Epiphora in the dog: measurement of the tear pH

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to measure the tears pH of Poodle dogs, using pH paper tape measurement. Sixty five animals were used (35 dogs with coloured spot near the nasal area and 30 dogs with no coloured spot). A complementary questionnaire was made to the owners asking about how long the spot have been there and the food offered and the medicines used by the animals. A Chi Square Test of independence type was used, for matching the relation between the presence of the coloured spot and sex; the near the nasal area tear pH; the presence of the coloured spot and sex; tear pH and sex; presence of the coloured spot and type of feeding; tear pH and type of feeding; presence of the coloured spot and use of any oral medicines; tear pH and use of oral medicines; presence of the coloured spot near the nasal area and age. In conclusion , the acid pH is not associated with the coloured spot near the nasal area; there is a relationship between the coloured spot near the nasal area and the food; the majority of the animals,with or without the stain, presented tear pH values between 5 and 6.