started bumping into walls and tripping over on his daily walks.

She took the eight-year-old pooch to the vet where he was diagnosed with severe dry eye.

In January surgeons rerouted one of Teddy's saliva glands to his eyelids so whenever he smells food, he literally drools from his eyes.

Dick White Referrals carried out the bilateral parotid duct transposition (PDT) on Teddy at their clinic in Cambridgeshire, England.

Consultant in ophthalmology Georgina Fricker, who operated on Teddy, said: “Teddy was suffering from ‘dry eye’ in both eyes, a condition that leads to a reduction in tear production, making the animal’s eyes inflamed and uncomfortable.

“He initially had eye ointments and drops to reduce his immune response, as well as tear replacers, but he stopped responding to all medication and was holding his eyes shut more than he had them open.

“We decided the best solution was to relocate the parotid salivary ducts from his mouth up to his eyes and it worked very well.

“Teddy bounced back brilliantly from surgery and now whenever he smells, thinks of, or eats food, saliva appears in both his eyes.”

Since the operation, Teddy’s eyesight has significantly improved and he has now made a full recovery.

Relieved owner Tracey, from Stowmarket, England, said: “It was wonderful. Teddy was back to his usual, mischievous self and it was such a relief.

“It had been so painful for him to try and open his eyes, and he was always rubbing his eyes against the sofa and on walks he’d be bumping into walls and slipping off curbs because he couldn’t see properly.

“His quality of life was awful and we were really concerned because he was really going downhill but our local vets referred us to Dick White Referrals and they were absolutely phenomenal.

“Teddy is happily playing again with our other miniature schnauzer Yogi and his eyes are so much better.

“After being so dry, his eyes are now streaming when you wave some food for him or are preparing his meals.