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04-08-2009, 05:47 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 126
| Yorkie KCS Hi there!! I've been away for a long time trying to finish school and plan a wedding. I do have a question and wonder if anyone knows anything about KCS. We took Izzy to the vet on Friday to get her heartworm meds, and were going to get her dental and eye ducts flushed the following tuesday (yesterday). I asked the Vet to take a look at her eyes cause she always has a ton of goopies in them. So she looked at them, asked to run a tear test, and sure enough she has KCS--which i've come to understand as the inability to produce enough tears to keep her eyes wet. So since she has this we are now putting opptimune in her eyes twice a day, and putting artifical tears in as often as we can. Does any one know of any dogs that have this, and know if it is easily fixable?? the vet said it would probably be a life long thing... she's only 4 this month!! oh the dental went good---her teeth are amazingly white--i've never seen them like this.. but she did have to have 3 more bottom front teeth removed cause they were loose... any advise is helpful!!! thanks!!!
__________________ **Kayla** IZZY and **Toby** |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-08-2009, 06:12 AM | #2 |
Yorkie Yakker | I found the following link that may be helpful...it was chocked full of information on KCS! Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) in Dogs Hope this helps! |
04-08-2009, 06:19 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| My Lady was diagnosed with KCS a couple of years ago at age 11. We tried cyclosporin (the active ingredient in Optimmune), but it didn't really help her produce tears. I now get Tacrolimus compounded through Lady's opthamoligist and the results have been amazing! As far as artificial tears, Genteal Severe Eyel Gel (not drops) works the best. You need a gel to really coat the eye and last longer. I liked Genteal better than Lubrithol, the gel Lady's opthamolgist prescribed for her. Buy GenTeal Lubricant Eye Gel, Extra Value Twin Pack Online at drugstore.com Did your vet discuss possible surgery since your Yorkie is so young? In addition to the discomfort, dogs with dry eye are more prone to corneal ulcers. They also build up scar tissue on the surface of the eye over time which can lead to blindness. Lady is not a candidate for surgery because of her age and health issues, but if she were younger I would look into it. Surgical options are discussed in the last paragraph: KCS (Dry Eye) |
04-08-2009, 06:23 AM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 126
| So far we are just doing the opptimune and the tear drops for a month then checking back with the vet. Is it normal for there to be bumps on the cornea area (darker place) on the eye?? She only has this on one side, which i'm assuming is worse than the otehrs. I've been looking at her eyes very closely. I dont' think we could even afford surgery since we are both students, graduating in may, one has a job, we are getting married and have to try to move out on our own. I would love to do it if it'd fix her, but i know we can't afford it. I'm worried about being able to afford the meds and the yearly dentals right now even. Has Lady's eyes been getting better???
__________________ **Kayla** IZZY and **Toby** |
04-08-2009, 06:40 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| I would really urge you see an opthamologist. Surprisingly, Lady's isn't any more expensive than her regular vet. The office visit is higher, but all the tests and medications are less, so it balances out. Lady isn't getting better. KCS/dry eye is something they have for life. You have to be diligent about doing the artificial tears throughout the day. Our opthamologist said even hourly wasn't too much. The Tracrolimus works so well at producing tears for her, though, I don't have to do it so often anymore. The bumps on the cornea could be scar tissue. You'd have to ask your vet. |
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