Gunky/Crusty eyes which are red raw underneath

[LondonRee]

Hi,

Its been a while since I've posted, but a vet trip yesterday as made me want to get your opinions.

I have my yorkie as a rescue, and one of his eyes has always been a bit gunky. i wash him once a week, and try and to just loosen it off. Wiping daily didn't seem to prevent the lump of gunk forming.

It did get bad at one stage, as I left the gunk, and when it finally comes away its really red raw underneath. I spoke to my pet shop owner, and decided to get it off myself, which I did. It was red, for about 24 hours, but within a week, no matter how much wiping I do, the gunk is back, which each time goes raw underneath.

I did read somewhere that the rawness is caused by the difference in acidity of the gunk and his skin? Which then makes them stick together?

Anyhow, I finally decided to give in and try the vet, to see if I could find a way to stop the cycle.

The vet was pretty short with me, and I really felt like he was telling me off. It was horrible, and I'm pretty cross.

The vet prescribed painkillers and antibiotics, and we're to return in two days to consider putting him under so the vet can properly clean it all (the dog really wont let the vet touch him, again the vet seemed to tell me off for having such a difficult dog!). However, I'm now considering my alternative options.

Three times I asked what my options would be after the cleaning, and he couldn't give me any. Which leaves me back with a clean eye for one week, then the gunk will be back.

The vet wouldn't believe me that red rawness would be gone by the morning, and he flat out said it wouldnt. I tried to explain I had removed the gunk myself prior and the rawness never lasted long. He just shut me down. And what a surprise, this morning the redness is gone.

Anyhow....I'm considering changing his water? I've been reading about pros and cons of distilled water/filtered water....but haven't managed to find any threads where the eye gunk causes that red rawness underneath?

Or even something like Angel Eyes? I have read that food has impacted eyes too, but he's on the only food I've found which doesn't make him scratch, so I'm wary about changing his food.

I'd love some suggestions to try.

[YorkOfTheShire]

Hi,

It's not always a case of acidity, etc. Sometimes the dog has clogged tear ducts, as is the case with our Sprout. This blockage is very common in toy breeds and it can be a hereditary issue, an allergy or an infection. Sprout gets warm compresses on a daily basis to rid him of the annoyance, but there is also a surgery available that requires opening of the tear duct. He won't get this because he is 14 and the surgery requires sedation and general anesthesia...the vet feels it may do more harm than good putting him under at this age. So...we treat him every day at home with warm wet washcloths and compression at the site. It works for him and he's used to it now, and will lay there and let us...it doesn't hurt him.

The majority of the time, if the gunk and rednesses, and staining seems to be an every day part of life, it's more than likely a clogged tear duct, and not a simple acidity versus skin. For dogs who get it every so often it's usually a minor infection that can get worse if not treated. Antibiotics from a qualified vet are in order in some cases.

In all honesty I would trust your vet - he may be able to tell what kind of a duct issue your dog has by initial assessment, and that's why he was so adamant that he be the one to treat it. I don't think his approach was very good, but if he can fix it I would let him. Not all vets have a great bedside manner. One of our vets is a complete jerk all the time, but is a very qualified vet and always has the right answer - so we put up with his bad bedside manner. We don't pay our vets to be socialites, we pay them to fix our pets' boo-boos.

[Maximo]

The red and raw area are under the eye? There have been a couple members whose dogs had similar problems and they had dental problems that created a hole/sore underneath the eye.

Is the eye itself okay? If there is any redness or irritation, I would have your dog tested for dry eye.

From your description, sounds like much more than normal eye boogers.

[YorkOfTheShire]

Originally Posted by Maximo

From your description, sounds like much more than normal eye boogers.

x2

[LondonRee]

Thanks, yes its raw when I remove the gunk from the skin around the eye, not the eye itself.

I'm mildly concerned as my dog will need to be sedated to have his eye looked at, and he's an old guy.

Perhaps an infected/blocked duct....yes perhaps.

I'm going to call and ask if I can see another vet next time.

[LondonRee]

Great I just checked who my appointment on Thursday was with and its the other vet, who I prefer. Feeling much better about returning now.

[YorkOfTheShire]

Awesome! Good luck and please let us know what the findings are!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by LondonRee

Great I just checked who my appointment on Thursday was with and its the other vet, who I prefer. Feeling much better about returning now.

That is great news. You should always feel comfortable with the vet.

[Wylie's Mom]

Glad you're seeing another vet bc the last one sounds like kind of a jerk .

It could be an infection, clogged ducts, turned-in eyelashes, dry eye, and even dental issues like someone said. My Vet Ophthalmologist says that rawness/redness *around* the eye (the skin) is often caused by dry eye. So you may want to try a non-prescription product for dry eye before trying something like angel eyes.

Please keep us posted and I hope it gets better soon!

[LondonRee]

My man has had quite a week! The vet wanted to put him under to look at his eye properly as he wont allow them to even get close. After themost horrific dog scream I've heard as they wrestled a muzzle on him, I left him in their hands.

They called half way through to say they wanted to take his teeth out while he was under.

So they took teeth out, cleaned the rest and shaved his face off to look at his eye.

The vet says nothing is wrong with his eye. They seem to think that keeping his face shaved will help. But he's already got new gunk, one day on, that is already causing red raw skin when removed.

So I'm back to the beginning, but with a naked-face dog with a sore mouth!

[kjc]

Wow! If the ABs and missing teeth don't help (may take a week or two) I'd try an antibacterial ophthalmic ointment that goes right in the eye, some will get on the skin around the eye which is fine. It will help make it easier to remove the eye goop. Also clean it with sterile saline solution, no tap water. Gerber Water is said to help with eye goop too.

[Maximo]

Poor guy! Did the doctor test for dry eye?

Is the gunk that you clean off of his skin definitely coming from his eye?

Maybe removing the bad teeth will have a positive effect, but it might take some time to see.

[chestermama]

did they do the test for possible dry eyes

[LondonRee]

I'm not sure what the tested for. When he goes for his checkup I will ask.

He had a bit of a poorly night, I guess his mouth hurts. But he managed to find his favourite thing (bones in the street)and chewed it so it cant be too sore!

His eye has gunked again already, which he has scratched off to the usual red raw underneath. I guess if its tooth related it may take a bit longer to settle down.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by LondonRee

I'm not sure what the tested for. When he goes for his checkup I will ask.

He had a bit of a poorly night, I guess his mouth hurts. But he managed to find his favourite thing (bones in the street)and chewed it so it cant be too sore!

His eye has gunked again already, which he has scratched off to the usual red raw underneath. I guess if its tooth related it may take a bit longer to settle down.

I would def ask about dry eye. There are great non prescription (and prescription) eye treatments for dry eye.

Like KJC said, you may want to try Gerber Nursery Water rather than tap water too.

If I were you, I'd prob be tempted to give Angel Eyes a try, even though I have some concerns about the product...I'd still be considering it if it would help my kiddo.