Eye Ulcer

[Lisa and Pic]

Poor Jazzy's eye seemed to be hurting and she was yelping when I tried to clean around her right eye. The vet said she had an eye ulcer and it is kind of like a pimple. Anyway she is on medicine and doing great now.

We are on the next generation of Yorkies and this medical issue was a new to me. Have any of your Yorkies experienced this?

[matese]

Sorry, none of my pups had this issue. Just want to say keeping lil Jazzy in my thoughts and prayers, this to be terribly annoying and painful for lil tyke

[Lovetodream88]

Poor baby. I have not had one with an ulcer but eye issues seemed to be going around my house. Penny had conjunctivitis and had to be on eye ointment and then Ollie just finished having to have eye drops because his eyes were irritated. I hope she heals fast.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by matese

Sorry, none of my pups had this issue. Just want to say keeping lil Jazzy in my thoughts and prayers, this to be terribly annoying and painful for lil tyke

Thank you. Apparently this is not contagious but I wonder if it can be inherited. Hmmm.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Poor baby. I have not had one with an ulcer but eye issues seemed to be going around my house. Penny had conjunctivitis and had to be on eye ointment and then Ollie just finished having to have eye drops because his eyes were irritated. I hope she heals fast.

Aww, hope your pups are better. Jazzy is doing very well an will be off the medicine by this coming Wednesday.

[Maximo]

Poor Jazzy! Max has experience with corneal ulcers, which are a tear, hole, or scratch in the thin outer layer of the eyeball. I'm confused by your vet comparing it to a pimple, if we are talking about the same thing.
Very painful stuff. The medication for corneal ulcers is just to keep the eye from getting infected. Eyes have amazing power to heal themselves, sometimes very rapidly. With Max, I found cool, moist air helped speed healing. Heat aggravated his problems.
One ulcer he had wouldn't go away and he was scheduled for a surgical procedure to help the eye heal, a grid kera-something. On the day of the surgery, I carried him around outside in the cool morning air and the ulcer closed within an hour. The doctor confirmed when we arrived at the office and cancelled surgery.

Sending best wishes to Jazzy for a speedy recovery.

[Bluebells]

Originally Posted by Lisa and Pic

Thank you. Apparently this is not contagious but I wonder if it can be inherited. Hmmm.

As a foster, I’ve dealt with eye ulcers several times in dogs and cats, although never in a yorkie. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to them. The propensity isn’t exactly a genetic defect but rather a genetic trait of the breed — picture dog breeds that are somewhat “bug eyed” which causes extra stress on the structure of the eyes. I don’t think yorkies are in that category.

In my (limited) experience, though, most eye ulcers have been the result of trauma or infection. Kittens are especially prone to eye ulcers when they have untreated respiratory infections. I think that “dry eye” is also one of the leading causes, which I would guess is more common in winter, when inside air tends to be drier.

I hope your baby feels better soon.

[Maximo]

One more thing to share if we are talking about corneal ulcers -- Give the eye a couple extra weeks to heal before bathing Jazzy's head. That gives the cornea more time to strengthen. I made the mistake of bathing Max once a week and I believe the bath re-opened the ulcer a couple times.

[Maximo]

I agree with Bluebells. Dry eye can be one factor. In Max's case, it was trauma. First was conditioner in the bath getting in his eye. Then it was playing with his brother Teddy, paw to the eye. Then it was hair in the eye and rubbing. One thing after another. About 7 months of that before we solved all of the problems.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

As a foster, I’ve dealt with eye ulcers several times in dogs and cats, although never in a yorkie. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to them. The propensity isn’t exactly a genetic defect but rather a genetic trait of the breed — picture dog breeds that are somewhat “bug eyed” which causes extra stress on the structure of the eyes. I don’t think yorkies are in that category.

In my (limited) experience, though, most eye ulcers have been the result of trauma or infection. Kittens are especially prone to eye ulcers when they have untreated respiratory infections. I think that “dry eye” is also one of the leading causes, which I would guess is more common in winter, when inside air tends to be drier.

I hope your baby feels better soon.

Thanks for the info about your thoughts on the genetics of the ulcer or not. I am not sure what caused it and it could have been the result of some rough play. I am still giving her medicine but her eye has no red in it now so thankful for that.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I agree with Bluebells. Dry eye can be one factor. In Max's case, it was trauma. First was conditioner in the bath getting in his eye. Then it was playing with his brother Teddy, paw to the eye. Then it was hair in the eye and rubbing. One thing after another. About 7 months of that before we solved all of the problems.

Thanks Kristin. I will be extra careful with bathing after hearing Max's story. Jazzy seems to be back to normal so happy about that.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Poor Jazzy! Max has experience with corneal ulcers, which are a tear, hole, or scratch in the thin outer layer of the eyeball. I'm confused by your vet comparing it to a pimple, if we are talking about the same thing.
Very painful stuff. The medication for corneal ulcers is just to keep the eye from getting infected. Eyes have amazing power to heal themselves, sometimes very rapidly. With Max, I found cool, moist air helped speed healing. Heat aggravated his problems.
One ulcer he had wouldn't go away and he was scheduled for a surgical procedure to help the eye heal, a grid kera-something. On the day of the surgery, I carried him around outside in the cool morning air and the ulcer closed within an hour. The doctor confirmed when we arrived at the office and cancelled surgery.

Sending best wishes to Jazzy for a speedy recovery.

I think keratoma

[ladyjane]

Just seeing this....so happy to hear Jazzy is on the mend.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Just seeing this....so happy to hear Jazzy is on the mend.

Thank you!

[matese]

Great, that Jazzy is getting better, so happy for you and lil Jazzy.