Barney

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Debbie, its funny you should say that. I was at the store I started combing through the MANY different varieties of artificial tears. There are several kinds .............who knew?
I ended buying "artificial tears" (the ingredients seemed the most inert)
but when I got home I was so confused I was afraid to give them
Will head back out today for refresh.

Thanks so much!

[BestBuddy]

Re: Barney

I used the optimmune (cyclosporin) ointment on Buddy for many months after the ulcers. I then started to use lacrilube ointment instead for the dry eye and it worked really well. I think it was Natalie that recommended this as Buddy was diabetic and I had to be careful with a lot of medications. The lacrilube seemed to be the simplest with the least ingredients/preservatives and it did work really well.
Jenny

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

I used the optimmune (cyclosporin) ointment on Buddy for many months after the ulcers. I then started to use lacrilube ointment instead for the dry eye and it worked really well. I think it was Natalie that recommended this as Buddy was diabetic and I had to be careful with a lot of medications. The lacrilube seemed to be the simplest with the least ingredients/preservatives and it did work really well.
Jenny

Hey Jenny!
Lacrilube is some pretty good stuff. We use it at work all the time on patients who are unable to blink and moisten their eyes. Thanks for the tip

[LuvMyMunchie]

Re: Barney

Hi Cheryl,

Here's another suggestion to add to your list. Munchie's Opthamologist first gave me an expensive drop for his dry eye, which I purchased from them (can't remember the name at the moment). He also gave me the name of a reasonably priced over-the-counter alternative I could use for him, which I have been doing since July '07. Seems to do the trick and works as well as the pricey one I first used as far as I'm concerned. It is GenTeal Lubricant Eye Gel (the Severe Dry Eye Formula). Seems like the different specialists must have their own preferences. This was the only alternative I was given for Mr. Munch.

We need a healing kissy icon...

Yeah.....and we could use a "margarita cheers" icon for all us frazzled parents too!!!

Louise

[gpgscott]

Re: Barney

Hi Cheryl,

Sorry to be so tardy in checking in.

I hate eye issues we have only had a few and they were all injuries not some systemic issue so I have no real advice, although it looks like you have had lots of good advice from others.

I can send well wishes though as you and Barney deal with it.

Scott

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Ok.....I did an ingredient search as well as a lot of reading on corneal ulcers.
The eyedrops that Debbie and Louise use, the active ingredient is carboxymethylcellulose. I think that the lacrilube is awesome and lasts a lot longer than the eyedrops because it is an ointment, but I think this would be good for after the ulcer is healed, to prevent a recurrence.

So......I have been cleansing his eye with sterile normal saline, and I bought the refresh drops with the carboxymethylcellulose. (that was one overwhelming decision, lol! Do you know what's available in eyedrops now?)
I have been doing the saline rinses for a few days now, his eye was beginning to look infected with a discharge. I just started the lubricating eye drops last night, but they appear to sooth his eye.

I have been doing the saline rinses for several days now. His eye isn't red like it was and there is no discharge, so I think if it was becoming infected, we nipped that in the bud. He also is on antibiotic eye drops prescribed by the vet.

He is holding his eye open more yesterday and today. Not all the time, but definitely more than he was. I have a vet appointment on Wed. Pray we've made headway!

When I ask Barney, "how's your eye?" He squints his eye Poor boy.

Thanks everyone for checking on us

Loves,
Cheryl

[Harley PoMMom]

Re: Barney

We've all got our paws up and praying for you and Barney
Harley and Lori

[BestBuddy]

Re: Barney

Good luck with Barney and his new eye regime. My sister has a very smart dog that had hurt her paw and got so much sympathy that every time you said poor girl have you got a sore paw she lifted it up and limped around. This went on for weeks until we realized she wasn't limping on the same leg each time. She was smart enough to know it got her attention and now several years later those same words make her lift one paw and start limping.

Jenny

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Good luck with Barney and his new eye regime. My sister has a very smart dog that had hurt her paw and got so much sympathy that every time you said poor girl have you got a sore paw she lifted it up and limped around. This went on for weeks until we realized she wasn't limping on the same leg each time. She was smart enough to know it got her attention and now several years later those same words make her lift one paw and start limping.

Jenny

You can't blame a gal for trying!

[forscooter]

Re: Barney

Oooo....we could have "Doggie Oscars"!

I hope the drops help Barney....I ouch all over thinking about it. I can related too much and am feeling his pain! How is he getting drops? Does he cooperate?

Thinking of you!!! Sending soothing healing thoughts....Beth

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Oooo....we could have "Doggie Oscars"!

I hope the drops help Barney....I ouch all over thinking about it. I can related too much and am feeling his pain! How is he getting drops? Does he cooperate?
Thinking of you!!! Sending soothing healing thoughts....Beth

Actually, he cooperates very well. He knows he gets cheese after the drops. Barney will tolerate nearly anything for a piece of cheese.
I tell him "come on Barney, lets get your eyedrops" and he and Beth both come running. (Beth always gets cheese too, ya can't feed one and not the other )

[Truffa's Mom]

Re: Barney

Barney!!! you little cheese bandit; or should I say Cheese pirate? You would look kind of "bow-wow hunky wow" with a patch over your sore eye .

When Truffa had her eye ulcer, I made apparently a very "usual" mistake. I applied extra drops of her anti-inflammatory drops. Her ophthalmologist told me that THIS INFLAMMATION was a good one, the anti-inflammatories on this case delay the healing process. And poof 20 days under his instructions and it healed. But I also know that probably Truffa's case was more superficial.

What he did was : under topical anesthesia he debrided (shaved, and I almost fainted watching that)corneal epithelium and performed a grid keratotomy; he prescribed 20 tablets of Tramadol 50 mg (2 tablets twice a day) for pain and an Ulcer Mix Solution -(He made it, I don't know what it contained) 1 drop 3 times a day. By the second day she wasn't squinting as much as before.

Here are two links that helped me a lot. Hope you get well soon and we will keep praying for good results.

http://www.2ndchance.info/cornealulcer.htm
http://www.pethealth101.com/eye/corneal_treatment.shtml (this one describes an ophthalmic solution with Adequan!!! very interesting)

Marcela & The Choco Labs

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Barney!!! you little cheese bandit; or should I say Cheese pirate? You would look kind of "bow-wow hunky wow" with a patch over your sore eye .

When Truffa had her eye ulcer, I made apparently a very "usual" mistake. I applied extra drops of her anti-inflammatory drops. Her ophthalmologist told me that THIS INFLAMMATION was a good one, the anti-inflammatories on this case delay the healing process. And poof 20 days under his instructions and it healed. But I also know that probably Truffa's case was more superficial.

What he did was : under topical anesthesia he debrided (shaved, and I almost fainted watching that)corneal epithelium and performed a grid keratotomy; he prescribed 20 tablets of Tramadol 50 mg (2 tablets twice a day) for pain and an Ulcer Mix Solution -(He made it, I don't know what it contained) 1 drop 3 times a day. By the second day she wasn't squinting as much as before.

Here are two links that helped me a lot. Hope you get well soon and we will keep praying for good results.

http://www.2ndchance.info/cornealulcer.htm
http://www.pethealth101.com/eye/corneal_treatment.shtml (this one describes an ophthalmic solution with Adequan!!! very interesting)
Marcela & The Choco Labs

I saw this a few days ago and immediately thought of Scott. I KNEW Truffa had a corneal ulcer. When Barney was first diagnosed, I did a search for
"corneal ulcer" over at cc.net but it turned up nothing. Thought I had imagined it.
Glad to hear that all healed well.
Cautiously I am thinking that we are definitely making headway. He is holding his eye open much more the past few days, and there is definitely less corneal edema.
He went for a stim test today. It was scheduled at 1130. I fed him last about 2am. Boy am I glad I did, he got home a little before 5pm and he was so hungry and thirsty.
He won't go with the vet tech. I have to walk with him and as he barrels in front of us I sneak back and out the door. I hate to trick him
He was soo funny tonight. He loves me and John to both pet him and make over him, kinda like his own love fest.
John was on the couch petting him and I was on the loveseat watching tv. Barney starts barking and barking and barking, looking at ME..........
He wanted a lovefest, lol! I went over there and started petting him too and he just writhes around making this loud "purring" kinda noise, its so cute!!!!!!

[Truffa's Mom]

Re: Barney

I am envious of the "Purring" noise!!!! and the lovefest!!!! How can one live without this amazing creatures?

Last week while I was looking where to post about our temporary home here at K9diabetes, I found a forum and one of the members question was "how can I stop my dog from licking my face ?" And then a few seconds later I re-read and asked myself "what?????..... who in the world would like that?" And here I am begging Truffa to give me kisses, and totally envious of some purring and lovefest. I can't remember which web site it was and obviously never posted there.

Glad to hear we are making some progress with the eye.

Happy lovefest

Marcela & The Choco Labs

[Harley PoMMom]

Re: Barney

Hey Cheryl!
Glad to hear things are going better for Barney. It seems the eye takes so long to heal, but you and Barney are doing an amazing job. Here's to a puuurrrrrfect recovery

Take care, Harley and Lori