Barney

[barney's mom]

Just got back from the vet. Barney's corneal ulcer still isn't healing. No better, no worse. The ulcer has been there for two months now. We are going to refer out to a specialist. He is due for a stim test, so we are going to do that wednesday, just to make sure that his numbers are good and it isn't high cortisol levels preventing him from healing.

It is so hard to watch him squint all the time.

[stardeb55]

Re: Barney

Just to let you know, Harley fought an non-healing corneal ulcer for nearly a year. My IM did say the repeated infections were definitely because of the immune suppression from the Cushing's. We finally ended up at a vet eye Dr., who diagnosed the real culprit as untreated dry eye. I still find this strange to this day as my GP vet had tested Harley for dry eye, either 2 or 3 times, & got normal results. I was standing there when they did the test a the specialist, & it was definitely abnormal in the left eye. We ended up on 2 different antibiotic ointments, & cyclosporin drops for the dry eye. One of the ointments did have just a tiny amount of steroid in it to help clear the residual corneal scaring. The specialist felt the amount was so small that it shouldn't affect the Cushing's. Harley's left eye seems to be fine after doing all this over about a 4-5 month period, but he will be on cyclo eye drops for the rest of his life.

Debbie

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Thanks Deb,
It does make me feel a lot better knowing that its not that uncommon to see ulcers take this long to heal. Once you got the cyclosporin drops did the eye heal quickly? I hate seeing him uncomfortable. I bet it was horrible fighting this for an entire year. Poor Harley

[stardeb55]

Re: Barney

Harley would be on a round of antibiotic for a couple of weeks to a month, everything would look ok, so we would stop. In a couple of more months, I would happen to look at his eye & see it oozing "crud", off to the vet's, back on antibiotic ointment, & so forth. After the 3rd re-ulceration, we got sent the eye vet who said at that point it was about 90% healed, but with a lot of scar tissue. We started on a different antibiotic ointment + steroid in the AM, same antibiotic/no steroid in the PM, cyclosporin drops 3x daily, & in between all of the above, artificial tears as frequently as possible. I think it took around 5-6 months for things to totally heal up, & the scar tissue to subside.

Debbie

[Harley PoMMom]

Re: Barney

Hi Cheryl,
Sorry to hear about Barney and his eye, I'm sure the specialist will be able to help you. Who are you taking Barney to see?
How is Beth doing?
UGH, yes this waiting game for the test results does get on the one last nerve that I have left but I guess anyone with a cushpup/sick pup feels that way don't they?! So I may as well get used to it!!
Good luck with the stim test and I'll be waiting and watching for Barney's results.

Take care, Harley and Lori

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Right now he's on Tobramycin drops 4-6 times daily.
The eye doctor is Dr. Glick, I believe he is from Philadelphia, but he travels around and is in Harrisburg on Tuesdays. He may need another 3rd eyelid flap and debridement. The vet never tested Barney for dry eye. Hopefully the eye specialist will.

[BestBuddy]

Re: Barney

Hi Cheryl,
I am sorry Barney's eye is still causing problems. Now this is my interpretation but the eye protects itself but putting a film/skin over the ulcer and that then stops the ulcer from healing. Buddy was on the cyclopoirin ointment and the specialist said she though it was the best treatment to heal the ulcer before the skin covered it again. After the initial surgery treatment I had to continue using the cyclosporin ointment every morning and we used Acular (small amount of steroid I think) drops every night. This was a forever thing but it worked. Hoping you get something that sorts our Barney's eye.
Jenny

[LuvMyMunchie]

Re: Barney

Hi Cheryl,

Sorry to read that the Barnster is still having problems with his eye.

The vet never tested Barney for dry eye. Hopefully the eye specialist will.

I'd for sure be adding that to my list of "must do's" for the eye specialist. Munchie is also being treated for dry eye in his one and only good eye. These furkids!!!

Louise

[stardeb55]

Re: Barney

Cheryl, I don't want to criticize your vet, but I don't understand why Barney wasn't tested for dry eye early on. Every time Harley's eye would re-ulcerate, my GP would do the dry eye test, Schrimer's tear test, but it would always come up normal. The specialist repeated the test, & that's when it came up abnormal. You can "google" the name of the test, & see that it's pretty simple to do. They put a small piece of litmus paper, (I think), in the corner of the eye. The paper is graduated in millimeters. They time the migration of tears up the paper strip for a set amount of time, then read how far the tears have traveled. I don't remember what normal range is but on the first abnormal test at the eye vets, Harley's bad eye read something like 5 which is grossly abnormal. She said that it was probably more like 3, but the treatment he had been on had helped a little.

Debbie

[forscooter]

Re: Barney

We need a healing kissy icon...

here Barney....kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy...

I have no advice bc I know nothing about eyes so I'll do what mommies do...

kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy kissy...

Beth, Bailey, always Scoobie and Allo

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Cheryl, I don't want to criticize your vet, but I don't understand why Barney wasn't tested for dry eye early on. Every time Harley's eye would re-ulcerate, my GP would do the dry eye test, Schrimer's tear test, but it would always come up normal. The specialist repeated the test, & that's when it came up abnormal. You can "google" the name of the test, & see that it's pretty simple to do. They put a small piece of litmus paper, (I think), in the corner of the eye. The paper is graduated in millimeters. They time the migration of tears up the paper strip for a set amount of time, then read how far the tears have traveled. I don't remember what normal range is but on the first abnormal test at the eye vets, Harley's bad eye read something like 5 which is grossly abnormal. She said that it was probably more like 3, but the treatment he had been on had helped a little.

Debbie

Sigh........I know

[stardeb55]

Re: Barney

I must give all credit to Cushy. She PM'd me some links that will give you further information about dry eye. Unfortunately, 2 of the links don't seem to want to work when I cut/paste them. I know the Marvista link should work. Maybe Cushiy will send them to you directly.


Dry Eye:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_kcs__dry_eye_.html


Debbie

I'm going to try to put in the other 2 links after Cushy suggested a "fix".

http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1473&aid=1186

http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+2092&aid=451

[Spiceysmum]

Re: Barney

Hi,

Sorry to hear about Barney's eye problems. My other dog, Brin suffered from KCS, dry eye, when he was 4 years old. It started as an infection that didn't heal. His nostril on the same side dried up too as there was no lubrication to it and he couldn't breathe through that side of it. The tears didn't even register on the test. He was on Optimmune for months which wasn't working and so we found a specialist Opthamologist on our own as our vet (at that time, no longer though!) said nothing more could be done. We carried on with the Optimmune as well as artificial tears and steroid drops, I can't remember the name, and after a month or so we could see his nose gradually getting wetter and his eye too. The doses were gradually reduced over the next year and then stopped altogether. He is now 12 and has had no problems since. I think it must have been an immune problem as I was told they usually have to continue the treatment for the rest of their lives.

It is terrible to see them so uncomfortable, I hope Barney gets some relief soon. Did you say he has had steroid drops? I am sure it was those that 'kick-started' Brin's eye into getting better.

Linda and Spicey

[barney's mom]

Re: Barney

Thank you Debbie and cushy! I was able to get all of the links open! I am going to get him some artificial tears for him in the interim until he sees the specialist. From the articles the tears are very soothing to the dog, and I am hoping the provide some relief.


Hi Linda,
My vet said no steroid drops until the eye ulcer has healed. It really does sound like dry eye could be the culprit! Thanks so much for the information and I am glad that your dog is problem free now


CHeryl

[stardeb55]

Re: Barney

Cheryl, you have to be very careful what artificial tears you buy. I use "Refresh". The eye vet gave me a list of acceptable brands which I am looking for as we speak. If I can find it, I will post the rest of what was on the list besides the "Refresh".

Debbie