Eye Problems Already?

[Guest Annabelly]

So I adopted Manny just shy of three months ago and while it's been awesome, I'm already noticing some weird stuff going on... Firstly his eyes, which are obviously the most important. Secondly his sensitive tummy, but I feel that's normal and I'm determined to go prey-model starting sunday. Anyway... I woke up from a nap one day (around 7 pm) and noticed his eyes were red and irritated. The third eyelids were super red as well in both eyes. I freaked out thinking ohmygosh glaucoma, pannus, dry eye! And went straight to an evet.

 

They took him after a 10 minute weight and ran a dye test and pressure test and she also "checked" for pannus. I guess all you can do is examine the eye. I had also noticed that his limbal rings in both eyes weren't a clear black, and mentioned that to the vet. She said she wasn't sure if it was connected to his red eyes and gave me NeoPolyDex for "allergies". I'm a little upset that she dismissed my worry about the limbal rings, but the drops seemed to sooth his irritated eyes right after application. All was well, I'm thinking YES it's only allergies! Well I made an appointment with an opthomologist anyway. Good thing too, because now I randomly notice that in parts of his eyes (by the limbal ring), he has this on and off "cloudiness" in random spots, never more than a centimeter in length. It's this blue-grey color, and just kind of shows up. However, it goes away with the drops. I can't get any good pictures because he's squirmy.

 

How weird is that? The NeoPolyDex is a steroid, and should only help an infection/allergies, but it's helping this strange cloudiness? I'm so confused.

 

But my question is, should I wait for the optho appointment on the 26th, or should I take him to my regular vet before that to check for diabetes, cushings (which I was told can cause eye problems?) The e-vet said he was "probably fine" until the 26th, but that was before I noticed this random occurance. He's only three, and obviously it will be hard for you guys to see it without pictures, but I was wondering if you had any similar experiences with an "on and off" blue-grey cloudiness. It just seems strange to me and unlike anything I've been able to find research-wise. I'm almost hoping I'm going crazy-because it's sometimes there and sometimes isn't! What the heck. Anyway, thanks for the input, sorry if the wall of text seem rushed, I have food on the stove!

[Sambuca]

Sometimes you won't notice the cloudiness depending on the light. Bu started having some cloudiness a couple years ago (he's 7 now) and the vet said its normal as they get older. His vision had not seemed to change and they don't bother him. If the drops are helping the discomfort, I wouldn't panic. If anything changes then try to push up the vet visit.

[seeh2o]

I would get a. FULL thyroid panel before going to the ophthalmologist and take the results to that visit. Carl had perilimbal rings in both eyes, was misdiagnosed by regular vets repeatedly. Initially he was given drops that seemed to help temporarily, too. He had a correct diagnosis within 10 min at the specialist. He was untreated hypothyroid and after about a month or two on Soloxine we began to see improvement...it took the better part of a year for his eyes to clear up. I also have him on Niacinamide 500mg 1x daily. His eyes look great now, just two small spots on one eye that do not impede his vision.

 

Good luck to you.

Edited November 16, 2013 by seeh2o

[seeh2o]

Here is a link to a thread with photos of the progression of his eye issue. I think the final diagnosis was perilimbal peripheral lipid keratopathy.

[Guest Annabelly]

Thanks so much for the info, seeh2o-I'll get the thyroid panel before I go in on the 26th to the specialist. Manny's eyes don't look anything like the perilimbal rings, but every disease manifests somewhere so I'll be letting my vet know about all this. My other initial thought is dry eyes, since that's the only one the e-vet didn't test him for-but again his eyes look VERY different than the google images, though I know those to usually be pretty extreme cases. My vet will get a call on Monday! Thanks again. Also could be something related to some adrenal stress/cushings, so I'm already planning on talking to her about all those.

 

Thanks to Sambuca as well, though Mr. Manny is only 3, and I know that's a prime age for pannus but I don't think it's anything age related. Yes the drops do help, and my "greyhound grandma" said that the drops helping are a definite good sign! (She's had 9 greys over who knows how many years so I call her immediately with anything Manny related, lol). She also saw him today and we compared eyes to all the other greys (playdate), and they look more normal to me now... Only having one dog is hard if you can't compare with a "normal" one! Hers also has pannus, and she said if it turns out to be pannus that the medication is very beneficial (unless in a rare case) and that her grey's pannus actually improved over time. I'm just glad I found something so early. Could still be NOTHING and I could be a freak. Here's to hoping I'm simply paranoid!

Edited November 16, 2013 by Annabelly

[EllenEveBaz]

I'm sorry Manny is having medical problems, especially this early. Sounds like you're getting everything checked out. I know it's hard, but try not to freak out too much -- especially since he'll pick up on this.