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Originally Posted by Justin  how much does all the medication end up costing you in the long run?
(i spoke with the foster mom, it sounds like they have been applying meds for a month and it hasn't gone away... mannn) |
KCS doesn't go away. Ginger will have it for life. In some dogs, tear stimulators will help them produce tears. Yorkies are prone to congenital KCS where they are born with lacrimal (tear producing) glands. In that case, tear stimulators won't help.
Cyclosporin didn't work for Lady. She gets Tacrolimus which has to be compounded. It costs about $30 a month. I go through a tube of Genteal artificial tears a week. They are about $10-$11 a tube. I'd estimate about $75 a months on medications. Lady sees an ophthalmologist twice a year. A routine exam runs between $125-$150. You also have to assume you will have some unplanned visits as dogs with KCS are prone to eye ulcers, infections, etc.
There is a surgery available which may be an option for Ginger because she is so young. It's quite expensive, though.
Again, I would really recommend a consult with an ophthalmologist so you know what you are dealing with. Regular vets don't have the training or equipment ophthalmologists have. An ophthalmologist will be able to determine if Ginger has functioning lacrimal glands and could be helped by tear stimulators.
Please read the article I posted. There is a lot of great information in it.