Determinación de Queratoconjuntivitis Seca en perros domésticos en la ciudadela Patricia Alarcón, del cantón Echeandía.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) is an ophthalmological pathology that affects tear production and can cause symptoms such as eye irritation, dense secretion, frequent blinking, corneal pigmentation and, in advanced cases, blindness. Early diagnosis is key to avoiding serious complications, since without timely treatment, the disease can progress to total loss of vision. This study aimed to determine the presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in domestic dogs from the Patricia Alarcón citadel, in the Echeandía canton, province of Bolívar, Ecuador. An evaluative and descriptive research was carried out, using the Schirmer test to measure tear production in 40 dogs of different breeds and ages. The Chi-Square statistical method was applied to analyze the data obtained. The results indicated that 75% of the dogs evaluated had normal tear production values, while 25% were classified as suspected of KCS, without any positive case being confirmed. In the analysis by age, it was observed that dogs older than 7 years showed a greater tendency to suspect the disease. However, no differences were found. Although this study found no confirmed positive cases, the presence of suspected cases suggests the need to monitor the patient's ocular health. Owners are recommended to attend regular veterinary check-ups and encourage the use of the Schirmer test in veterinary clinics. Furthermore, it is essential to promote education about this disease to improve its early detection.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) is an ophthalmological pathology that affects tear production and can cause symptoms such as eye irritation, dense secretion, frequent blinking, corneal pigmentation and, in advanced cases, blindness. Early diagnosis is key to avoiding serious complications, since without timely treatment, the disease can progress to total loss of vision. This study aimed to determine the presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in domestic dogs from the Patricia Alarcón citadel, in the Echeandía canton, province of Bolívar, Ecuador. An evaluative and descriptive research was carried out, using the Schirmer test to measure tear production in 40 dogs of different breeds and ages. The Chi-Square statistical method was applied to analyze the data obtained. The results indicated that 75% of the dogs evaluated had normal tear production values, while 25% were classified as suspected of KCS, without any positive case being confirmed. In the analysis by age, it was observed that dogs older than 7 years showed a greater tendency to suspect the disease. However, no differences were found. Although this study found no confirmed positive cases, the presence of suspected cases suggests the need to monitor the patient's ocular health. Owners are recommended to attend regular veterinary check-ups and encourage the use of the Schirmer test in veterinary clinics. Furthermore, it is essential to promote education about this disease to improve its early detection.

La Queratoconjuntivitis seca (QCS) es una patología oftalmológica que afecta la producción de lágrimas y puede provocar síntomas como irritación ocular, secreción densa, parpadeo frecuente, pigmentación corneal y, en casos avanzados, ceguera. Su diagnóstico temprano es clave para evitar complicaciones graves, ya que, sin un tratamiento oportuno, la enfermedad puede progresar hasta la pérdida total de la visión. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la presencia de queratoconjuntivitis seca (QCS) en perros domésticos de la ciudadela Patricia Alarcón, en el cantón Echeandía, provincia de Bolívar, Ecuador. Donde se realizó una investigación evaluativa y descriptiva, empleando el test de Schirmer para medir la producción lagrimal en 40 perros de distintas razas y edades. Se aplicó el método estadístico Chi-Cuadrado para analizar los datos obtenidos. Los resultados indicaron que el 75% de los perros evaluados presentaron valores normales de producción lagrimal, mientras que el 25% fueron catalogados como sospechosos de queratoconjuntivitis seca, sin que se confirme ningún caso positivo. En el análisis por edad, se observó que los perros mayores de 7 años mostraron una mayor tendencia a la sospecha de la enfermedad. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias. A pesar de que este estudio no encontró casos positivos confirmados, la presencia de casos sospechosos sugiere la necesidad de monitorear la salud ocular del paciente. Se recomienda a los propietarios acudir a controles veterinarios regulares y fomentar el uso del test de Schirmer en clínicas veterinarias. Además, es fundamental promover la educación sobre esta enfermedad para mejorar su detección temprana.