Eye Ulcers in Dogs & Cats—Diagnosis &Treatment

We’re discussing eye ulcers, a common problem for dogs and cats. Now that we’ve covered what eye ulcers are and which pets are predisposed to develop them, let’s look at how they’re diagnosed and treated.

Diagnosing Eye Ulcers in Dogs & Cats
To diagnose an ulcerated cornea, your veterinarian will anesthetized the eye, put in fluorescein dye, and look for areas that fluoresce under black light. If the cornea is healthy and smooth, no dye will stick. If the cornea is scratched or ulcerated, dye adheres to the jagged cells in the roughened area. Draw a picture of the ulcer so you’ll be able to chart its progress as it heals.

Treating Eye Ulcers
The following are some of the treatments your veterinarian may recommend for an ulcerated cornea:
1. Soothe the eye twice a day with a cold, damp cloth or cool, moistened tea bag.
2. Give a homeopathic medication to encourage the eye to heal naturally. Homeopathics can be chosen to speed healing, reduce pain, and ease anxiety.
3. Put a prescription antibiotic ointment in the eye. Although Gentamycin opthalmic solutions are frequently prescribed, many bacteria are resistant to them. Use Terramycin when possible.
4. Put atropine drops in the eye. Atropine dilates the pupil so the muscles quit moving in response to light. The movement of the muscles causes spasms and pain.
5. Use a specially compounded preparation of Adequan and artificial tears three times a day. This coats the eye the same way it coats the joints.
6. Use herbs and foods that strengthen the liver, such as milk thistle, chicken liver, and beef liver to benefit from the Traditional Chinese wisdom that says strengthening the liver strengthens the eye.
7. Use Western herbs such as Euphrasia or Lythrum.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Eye Ulcers in Dogs & Cats

Which Pets are Predisposed to Develop Eye Ulcers?
We’re discussing eye ulcers, a common problem for dogs and cats. In fact some dogs and cats are predisposed to develop eye ulcers.

Some breeds are prone to developing corneal ulcers (ulcerative keratitis) because:
• their eyes protrude and are easily damaged,
• their eyes are surrounded by wrinkles ,
• they work or play in brush or corn stubble.

Dogs with naturally protruding (exophthalmic) eyes inclined to develop corneal ulcers include the:
• Boston Terrier,
• Boxer,
• Bulldog,
• Chihuahua,
• Japanese Chin,
• Pekingese,
• Pug, and
• Tibetan Spaniel.

Cats with naturally protruding (exophthalmic) eyes inclined to develop corneal ulcers include the:
• Persian
• Himalayan

Dogs with facial wrinkles or thick hair around their eyes that easily develop corneal ulcers include the:
• Pug,
• Pekingese,
• Chow Chow, and
• Shar Pei.

Working and hunting dogs exposed to brush and fairy weapons include the:
• American Foxhound,
• Beagle,
• Bloodhound,
• English Cocker Spaniel,
• Golden Retriever, and
• Labrador Retriever.

In future blogs, we’ll look at how to diagnose and treat eye ulcers in dogs and cats.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Eye Ulcers, a Common Problem in Dogs & Cats

Pet Eyes and Ulcers—Ulcerative Keratitis In Dogs & Cats
The most common eye problem in dogs and cats is conjunctivitis, which is redness, swelling and pain of the thin membrane covering the eyes. The second most common problem is an ulcer of the cornea (ulcerative keratitis). It’s important to figure out whether the eye is simply inflamed or whether it actually has an ulcer because some medications used for simple conjunctivitis make ulcers worse.

What is an ulcer in the cornea?
The cornea is the first thing we see when we look into a dog’s eyes. The cornea is a clear, springy layer over the front of the eyeball that helps focus light on the retina at the back of the eye. Because we look right through the cornea and don’t see it, we tend not to appreciate it.

Cornea
The cornea is made of epithelial cells, rather like skin. The cornea has no blood vessels and receives its nourishment from the tears and fluids from within the eye. When the cornea is damaged and needs extra nourishment, blood vessels in the conjunctival membrane dilate to bring extra blood and oxygen. Although it doesn’t have its own blood vessels, the cornea does have nerve fibers and is extremely sensitive. Because of this sensitivity, corneal ulcers are very painful.

Conjunctiva
Over the cornea is another transparent layer, the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is thin mucous membrane that covers the front of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids. If a foreign body damages the cornea, it goes the conjunctiva first. The conjunctiva contains tiny blood vessels but the cornea has no blood vessels. Nourishment and oxygen moves from the conjunctiva to the cornea.

What causes eye ulcers?
The cornea can be scratched or ulcerated by dust, dirt, hair, eyelashes bacteria, , it develops an ulcer. The ulcer can be superficial and heal quickly, or it can be deep and heal very slowly. If the cornea is ulcerated all the way through, fluid (vitreous humor) from inside the eyeball leaks out and the eye can collapse. Whether ulcers are deep or shallow, they are exceptionally painful.

What you see if your dog has an eye ulcer
If you notice your dog squinting, blinking, or pawing at its eye, take a close look. If you see redness, swelling, increased tearing, thick discharge in the corner of the eye, or a pupil that doesn’t respond to light by dilating in the dark and constricting in the light, the cornea may be scratched and ulcerated. Visit your veterinarian immediately. On the way to the clinic, place a cool, damp tea bag on the eye, and if your pet is more comfortable, cover the eye to keep out the light.

Coming
In a future blog, we’ll look at which pets are predisposed to develop ulcers, how to prevent and treat them.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Conjunctivitis in Dogs & Cats, Prevention & Treatment

Conjunctivitis, the most common eye problem of dogs and cats can be prevented and treated. In a previous blog we looked through red, blinking, tear-filled eyes at what causes conjunctivitis. Now, let's look at holisitic and conventional methods to prevent and treat this common health problem.

Prevent conjunctivitis
To prevent conjunctivitis, don’t let your dog put its head out the car window unless wearing goggles. Put soothing, cool, moist tea bags on the eyes if your dog has been out in a dusty environment.

Treatments for conjunctivitis
Because there are so many different causes of conjunctivitis, there are many different treatments, and using the wrong treatment for the problem can make the eye worse. It’s always safe to put a cool, moistened cloth over the eye until your dog is seen by the veterinarian.

Among the holistic and conventional therapies used for conjunctivitis are:
· saline flushing solutions,
· herbal eye washes,
· anti-inflammatory herbs and Omega 3 fatty acids,
· immune-boosting herbs and mushrooms,
· antioxidants, especially from darkly pigmented fruits and vegetables,
· steroids,
· antibiotics.

Making it worse
Don’t be tempted to treat your dogs’ eyes without veterinary advice because your treatment could make your dog’s problem worse. For example, when dogs have scratches or ulcers on the cornea and we put medications with steroids in their eyes, healing is delayed and the problem becomes bigger than it was initially. To have the eye treated in the best way, get your veterinarian’s advice.

If conjunctivitis isn’t treated
Simple conjunctivitis is limited to the outside of the eye. It does not involve the pupil, retina, or deeper structures, but conjunctivitis left untreated can lead to inflammation of the entire eye (uveitis), glaucoma, or blindness.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Conjunctivitis, the Most Common Eye Problem in Cats & Dogs

The most common eye problem in dogs and cats is conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the membrane that lines the eye.

Conjunctivitis can be serious
We can safely ignore lots of health problems in dogs because their immune system will take care of them, but we should not ignore red, irritated eyes (conjunctivitis).

Why the eye gets red
The eye is covered with a thin, clear mucous membrane called the conjunctiva that covers the front of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids. Irritated eyes become red because the conjunctiva has tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that become inflamed when the eye is irritated or infected. The capillaries dilate, causing the hot, red, and slightly swollen eye.

What causes conjunctivitis?
Among the causes of conjunctivitis are:
· pollen and air-borne allergens, especially in the spring and fall,
· riding with the head out the car window,
· being kept outside without a shelter in windy weather,
· being infected with bacteria or viruses, such as the distemper virus, and
· reacting to a problem from deep in the eye, such as glaucoma.

In a coming blog, we'll look at how to treat and prevent conjunctivitis.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Eye Problems in Dogs & Cats

Problems with the eyes can be more serious than are problems with other areas of the body. For example, scratching or bruising the eye can lead to infection, glaucoma and blindness, while limbs that are scratched or bruised may heal and return to normal with simple cleaning and antibiotic treatment.

The most common canine eye problems are:
· Conjunctivitis
· Corneal ulcers
· Dry eyes
· Trauma
· Tumors
· Uveitis
· Cataracts
· Cysts
· Plugged tear ducts.

The most common feline eye problems are:
· Conjunctivitis
· Corneal ulcers
· Uveitis
· Trauma
· Plugged tear ducts
· Dry eyes
· Corneal ulcers
· Glaucoma
· Tumors.

Other eye problems that occur because of diabetes or kidney disease are retinal detachment that leads to blindness. Eye problems can also be caused by genes a pet inherits. For example, there is a form of blindness called progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) that’s inherited in Collies, Border Collies and dozens of other breeds.

Over the next few blogs, we’ll discuss some of these eye problems, and what to do about them.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

BPA in Plastics Dangerous for Dogs & Cats

Today there's more news about the dangers of plastics. The big story in abc World News is that the plastic in baby bottles causes long-term health problems for human children. Our pets are also at risk if they use plastic dishes and toys. The health threat to humans and pets is from BPA or Bisphenol A, an ingredient in most plastics. BPA accumulates in the body and has been shown to stimulate cancer cell growth.

To keep your pets safe, use glass, ceramic, or stainless dishes rather than plastic dishes. Ceramic baby dishes are often the best bet for pet dishes because they're lead-free, strong, and easily cleaned.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Dog Attacks & the Humane Society's Response

When the neighbor’s two dogs broke through the fence and attacked a dog in our yard, we reported the incident to the Humane Society. The neighbor accepted full responsibility for her dogs, who had never attacked a dog prior to this incident, but the Humane Society has fined her over $1000. In addition, they require $1000 in dangerous dog license fees annually for the next three years. Because of this financial burden—the vet bill for the little dog that was attacked was about $800—our neighbor is planning to have her dogs euthanized. She feels terrible, we feel terrible, and the little dog that was attacked is not all that happy either.

The greatest sadness is that this attack would not have happened if the dogs were regularly exercised. Dogs develop unbalanced thinking when their only exercise is chasing along the fence and growling at beings on the other side. Could the Humane Society become more proactive and less punitive so that families are rewarded for exercising their dogs rather than punished when the dogs misbehaved? Could dog licenses be rated according to the level of training and exercise that dogs receive, just as cars are rated according to particulates in exhaust?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad