Purulent dacryocystitis (nasolacrimal duct drainage) secondary to periapical tooth root infection in a donkey

Periapical tooth disease in the equid has been extensively described. Rostral cheek tooth abscessation usually leads to external facial swelling, and in some cases, nasal drainage. Periapical infection of the caudal cheek teeth usually results in maxillary empyema and sinusitis. This case report describes a donkey with periapical tooth root infection of the left 3rd maxillary premolar (207) diagnosed with computed tomography, which drained exclusively into the adjacent/collateral nasolacrimal duct.