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Eye problems

JudyN

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I know the proper answer is probably 'We can't give medical advice, see your vet', but thought I'd ask anyway as some people might have experience of this...

A few weeks ago, Jasper got a bit of a gloopy eye. He was rubbing it occasionally, the white of his eye looked red, and rather than the normal clearish eye gloop, it was opaque and creamy, a bit like mayonnaise.

I bathed it in boiled saline water for a few days - the gloop changed to more normal, translucent gloop, he rubbed it less, and it looked less red - but the other eye also started getting a bit of discharge.

After a bit of advice and online research, I got some Optrex for Eye Infections (safe for dogs according to many sources, even though not licensed for them). It was only after the pharmacist gave me the third-degree - I told her they were for my son (false) who has ME/CFS (true) and can't get to the pharmacy easily (sort of true...ish) - that I realised that they were antibiotics, so not to be used unnecessarily.

So, the current situation - for a couple of weeks now, I've been bathing his eyes in the salty water about three times a day. He gets a small blob of gloop in the corner of each eye which builds up between washes, but sometimes he manages to go from morning to evening without it building up. Sometimes it will be enough to leak forward of his eye, other times it's so slight I can't manage to get it out as he won't keep his eye wide open. The whites of his eyes look fine, and he's not been rubbing it at all. As well as not wanting to use antibiotics unnecessarily, I'm unsure how he'll take to the drops - he's fine with bathing, but is very suspicious of something 'different' and VERY reactive if he thinks it's going to hurt.

Do you think I should persevere with the bathing? When he had a similarly gloopy eye before a vet told me it was normal (even though it was only in one eye and cleared up spontaneously). Or should I use the Optrex? (I can spend a couple of days desensitising him once it's open.) Or should I go to the vet - who I'm sure will either tell me to carry on bathing it, or sell me something with the same ingredients as the Optrex that costs 4 times as much?
 
Thanks @JoanneF - I've never tried him with an ointment before (so wish me luck!). Their range seems to include antibiotics and antiseptics - have you used the non-antibiotic formulation?

Also, will the pharmacist quiz me when I buy it?
 
You might find it online.

And, yes, I am going to say that you should consult your vet. Eyes are so precious. They would not say it is "normal" if they thought it needed treatment.
 
Thanks @JoanneF - I've never tried him with an ointment before (so wish me luck!). Their range seems to include antibiotics and antiseptics - have you used the non-antibiotic formulation?

Also, will the pharmacist quiz me when I buy it?
I think it was just the antibacterial one - and the pharmacy may ask questions (don't say it's for J).
 
I've used Golden Eye Ointment on dogs and myself. l find it both soothing and anti-inflammatory. Yet the eye problem you describe is now chronic rather than acute (though sporadic) therefore I'd want a diagnosis. Whether it was one of the dogs or me!
 
One of my lurchers suffered from this, this year another forum i go on LL several lurcher owners noticed the same eye problem. ..high pollen count ????i bathed her eye in plain boiled water 4 X daily and i use viscotears its a gel ..it keeps the eye lubricated ..i use them for my guniea pigs too...i bought these from the vets many years ago at 4 X the cost of my pharmacy. ...:p
 
"Carbomer" eye gel is the same as the viscotears, and can be purchased online for even less money. Our vet suggested it years ago for scratched and itchy eyes after the dogs have done a lot of "bramble bashing"! It is so soothing for many eye things and works quickly. It remains on the eye surface longer than drops. (it is safe for our dogs/pets eyes)
I always keep a tube in my Barbour pocket and if I remember, one in the car too. I buy mine online from AMAZON, a pack of 10 x 10g tubes costs £10.99 and no delivery charge.

1. WHAT VISCOTEARS IS AND WHAT IT’S USED FOR
Viscotears contains the active ingredient, carbomer (polyacrylic acid). Viscotears is used to make your eyes more comfortable when they feel dry. It is one of a group of eye drops called ‘artificial tears
 
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Thanks everyone:) He's hardly had any gloop to speak of today so fingers crossed the regular bathing is getting on top of it. But if it persists I'll try one of the options suggested - and take him to the vet if it seems itchy or his eyes get red again.
 
I hope it clears up for him soon! If it was me, I'd be off to the vet, but I am a bit overly cautious about this sort of thing. Coincidentally, Jimmy had a weeping eye earlier, it looked like a piece of grass had got in there (went to a local park and he loves jumping through long grass as he runs along, he looks like a furry dolphin) and as it was on the edge of his eye, I was easily able to wipe it out.
 
I'm sure Jasper can suck the gloop back into his eyes when the bit of cotton wool approaches:D My vet is very hands-off (necessarily so with J ;)) and J's looking better again today, with no more gloop than I often see in other dogs' eyes. Hopefully now I can get back to fretting over his possible corn again, but that's a story for another day...
 
I know the proper answer is probably 'We can't give medical advice, see your vet', but thought I'd ask anyway as some people might have experience of this...

A few weeks ago, Jasper got a bit of a gloopy eye. He was rubbing it occasionally, the white of his eye looked red, and rather than the normal clearish eye gloop, it was opaque and creamy, a bit like mayonnaise.

I bathed it in boiled saline water for a few days - the gloop changed to more normal, translucent gloop, he rubbed it less, and it looked less red - but the other eye also started getting a bit of discharge.

After a bit of advice and online research, I got some Optrex for Eye Infections (safe for dogs according to many sources, even though not licensed for them). It was only after the pharmacist gave me the third-degree - I told her they were for my son (false) who has ME/CFS (true) and can't get to the pharmacy easily (sort of true...ish) - that I realised that they were antibiotics, so not to be used unnecessarily.

So, the current situation - for a couple of weeks now, I've been bathing his eyes in the salty water about three times a day. He gets a small blob of gloop in the corner of each eye which builds up between washes, but sometimes he manages to go from morning to evening without it building up. Sometimes it will be enough to leak forward of his eye, other times it's so slight I can't manage to get it out as he won't keep his eye wide open. The whites of his eyes look fine, and he's not been rubbing it at all. As well as not wanting to use antibiotics unnecessarily, I'm unsure how he'll take to the drops - he's fine with bathing, but is very suspicious of something 'different' and VERY reactive if he thinks it's going to hurt.

Do you think I should persevere with the bathing? When he had a similarly gloopy eye before a vet told me it was normal (even though it was only in one eye and cleared up spontaneously). Or should I use the Optrex? (I can spend a couple of days desensitising him once it's open.) Or should I go to the vet - who I'm sure will either tell me to carry on bathing it, or sell me something with the same ingredients as the Optrex that costs 4 times as much?
Not quite the same I know but there are a couple old midwives tricks that are tried and tested on babies One is breastmilk in the eye, not practical I know. The other which is also recommended by doctors for sticky eyes in babies is baby shampoo. That really does work, but whether it would work with dogs I don't know
 

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