Diet and Eye Gunk

[MauiGirl]

Interesting thread here, and I'll be watching for additional input.

Food must have an impact, but I don't know if it is the protein amount or other ingredients causing an allergic reaction. I do know that last year when I tried Wellness (can't remember what version) all 4 of my doggies had hugely increased eye boogies. Back to Natural Balance food, and back to less goop.

Two things I've seen recommended on MalteseTalk for less eye staining is to only give them distilled water, and another thing is to put a bit of vinegar in their water. Sorry I don't have time to research the specifics right now; maybe later.

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by kjc

You're welcome.... I use plain normal saline solution to clean around the eyes, and in a dropper to flush the eyes like on a windy day when dust and stuff may blow around and end up in the eyes. It's good to use also to flush out stray hairs and stuff too. I keep a tube of antibacterial eye ointment (no steroids) for general use in maintaining eye health.

Once my dogs had a skirmish, and my little guy's eye started swelling as I watched. I thought maybe saliva from the other dog may have gotten into his eye, so I quickly rinsed it, and put some AB eye ointment in it, before we went to the vet. It looked normal when the vet saw it, but I told her what happened. He did have some minor punctures (actually scrapes) on his lower lid and nose, and the vet wanted to give me Animax for it, but I said I was concerned with it being so close to the eye, could I just use the eye ointment on those wounds... she said yes.

So next morning, there's a greenish yellow pus in this eye. So I rinse it out, and as I applied the eye ointment I saw a tiny cut on the inside of his lower lid. This was missed the day before, but I was more concerned with the vet checking the eyeball itself so I wasn't too concerned, just made sure to apply the ointment 2x daily for a week then had the vet check it when he went back for a recheck.

Long story just to say eye supplies come in handy... Sterile Saline Solution, Natural Tears (nothing else), Triple Antibiotic eye ointment, and we're good to go! Oh and a flea comb to rmove gunk from the hair around the eyes (after it softens with the Saline Solution)

Your so right on!! Great posting!!

[kjc]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Interesting thread here, and I'll be watching for additional input.

Food must have an impact, but I don't know if it is the protein amount or other ingredients causing an allergic reaction. I do know that last year when I tried Wellness (can't remember what version) all 4 of my doggies had hugely increased eye boogies. Back to Natural Balance food, and back to less goop.

Two things I've seen recommended on MalteseTalk for less eye staining is to only give them distilled water, and another thing is to put a bit of vinegar in their water. Sorry I don't have time to research the specifics right now; maybe later.

I've heard of both the distilled water and using vinegar. Also filtered water, which I do through the whole house. To add to those, some folks use Tylan, or other additives. The main active ingredient of AngelEyes is Tylan AB powder. I am generally against adding anything for a long period of time, unless medically necessary and prescribed by a vet, as I feel some things may be masking the problem, not clearing it up altogether.

And I just found this article... Factors to eliminate Tear Staining - by Tonia Holibaugh - Rhapsody Maltese
This info is a bit more updated from the info I was refering to, and if my regimen is not successful, including diet adjustments and cleansing routines, I will be seeking veterinary treatment for this problem. Mine don't have really bad issues, but if one did I would go right to the vet as it can be a result of a systemic infection in the dog and require oral antibiotics also.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by kjc

I've heard of both the distilled water and using vinegar. Also filtered water, which I do through the whole house. To add to those, some folks use Tylan, or other additives. The main active ingredient of AngelEyes is Tylan AB powder. I am generally against adding anything for a long period of time, unless medically necessary and prescribed by a vet, as I feel some things may be masking the problem, not clearing it up altogether.

And I just found this article... Factors to eliminate Tear Staining - by Tonia Holibaugh - Rhapsody Maltese
This info is a bit more updated from the info I was refering to, and if my regimen is not successful, including diet adjustments and cleansing routines, I will be seeking veterinary treatment for this problem. Mine don't have really bad issues, but if one did I would go right to the vet as it can be a result of a systemic infection in the dog and require oral antibiotics also.

Thanks for sharing. Rosie just finished up oral antibiotics for a viral infection. I don't see where it helped her staining. I think I may mention it to my vet. Better safe than sorry.

[princessizzy]

Originally Posted by Britster

I've never heard of eye staining from too high protein of diet? That's new to me.

I know a lot of dogs get eye boogers on crappy foods, like Ol' Roy, Purina, Kibbles n Bits, and foods with lots of fillers. But sometimes different ingredients react to different dogs in different ways... I think it's just a matter of finding what works right for your dog. Fromm is an excellent food, IMO, but it causes major eye boogers in Jackson as well as a few others here on YT.

After A LOT of trial and error, We have found that the only dog foods that DO NOT give Izzy eye gunk is Orijen and Primal ...Fromm, wellness, wellness core, etc... all give Izzy nasty smelly funny eyes. So I don't see where its the Amount of protein, I think its more like the type off protein.. rat least in izzy's case it is.

[hugz4all4]

My vet has also said that toy dogs are more prone to eye tearing that larger dogs.
I have tried almost every food out there on the market, from super high quality and protien to lowere quality and lower protein.. not one helped with my dogs eye staining completly. I however did noticed when they were on foods like evo, acana, totw no grain foods, thier eye tearing/staing got alot worst than being on something with grains, which I know to most wont make sense, but thats how it has worked out for us. I keep my dogs on all natural eye staining product called..tear stain supplement by nutravet, it has all natural products, you give 1/4 teaspoon for dogs under 15 pounds, 200 gram bottle was 19.99 at entirelypets.com. It works very slowly but it definitly seems to be working. That and I keep thier eyes trimmed and clean them everyday with a washcloth and warm water.
I will be watching this thread with great interest..

[Lil Sis]

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...r-vinegar.html

I hope the link works.. but awhile back there was a thread about apple cider vinegar. I got it and boy oh boy... it works. Be sure to read the thread about the correct type.. organic (braggs is a good brand) I found it in our local Publix (grocery store) and it is at GMC.

I have an all white shih tuz-- terrible stains on his face and they improved within a week - also itching. I am going to use it in their rinse water. A lady at our play group who has a brewer swears by it.. uses it for her hair also.

Hope that helps
Shinja

[Lil Sis]

ooops I meant GNC

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by Britster

I've never heard of eye staining from too high protein of diet? That's new to me.

I know a lot of dogs get eye boogers on crappy foods, like Ol' Roy, Purina, Kibbles n Bits, and foods with lots of fillers. But sometimes different ingredients react to different dogs in different ways... I think it's just a matter of finding what works right for your dog. Fromm is an excellent food, IMO, but it causes major eye boogers in Jackson as well as a few others here on YT.

its funny to me that you make this statement because all of my immediatly family but me, have thier dogs on alpo, dads, beneful, pedigree, kibble n bits and all of their dogs have no eye boogers but mine,not to mention all of them have beautiful, soft and shiny coats and they all think Im crazy for spending the amount of money I do for good dog food, supplements for thier eyes and coats.. etc.. I can tell you this it has me second quessing myself..

[butterfly]

Great Thread!!

Sometimes, I swear I am so nieve!! Here I have had Yorkies for so many years and I just thought they all have eye gunk and that is just it. I never thought it might be a food related problem.

My little Angel has a big problem with this, my other not so much, just a little.

I have apple cider viniger, use it for myself, never thought of my doggies. I will start cleaning their eyes with it starting today and am anxious to see how that works. I too like most of you want to use something natural as much as possible.

It's always hard to start changing foods, when they're used to what they have, and the poops are so good. Seems when I start changing food there is a poop problem, some foods just make them so runny. It's confusing what won't upset their balance.

[butterfly]

I should have said too that my Chihuahua that is buff colored had a big running, eye stain problem. He started having allergy attacks last summer and we now have him on allergy shots and it totally stopped the eye running.:thumbup

[morkiecalvin]

I feed my two Wellness Small Breed. I have to say that they have no eye gunk but they do tear. Not as bad as they used. It seems to have gotten better.

[gumbysuz]

Do you think it would help to use the artificial tears each night before bed? I use them at bathtime and Dori doesn' seem to mind. My thought is the tears will prevent the eye gunk from sticking to sensitive eye area. Just wipe away in AM.

[gumbysuz]

Do you think it would help to use the artificial tears each night before bed? I use them at bathtime and Dori doesn' seem to mind. My thought is the tears will prevent the eye gunk from sticking to sensitive eye area. Just wipe away in AM.

[gumbysuz]

Whoops! Sorry guys; my iPhone messed me up.