Dry Eye Syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis sicca is painful for dogs and distressing for their owners. This syndrome is caused by a disruption of one or more layers of the three-layer tear film, resulting in decreased tear production and excessive tear evaporation. This can affect your dog's ability to see and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to blindness.

DogTears is the veterinarian's new standard-of-care natural treatment for canine dry eyes. It's a capsule, given orally (mixed with food), and designed to systemically address the root cause of canine dry eye.

Canine Dry Eye may be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

• Immune system malfunction
• Breed characteristics (short-muzzled, prominent-eyed breeds)
• Hypothyroidism, diabetes, canine distemper
• Drug toxicity
• Systemic inflammation
• Neuronal disruption, ocular surface/lacrimal gland loop
• Surgery
• Allergens
• Surgical procedures, including removal of Harder's gland

Symptoms and Treatments
Symptoms can vary from a slight staining underneath your dog's eyes  to very red and painful eyes with excessive discharge. Other symptoms may include blinking, scratching and squinting.

Dry eye can contribute to the over growth of bacteria, causing a buildup of ocular surface mucous. Dry eye syndrome may be associated with a systemic inflammatory process and is sometimes related to nutritional deficiencies or other illness. Canine dry eye symptoms have traditionally been treated with topical eye drops, including cortiscosteroid Cyclosporine, which is viewed by many as inappropriate for long-term use as well as being difficult to administer.

Since there is no permanent cure for dry eye syndrome, and treatment must be administered daily, it's far easier for most owners to simply add a capsule to their dog’s food than to apply drops or ointment. As many dog owners have learned to their sorrow, some dogs are very resistant to direct application of medication to their eyes.

Dosage Instructions:
Dogs 10 lbs. or less - 1 gelcap every other day
Dogs 11–25 lbs. - 1 gelcap daily
Dogs 25 lbs. or more - 1 gelcap daily for each 25 lbs.

Dosing Hints:
For smaller dogs unable to swallow the capsule, we recommend snipping the end off the capsule with scissors (not puncturing) and squeezing the contents into a small amount of wet food (canned, raw, etc).  Most dogs willingly eat it right up this way, and snipping the capsule is less messy and more controlable than puncturing.  If your dog has extra fur around the face that may get stained, separate the wet food into bite size pieces so it does not get on the fur.  It is well worth the bit of extra trouble when you see the results!

Supplement Facts
One Gel Cap includes:
Calories 5
Calories from fat 5
Fat .5g
Vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate) 500 IU
Vitamin C (as Calcium ascorbate 50 mg
and Ascorbyl Palmitate)
Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 25 IU
Vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols oil) 16 IU
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5-phosphate) 4 mg
Magnesium (as magnesium sulfate) 10 mg
Proprietary blend of GLA and DHA/EPA EFAs (as Black Currant Oil and Fish Oil) 400 mg
Mucopolysaccharides (mucin complex) 125 mg
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) extract (root) 50 mg
Lactoferrin 5 mg

Other Ingredients: Gelatin, glycerin, carob extract, yellow beeswax, titanium dioxidewater.
Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry and dark place. Keep out of reach of children.

The active ingredients in DogTears Oral Gel Caps provide natural antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory support for healthy tear film formation. Unhealthy tear film is associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (canine dry eye syndrome).

Precautions for Dog Owners:
Consult your veterinarian before giving DogTears to dogs taking Coumadin, Warfarin or generic versions of these medications, as DogTears may naturally increase clotting times.