Viral conjunctivitis

[Brightness]

Just a warning that this seems to be spreading around. Maxx has had it for a week and a half but so far Sweepy seems to have gotten away without catching it.

Last time we were in the vets there were 5 other cases of 'gooey eyes' all looking the same - yukky and sore. Overnight, Maxx's eyes went from looking healthy and clear to drooping like a Basset Hound's and the 3rd eyelid coming right over.

Don't know what the miracle cure for it is as we haven't found it yet - on the second lot of medication already & think we'll be back at the vets again tomorrow when the treatment time is up . I thought I'd warn you all anyway as some friends around the country have told me that their dogs have it too so it seems as thought it's not just a 'local' thing picked up in the park if you get my drift

[Leogem]

Hi Donna,
Although conjunctivitis often clears up quite quickly with treatment, it is most important that you do your best to prevent Maxx from scratching his eyes if they start to irritate. Oddly enough dogs do not suffer from eye irritation anywhere as much as humans do. If we get a speck of dust or a hair in our eye it irritates like mad but dogs often have bits of debris in their eyes without them feeling any effect. But if the conjuctivitis does start to irritate him please do your utmost to stop him from scratching. Some years ago we had a dog that had an eye irritation and he started to rub his eyes against the edge of a concrete step in the garden which caused the eye to ulcerate and he ended up with Uveitis. He made a complete recovery, but only after a stay at a veterinary hospital and a very large vet bill! I don't wish to sound alarmist (as conjunctivitis is usually only a minor affliction) but please watch him.
Dennis

[ByFloSin]

My almost 12 months pup Holly has curly coat/dry eye syndrome, which means that she often has itchy or sore eyes, which would lead to corneal ulcers if rubbed.

To avoid enormous vet bills I always keep a correct size Buster Collar handy for use at the first sign of trouble. This would be suitable for use in cases of conjunctivitis, in fact anything regarding the eye that needs special care.

[Leogem]

Those collars are very handy, Flo. We keep one just in case. Some dogs develop conjuctivitis in the summer months due to a reaction to pollen, in other words it's a canine form of hay fever. In these cases Euphrasia can be of help.
Dennis

[Indi-moore]

Originally Posted by Brightness

to drooping like a Basset Hound's

Hi I'm not sure if Indi has conjunctivitis or something else... his 3rd eyelid is not coming right across but when he is going to sleep it looks a little red. His lower lid looks a little droopy and eye looks red compared to before. - he did jump in to a bubble bath on Tuesday and get covered with bubbles over his face so it could just be sore.

Any advice!!!!

[Murphy]

My vet always says that the 3rd eyelid comes up to protect any injury to the eye.

IMO, eyes are a very specialised subject and definitely one for the Vets to diagnose.

If I have to wait more than say 12 hours before seeing the Vet, I make up a solution of salt and water.

I flat teaspoon of salt(even off with blade of a knife) to 1 pint of boiled water and stir well. Cool to body heat and use to wash out the affected eye with a dropper - it can be done as often as every quarter hour and can have amazing results.

Discard the mixture after 24 hours - keep in fridge, covered.

It will do no harm whatsoever, and sometimes even is enough to clear up the problem.
NEVER rub an eye - that can be harmful especially if there is an ulcer present.

Just what I have picked up over the years.
Elspeth

[Indi-moore]

Indi's eyes are all clear now!!!

[Murphy]

That's great! Did you do anything, or did they clear by themselves?
Elspeth

[Indi-moore]

I just used water on some of the cotton wool pads, incase it was the bubble bath and the next moring all was fine.

[Brightness]

Originally Posted by Leogem

Hi Donna,
Although conjunctivitis often clears up quite quickly with treatment, it is most important that you do your best to prevent Maxx from scratching his eyes if they start to irritate. Oddly enough dogs do not suffer from eye irritation anywhere as much as humans do. If we get a speck of dust or a hair in our eye it irritates like mad but dogs often have bits of debris in their eyes without them feeling any effect. But if the conjuctivitis does start to irritate him please do your utmost to stop him from scratching. Some years ago we had a dog that had an eye irritation and he started to rub his eyes against the edge of a concrete step in the garden which caused the eye to ulcerate and he ended up with Uveitis. He made a complete recovery, but only after a stay at a veterinary hospital and a very large vet bill! I don't wish to sound alarmist (as conjunctivitis is usually only a minor affliction) but please watch him.
Dennis

Dennis,

Really sorry, I wasn't ignoring you. I don't get much computer time these days and have only just seen your post.

I am paranoid about eyes, it's OK and wouldn't let Maxx scratch them. I also keep a buster collar 'just in case' but he never bothered with them anyway. They just looked really sore

The reason I am paranoid about eyes is because Maxx almost lost one when he was about 10mths old. He stepped out through our French windows and was promptly attacked by a neighbour's cat. It took me, hubby, a shovel and a broom to get the cat off him and 6mths of eye specialists to sort his eye out - in that time I learned an awful lot about dogs eyes!

The cat was so notorious that the vet actually applied to the RCVS to get it declawed as Maxx was about the 5th or 6th he'd attacked as well as a few humans

Anyway, thanks for the advice as I'm sure being on here it will be of use to someone in the future and sorry for 'ignoring' you (though it was unintentional!).