Worried About Roscoe

[DevilDog]

Roscoe has been battling an 'eye infection' since about December. It started as a pink weepy eye. We went to the vet and after a few tests it was decided it may be a run of the mill infection and it was treated like pink eye or a blocked tear duct with some antibiotics and some other thing (can't remember). It never improved so we went back to the vet. The eye itself and the lids looked good, so it was determined that maybe it was chronic dry-eye and some moisturizing eye drops would help with the weeping/itching. There was no improvement. It was never a huge issue, Roscoe showed no signs of discomfort besides the itching, but last night the eye got worse. It was redder than usual and he was squinting. Same thing this morning, except I noticed both eyes seemed to bother him, they were much redder than before and his third eyelids were out maybe a third of the way. His eyes also looked a little cloudy, but I never gave it much thought as it was subtle. So off to out 3rd vet visit. The doctor is stumped. Now both eyes are affected and they are red and inflamed. The vet wants me to bring Roscoe to an opthamologist right away. Apparently the lens in one eye has 'something on it' and he has no clue what it is. This is worrysome since the eyes looked greyt just 2 weeks ago. He said the 'infection' may be internal?

 

I can tell Roscoe doesn't feel good. His third eyelids are half way covering his squinty eyes, they're red and weepy. He's passed out right now in the living room. I closed the shades and covered his head with a blanket to block some light.

 

I'm worried.. it's one thing to have an eye infection, but another to have a mystery with a cloudy lens. I don't know.

 

Edited March 26, 2010 by DevilDog

[carronstar]

Sending lots of good thoughts for Roscoe. I know that third eyelid completely flipped me out the first time I saw it! I hope he feels better soon.

[Guest Energy11]

Poor Roscoe!

 

Has the vet ruled out Pannus? Sometimes, that can cause the redness, cloudiness, etc.

 

Has he/she also ruled out severe allergies? We are getting some pollen counts up this way, ourselves, with the warmer weather and wind.

 

Sending love, hugs and prayers your way! Dee and The Five

[Guest mountain4greys]

I wonder if it's Pannus. Our dog went through some of the same symptoms. We had to go to an eye specialist vet to figure it out. You have to move quick on this, because it can only get worse on his eyesight.

 

Others will chime in, I'm kinda new to the Pannus thing, but the emergency vet misdiagnosed it, and my vet sent me directly to a specialist.

Edited March 16, 2010 by mountain4greys

[Guest Energy11]

I wonder if it's Pannus. Our dog went through some of the same symptoms. We had to go to an eye specialist vet to figure it out. You have to move quick on this, because it can only get worse on his eyesight.

 

Others will chime in, I'm kinda new to the Pannus thing.

 

You are right on moving quickly. My friend's dog, 10, has it, and it is getting worse, in spite of the drops three times a day and the oinment. I am obviously thinking Pannus, too.

[rascalsmom]

I'd try to get him into the specialist ASAP. I've found that you don't want to mess around with eye issues too much--go right to the specialist if the regular vet is in doubt.

 

Buddy had pannus, but his was a result of a couple of corneal ulcers (over a period of a few years) in the same eye. It kicked his immune system into overdrive, and pannus was the result.

 

Just an obliquely-related horror story: someone I know had a cat with eye issues. The regular vet tried treating it, was convinced she could figure it out. After enough time went by, my friend had enough. The cat, by this time, couldn't see well. Took her to another vet--not a specialist, but one who ONLY treats cats--and he knew instantly that her cat had glaucoma. The cat was blind by that time. She had to take her to the ophthalmologist, and both of the cat's eyes were removed. But at least she wasn't in pain any more, and she's getting along fine now.

[maggiespet]

Sorry Roscoe and you are going through this Lisa. I have no eye experience but getting him checked out by a specialist sounds like a smart thing to do. Hoping it's just an easy to get rid of infection.

[DevilDog]

Thanks everyone. I've called the opthamologist and they can see him tomorrow morning. Thank doG.

 

My vet didnt say anything about pannus, but we did discuss the allergy possibility. It seems unlikely, especially since the problem started in December and we've had a very cold winter. The only thing that's changed for Roscoe is his food, but for it to only affect one eye for a long time seemed unlikely as well. It's just now that it's 'spread' to both eyes.

[DevilDog]

Update: Besides inhaling a pasta dinner I made for him, Roscoe's been passed out since 4. Definitely unusual... he didn't even bother me for his evening walkie... so we skipped it. When he was in the kitchen with me while I was preparing his pasta, both of his eyes were obviously cloudy. They're much worse from earlier today. It's making me crazy nervous.

 

[Guest summernights]

I'm not a vet or a doctor, but my initial thought is iritis or iridocyclitis. The main reason I'm thinking iritis is the cloudiness (cell and flare in the anterior chamber [space between the back of the cornea and the iris]), the reddened eye and the "something on the lens", which may be posterior synechia - the iris adhering to the lens. Iridocyclitis is very similar to iritis, except it involves more weepiness/tearing and constriction of the pupil. They're both types of uveitis, which is name for a broad range of conditions resulting in the inflammation of the interior of the eye.

 

The good news is that if it is one of those, it should be able to be taken care of with drops - atropine to dilate the pupil and break up any adhesions (it takes about two weeks to wear off, btw), and a steroid like prednisolone. Bad news is that poor Roscoe's eyes hurt, and there's often some sort of underlying cause to uveitis. Also, uveitis can lead to glaucoma.

 

My black cat had uveitis, plus I work in a specialty ophthalmology clinic (where I tend to learn things by osmosis), which is why I know all together too much about these conditions

 

Good luck tomorrow at the ophthalmologist, and snugs to Roscoe!

[Scooby172]

Keeva, my grey/whippet had uveitis, red, weepy eyes,third eyelid exposed. First treated as an eye infection, when it didn't clear up went to the specialist, it took awhile to get better and needed several medication trials. Good luck.

Linda, Valor, Keeva and Bella

Edited March 17, 2010 by Scooby172

[Burpdog]

Good thing you are going to a specialist! Sending prayers.

[DevilDog]

Morning update: I let Roscoe sleep with me last night for the first time ever.. I wanted him to be comfy and he sure was! Took up most of the bed. Anyway, his eyes are still quite cloudy. I'm getting nervous, his appt is at 10:30.

[Guest Energy11]

Glad you both got a good night's sleep! Sending good luck, hugs and prayers for today!

[Guest twhitehouse]

Hoping the specialist can figure things out for you today. Hugs to Roscoe.

[Guest Downtownhoundz]

I'm just now reading this, but I wanted to send good thoughts your way!Hope that big boy of yours gets better and it's only a simple thing!!! Hugs!

[DevilDog]

ugh. I feel sick.

 

Ok, just got back from the specialist. It's severe Anterior Uveitis. Doctors notes say "...is inflammation of the anterior uvea or vascular tissue of the eye. Can be painful and cause squinting, ocular redness and a cloudy appearance". (the cloudiness is an accumulation of fibrin in the front of both eyes). "There are many causes of uveitis, both benign and secondary to life-threatening illnesses such as certain bacterial infections and cancer".

 

I had them do a full blood panel to try to determine the cause, which is unknown.

 

"We also recommend having your primary vet perform a chest and abdominal radiographs to look for evidence of metastic cancer". (!!!!)

 

 

[Guest TheUnrulyHound]

Oh Lisa I am so sorry I hope for the best news for Roscoe, that there is no cancer

[Scooby172]

When Keeva was diagnosed with uveitis, I went through the same thing, many tests to rule out all kinds of things, nothing showed up. Vet Opthamologist said sometimes dogs just get uveitis with no known reason. I personally had uveitis, no cause ever found. I will say that uveitis is painful, Keeva was more irritable when she had it and I remember having eye pain, also very sensitive to light. About a year later, Keeva was diagnosed with hypothroid, may have been a connection or not, no further issues with uveitis. Try not to worry Roscoe may just have gotten it, the meds will help him feel better. Good luck!

[Charlies_Dad]

Lisa,

 

I am sorry to hear about Roscoe. I truly hope it's not cancer and it's something else that is treatable. It can be caused by various things, infection, neoplasia, trauma, and immune-mediated (I doubt it's trauma as boy eyes have the problem). Pulled the following from the net:

 

"Initial laboratory test should include serum chemistries, complete blood count, heartworm test, serology for FeLV and FIV, and possibly thoracic radiographs. These test may demonstrate evidence of an underlying disease process, and thus help direst further test and possible therapy. If the results of systemic evaluation are negative, an etiologic diagnosis may be difficult to determine and is often presumed to be immune-mediated."

 

Keeping fingers crossed for you and Roscoe.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Charlies_Dad

[rebeccamcl]

Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear about Roscoe. I hope the meds work for him and he feels/sees better soon. Take good care of that sweet big boy!

Rebecca

[Guest greysonly]

keeping my fingers crossed for your baby. I hope his eye heals up real soon and there is no C!

[retiredracers]

Keeping my fingers crossed that it's nothing on the serious side and that it just needs different meds and a little more time!!!

 

Hugs to you!

[45MPHK9]

we are thinking good thoughts for you and roscoe. we are hoping for the best for you and your boy.

[Guest smudgebear]

Fingers are crossed for Roscoe!