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08-04-2009, 01:15 PM | #1 |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
| Dry Eye Problems Hey all! I am needing you help or suggestions. Maddie was diagnosed with dry eye about 6-7 months ago. I started using Visine drops and putting fish oil on her food daily. THe problem seemed to be eliminated. However, a few days ago she woke up with her eye squinted and discharge in her eye. Is there something else I can do? Any suggestions? She looks pitiful. |
Welcome Guest! | |
08-05-2009, 05:46 PM | #2 |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
| anyone????? |
08-05-2009, 07:20 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 315
| One of my fosters has dry eye very bad. My vet said never use visine...it burns and doesn't do much to help the problem. He said to use Real Tears or drops like that that lubricate the eye. I have a prescription for my foster, Opptimune, but it is kind of expensive ($40) and requires a prescription. Hope this helps you out. |
08-05-2009, 07:23 PM | #4 |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | I use Genteal eye drops that you can get at the supermarket or drug store. You want to find drops that act as a natural lubricant for the eye like artificial tears.
__________________ Kellie and Morgan |
08-05-2009, 08:04 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Lady has had dry eye for for several years. It doesn't sound like a tear stimulator was ever prescribed for Maddie. These can help Maddie produce her own tears. Cyclosporin is the old standby, but it didn't work for Lady. Tracrolimus is fairly new and is a miracle for Lady. She started producing her own tears after a year. Maddie also needs artificial tears 4-6 times a day. Genteal Severe Eye gel is the best I've found. I would really recommend getting a referral to an ophthalmologist if possible. Dogs with dry eye are prone to ulcers, infections and can build up scar tissue over time which eventually causes blindness. How old is Maddie? Dry eye/KCS can be genetic in the breed. Some Yorkies can be born without (or very small) glands that produce tears. KCS (Dry Eye) |
08-06-2009, 05:41 PM | #6 |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
| She turned two in May. I add drops to her eyes 3-4 times per day or more if needed. I had used blink! gel drops b/c my husbands optometrist highly recommended them. They seemed to just quit working. Thanks for the responces! I will be getting her some Genteal drops tomorrow |
08-06-2009, 05:50 PM | #7 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rossville, Georgia
Posts: 972
| My Emmy has had dry eye since we got her as a puppy. When we went to get her from the breeder she had one eye closed. The breeder said she must have gotten a scratch from one of her littermates. Little did we know. We have a special compounded formula (medicine) that costs around $50.00. We also use Genteal drops in her eyes 3x a day. When she wakes up each day she has "eye boogers" that have to be cleaned out. So far we have shown no improvement with the ability to make tears. It is an expensive condition for a yorkie to have. She always gets various eye tests each time we visit the vet. I love Emmy and will do what I can to make her life tolerable.
__________________ Belinda and my furbabies, Alyssa , Emily Kate , and Lucy Lucy Dexter |
08-06-2009, 07:47 PM | #8 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
Are you using Tacrolimus? It has to be compounded, but so does cyclosporin. I would definitely ask your vet about it. Cyclosporin didn't work for Lady, but she actually has normal tear production with Tacrolimus. Of course, if Emmy was born without the glands that produce tears, it won't help. Have you taken her an ophthalmologist? There is a surgery that is described in the link I posted above. It might be worth considering since she is so young. | |
08-08-2009, 09:18 AM | #9 |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
| Update I decided to take Maddie to the vet yesterday. Her vet diagnosed her with an ulcer on her eye, NOT dry eye. That was the diagnosis from an ER vet I took her to one Sunday when she had a similar problem. Before, the ER vet gave me antibiotic drops and told me to use Natural Tears daily. The problems seemed to go away. However, as stated in my OP the problem came back. I am giving 1/4 in. strip of Cyclosporine once a day and using Vetropolycin ointment 3 times a day. We go back Monday. Are ulcers common in Yorkies? She seems to have this problem in the same eye. |
08-08-2009, 11:51 AM | #10 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
Did you read the link I posted in my other post? It will answer a lot of your questions. | |
08-08-2009, 10:11 PM | #11 | |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
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08-08-2009, 10:46 PM | #12 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,268
| Quote:
How long was Lady on Tracrolimus? Is she still on it? Abby's ophthalmologist has her on that and the Genteal Severe Eye gel. She has been on it since about April or May. She has been back a couple of times for follow-up visits. The tear test doesn't seem to change. She has another follow-up appointment August 25th.
__________________ Jan, Mommy to Abby | |
08-09-2009, 06:11 AM | #13 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
How old is Abby? Yorkies can sometimes be born without or with underdeveloped tear glands. If that is the case, a tear stimulator won't help. If they are going to respond to Tacrolimus, you see results within 14 days. Lady developed KCS as a senior and while cyclosporine didn't work, Tacrolimus has been a miracle for her. I would urge both Abby's Mom and Maddie's Mom to get a referral to an ophthalmologist. Lady has gone to one in private practice and also to the vet school. I honestly don't find them anymore expensive than my regular vet. The office visit is a little more, $65, but all the tests were cheaper than what my vet charged. They have much more sophisticated equipment and are far better to treat KCS than your regular vet. Dogs with KCS are prone to ulcers and infections. Eventually scar tissue will build up and they will lose their vision. It is also very uncomfortable for them. A board certified ophthalmologist is best able to treat them. | |
08-09-2009, 12:15 PM | #14 | |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
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08-09-2009, 01:44 PM | #15 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Quote:
How far are you from the University of Tennessee? They have excellent ophthalmologists there. | |
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