Roscoe's Mystery Eye Problem

[DevilDog]

This is driving me crazy. I've probably started 3 or 4 threads about Roscoe's eyes over the past 7 months. All of the issues he's had before, are not the same as what is going on now.

 

For a small re-cap.. starting last November he started getting weepy eyes. Over the next couple months it morphed into goopy and red. 3 separate vet visits have done nothing to figure out what the problem was. He had the Shirmer tear test on 2 separate occasions, Corneal Fluorescein Stain, pressure tested and a good long look into the eyes. Everything was normal. Vet prescribed Neo/Poly/dex opthamolic drops on the first visit. Eye improved but soon got crummy again. The next trip to the vet it was suggested he might have chronic dry eye and to give him moisturizing drops every day (Visine). No improvement. Not long after, I woke up to a very miserable Roscoe with squinting, weeping, red, itchy and cloudy eyes. Off to the vet and then the eye specialist. Full blood panel, tick panel- all normal. Vet diagnosed as severe anterior uveitis. Vet prescribed Dexamthasone/Neo Soln and Flurbiprofen drops. Then his neck swelled up like a balloon and we had to deal with something else entirely so the eye issue took a back seat, however, with the drops and antibiotics (for his neck) the eyes cleared up. All better! Not so much.

 

So the eyes themselves look good. Clear and bright, no squinting or anything. The only thing we're dealing with is the corners of the eyes are puffy. They're not red.. maybe pink sometimes, but theyre really skin color. I think it's because Roscoe has itched the fur off. The weeping is minimal now, but the swelling remains. He itches them a few times a day. I've changed his food, thinking it may be an allergy. He's back on Taste of the Wild which he does wonderful on and he ate this food well before the eye issues ever started. I give him the visine drops a couple times a day. Seems to help a bit.

 

I really can't afford to go to the vet right now for something that they can't figure out. If it were an emergency, I'd go. I want to help Roscoe and clear this up. Does anyone know what this could be? Or ways to help the swelling go down? Home remedies? Drops or ointments? Magic fairy dust? Anything???

 

Halp!

 

He was sleeping when I took this so don't mind his third eyelid.

 

Edited June 4, 2010 by DevilDog

[Sambuca]

Bu sometimes get that if I rub his eye goobers off a bit to hard. I'd go to whole foods or somewhere like that and either find vitamin E or some other moisturizer that is safe to put near the eye. I don't put anything on Bu, but that's because the pinkness goes down after a few minutes.

[DustysMom]

I know this is really outside the box but - do you have a cat? The inside corners of my eyes go crazy - swelling, itching, etc when I'm exposed to cat for a period of time. I don't even know if an animal with fur can be allergic to another type of furry animal.

[NeylasMom]

My suggestion is to switch to a prey model raw diet. A lot of dogs that have chronic ear or eye problems stop having them when put on a raw diet. A compromise might be to try a premade raw diet for a bit - they do usually include veggies, but at least they don't include grains and the nutrients are accessible. Sorry you're having so much trouble.

 

Oh, one other thought - have you tried Benadryl? If not, you could try it - I would go straight to the max dose (consult with your vet) to see if it has an effect, not as a treatment option, but as a diagnostic tool. If it helps, at least you know you are likely dealing wiht an allergy issue (in which case, my advice is still the same, with the addition of a fish oil supplemtn). Good luck.

[DaisyDoodle]

The tear test is to check if the tear duct is blocked, right? My Lucky had to have her tear duct unblocked and it decreased the weepy eye issue by about 80%. I don't know if it would be worth having that procedure done even if the test was negative??

 

I would also recommend Benadryl. Check with your vet first, of course, but it shouldn't do any harm--at worst it will make for a sleepy greyhound.

 

For myself, I use an allergy-relief eye drops. Maybe you could use those to reduce the inflammation and allergic-type activity locally (rather than a pill which is systemic).

[Batmom]

How are his teeth?

After all that, I would put him on a single protein diet -- NOTHING else, use whatever protein you pick for treats, too -- and see what happens. Give it at least 3 weeks. He could have a food allergy, and getting along with a food previously is no guarantee he hasn't developed an allergy to it. He could also have an environmental allergy, in which case the food change won't help.

 

Doesn't matter whether the single protein is cooked or raw -- same protein, same response in terms of allergy, despite what some of the raw feeders might tell you. Evanger's makes some single protein canned foods without additives; they're more affordable than some options. I *would* pick a protein he hasn't had lately. I was able to use beef for my Zema. Not cheap over the long term but a whole lot cheaper than repeat vet work with no answers.

[DevilDog]

How are his teeth?

After all that, I would put him on a single protein diet -- NOTHING else, use whatever protein you pick for treats, too -- and see what happens. Give it at least 3 weeks. He could have a food allergy, and getting along with a food previously is no guarantee he hasn't developed an allergy to it. He could also have an environmental allergy, in which case the food change won't help.

 

Doesn't matter whether the single protein is cooked or raw -- same protein, same response in terms of allergy, despite what some of the raw feeders might tell you. Evanger's makes some single protein canned foods without additives; they're more affordable than some options. I *would* pick a protein he hasn't had lately. I was able to use beef for my Zema. Not cheap over the long term but a whole lot cheaper than repeat vet work with no answers.

 

To be blunt, his teeth suck. He came to me with lousy teeth and he still has lousy teeth. He's had dentals (not one recently though) and I brush his teeth and use PetzLife (I think that's what it's called). I try to brush or apply the gel every night. He also has antlers to chew on. Anyway!.. Ugh on the food! If it's not one thing it's another. Blah! I had changed him back to TOTW hoping it might be a grain allergy, but it's been a couple weeks and that doesn't seem to be the case. So he's been on a primarily bird diet. Chicken, turkey, duck... He's on the fowl TOTW formula now. So.. I'll try the single source protein. This is tricky because he's also chubby and I'm trying to get him to lose a few pounds. Switching his diet all the time is not helping.. but I digress.

 

I really don't think raw is an option for me. I would think it's more expensive, time consuming and messy. I don't have the funds, extra time or appropriate place to feed. So that's out. I've never notice Evangers around, but then again, I haven't been looking.

 

I'm also leaning toward it being an allergy, so I will continue to look into the foods..

 

Oh! I also never considered the treats! Oh boogers. I have sooooo many bags of free Wellness treats I received. Figures.

 

And DustysMom, No, no cats.

 

DaisyDoodle, yes the tear test is to determine tear duct blockage. He passed that test. Twice. And yes he does get Benadryl. Not all the time, only when the eyes really seem to bother him. And good idea with the allergy relief eye drops. I'm only using regular drops for him now.

 

Thanks all! Keep the ideas coming!

[ivon]

Bu sometimes get that if I rub his eye goobers off a bit to hard. I'd go to whole foods or somewhere like that and either find vitamin E or some other moisturizer that is safe to put near the eye. I don't put anything on Bu, but that's because the pinkness goes down after a few minutes.

 

 

Vitamin E is NOT safe to put near the eyes, at least the bottle I have says so, but there is a cream made for dry eyes that would be fine to use, the name is Refresh PM and you will find it in the eye drop aisle.