laffi Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 A friend of mine asked me to post it. She has two dogs and both have persistent conjunctivitis: creamy-green eye discharge every morning. The owner took them to the vet who diagnosed conjunctivitis and gave some eye drops. The discharge cleared with the eye drops but came back after a few days of stopping the drops. She went back to the vet who said to continue with the eye drops for 2 weeks (not just one week as she did originally) but the discharge reappeared again after stopping the treatment. The vet doesn't know what to do now.... Could it be environmental?? Would cleaning all the bedding etc help? Since it's both dogs it must be contagious ... Any other ideas? :D Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Are the dogs healthy in all other respects? I find conjunctivitis has a tendancy to kick in when the immune system is deplected or in some way stressed. I would suggest your friend consults with a holistic Vet or naturopath who might be able to cover things that don't only target the symptom but might also address the cause of the infection. In the meantime, perhaps try bathing their eyes with some lightly salted water (use boiled water but of course allow it to cool). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 What sort of state are their teeth in? Did the vet check to see if their tear ducts were working? Do they suffer from allergies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Are the dogs healthy in all other respects? I find conjunctivitis has a tendancy to kick in when the immune system is deplected or in some way stressed.I would suggest your friend consults with a holistic Vet or naturopath who might be able to cover things that don't only target the symptom but might also address the cause of the infection. In the meantime, perhaps try bathing their eyes with some lightly salted water (use boiled water but of course allow it to cool). Thanks Erny! :D I will pass it on to her tomorrow. The dogs are very healthy otherwise.... actually so healthy that when she went to see another vet (while they were on the eye drops) the other vet thought they were 110% healthy. Btw they are on raw diet etc... (so no preservatives or colorants) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) Do you know if a Schirmer Tear Test was done? Tear production/quality may not be adequate. What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! :D ) Try bathing with cool Calendula Tea, works really well for bog-standard conjunctivitis. You can get it from a health-food store. If you can't get it, chamomile tea also works well. ETA:Just re-read original post, and it says there are two dogs. More likely to be environmental (ie. allergic) than tearing issue. Try the tea. Edited August 27, 2009 by Elfin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) Try bathing with cool Calendula Tea, works really well for bog-standard conjunctivitis. You can get it from a health-food store. If you can't get it, chamomile tea also works well.ETA:Just re-read original post, and it says there are two dogs. More likely to be environmental (ie. allergic) than tearing issue. Try the tea. :D Sorry Elfin - I forgot you are in the canine-eye specialist field. I should have referred the OP to you. I use Calendula Tea to help reduce skin allergy symptoms on my dog. I have found it very very effective. I had no idea that you could use it as an eye wash as well, but that is great to know. Does it matter what strength? IOW, I use a couple of teaspoons' worth of the calendula to a cup of boiling water (and allow to cool). Should it have to be weaker for eye baths? What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! ) Interested in the above comment. I dare ask (in case it ends up being obvious once the answer is given), but why is "breed" the "key to ophthalmology"? Edited August 27, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) Sorry - double post. Don't know how that happened. :D Edited August 27, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! :D ) They are both golden retrievers. Btw should she wash the bedding in something specific? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Hi Erny! "Breed is the key to Ophthalmology" could become a very heated debate... but here goes... We can make about 3/4 of our diagnoses by asking what breed the dog is... I KNOW this is a generalisation, but unfortunately, it works. (Dons flames suit... :D )... *takes deep breath*... If it is a JRT, Foxie, Mini Foxie or a cross of any of these, it probably has has lens luxation. If it is a Boxer, it probably has an indolent ulcer. If it is a pug or other brachycephallic breed, it probably has oversized eyelid openings, exposure keratitis etc. If it is a schnauzer or WHWT, it probably has dry eye. If is is a lab x, poodle x, ACD x etc, it probably has PRA. Etc. etc... PLEASE NOTE: THESE ARE NOT ALL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BREED THAT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. THESE ARE THE DOGS THAT PRESENT TO US WITH EYE PROBLEMS, NOT THE AVERAGE JRT etc. IN THE STREET. And we very rarely see pure bred pedigreed dogs with problems. Flame away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! ) They are both golden retrievers. Btw should she wash the bedding in something specific? Very unlikely, but with Golden Retrievers, we think extra eyelashes, punctal atresia. (Neither of which fit with what you are describing...) I think it sounds environmental, though. I dunno if washing the bedding in something different will make any difference, but I use Earth Choice cos it is cheap and has no harsh chemicals. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! ) They are both golden retrievers. Btw should she wash the bedding in something specific? Very unlikely, but with Golden Retrievers, we think extra eyelashes, punctal atresia. (Neither of which fit with what you are describing...) I think it sounds environmental, though. I dunno if washing the bedding in something different will make any difference, but I use Earth Choice cos it is cheap and has no harsh chemicals. Thanks Elfin :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I use Calendula Tea to help reduce skin allergy symptoms on my dog. I have found it very very effective. I had no idea that you could use it as an eye wash as well, but that is great to know. Does it matter what strength? IOW, I use a couple of teaspoons' worth of the calendula to a cup of boiling water (and allow to cool). Should it have to be weaker for eye baths? Nah, just make a "normal" cuppa and let it cool. Calendula is very gentle on the eyes. It is much better than salt-water. You would be surprised at how many corneal injuries we treat because people use salt-water with too much salt... and it actually BURNS the cornea. If someone really wants to use saline, buy it ready-made from the chemist. Otherwise Calendula Tea is cheap and AWESOME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Well THANK YOU. I know what I will use next time I need :D. It is so economical as well (mine cost me $8 for a good size packet which in itself has lasted me for 2 months or so ..... and I'm not half way through it yet) and lasts, so it would be a good thing to add to the first aid cabinet. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Flame away... :D .... I didn't realise my question would put you so much on the spot and potentially on the front line. Seriously though - I don't think your answer could offend. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! ) They are both golden retrievers. Btw should she wash the bedding in something specific? Very unlikely, but with Golden Retrievers, we think extra eyelashes, punctal atresia. (Neither of which fit with what you are describing...) I think it sounds environmental, though. I dunno if washing the bedding in something different will make any difference, but I use Earth Choice cos it is cheap and has no harsh chemicals. I'd also suggest before changing brands of washing powder that a couple of "blank cycles" be done with some white vinegar in the washing machine to neutralise any soap already there. It's pointless changing powders if the residue remains in the machine. Sensitivities often don't take very much to cause them to flare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 What breed is the dog? (The key to ophthalmology is the breed! ) They are both golden retrievers. Btw should she wash the bedding in something specific? Very unlikely, but with Golden Retrievers, we think extra eyelashes, punctal atresia. (Neither of which fit with what you are describing...) I think it sounds environmental, though. I dunno if washing the bedding in something different will make any difference, but I use Earth Choice cos it is cheap and has no harsh chemicals. I'd also suggest before changing brands of washing powder that a couple of "blank cycles" be done with some white vinegar in the washing machine to neutralise any soap already there. It's pointless changing powders if the residue remains in the machine. Sensitivities often don't take very much to cause them to flare. Thanks ellz Do you put the vinegar with the clothes or do you put in in the powder/detergent drawer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I always put it in the detergent drawer if the machine has one, otherwise wherever it is normally put on the particular type of washing machine (ie in the body of the machine or in the centre spindle etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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