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.