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Ask a Vet (Pet Health) (Expert Forum)
Eye problem with 8 year old Shih tzu
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M. - Small Animals, dogs, cats, CVA
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for pet health questions! Dr. Cheng's interests include: Small animal medicine & surgery, Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine and Veterinary NAED, Allergy diagnosis & treatment
Eye problem with 8 year old Shih tzu
by Azilda, Jun 19, 2007 12:00AM
Mimi is an 8 year old Shih tzu and has developed an eye problem in the last year. Mucus forms in her eyes and there is also a lot of redness. The vet gave her a tear-making product which has helped a bit but has not resolved the problem. It also seems to be worse in the summer. Any advice would be very apreciated.
Merci, thank you!!
Merci, thank you!!
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., Jun 19, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 19, 2007 12:00AM
Bonjour!
Shih Tzu’s can be prone to the condition known as dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS for short).
Dry eye is the insufficient production of tears by the lacrimal glands.
Your veterinarian using an Schirmer tear test can diagnose the condition. It sounds as if your veterinarian has already performed this test on Mimi, and she was probably placed on cyclosporin eye drops, which helps to increase tear production.
Cyclosporine may take 2 weeks to be effective and must be used long term. KCS can also predispose your dog to corneal ulcers, because a lack of normal tears can cause chronic irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva. The fact that mucus forms in Mimi’s eyes and there is also a lot of redness may mean that she also has corneal ulceration. If corneal ulcers are untreated corneal scarring and, or blindness can occur. Your veterinarian can do another simple test called a fluoroscein dye test. If there are ulcers on the cornea they will glow bright green under a black light, and your veterinarian will then add an antibiotic eye drop to be applied in addition to cyclosporine eye drops.
It also sounds as if Mimi may have allergic conjunctivitis. This can be treated with an antibiotic eye drop that contains a steroid, however you must first make sure that Mimi does not have an ulcer since steroids are contraindicated if there is ulceration and can actually impede the healing process. If she has corneal ulcers the ulcers should be treated until they are healed and then the allergy can be addressed.
Lastly, there is a surgical procedure, very infrequently performed by veterinary ophthalmologists called a salivary duct transposition, where saliva replaces the tears.
Unfortunately, these may be chronic, recurring problems for Mimi and she may require long-term medications.
Hope that helps!
Shih Tzu’s can be prone to the condition known as dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS for short).
Dry eye is the insufficient production of tears by the lacrimal glands.
Your veterinarian using an Schirmer tear test can diagnose the condition. It sounds as if your veterinarian has already performed this test on Mimi, and she was probably placed on cyclosporin eye drops, which helps to increase tear production.
Cyclosporine may take 2 weeks to be effective and must be used long term. KCS can also predispose your dog to corneal ulcers, because a lack of normal tears can cause chronic irritation of the cornea and conjunctiva. The fact that mucus forms in Mimi’s eyes and there is also a lot of redness may mean that she also has corneal ulceration. If corneal ulcers are untreated corneal scarring and, or blindness can occur. Your veterinarian can do another simple test called a fluoroscein dye test. If there are ulcers on the cornea they will glow bright green under a black light, and your veterinarian will then add an antibiotic eye drop to be applied in addition to cyclosporine eye drops.
It also sounds as if Mimi may have allergic conjunctivitis. This can be treated with an antibiotic eye drop that contains a steroid, however you must first make sure that Mimi does not have an ulcer since steroids are contraindicated if there is ulceration and can actually impede the healing process. If she has corneal ulcers the ulcers should be treated until they are healed and then the allergy can be addressed.
Lastly, there is a surgical procedure, very infrequently performed by veterinary ophthalmologists called a salivary duct transposition, where saliva replaces the tears.
Unfortunately, these may be chronic, recurring problems for Mimi and she may require long-term medications.
Hope that helps!
Member Comments
by Azilda, Jun 20, 2007 12:00AM
Thank you so very much for the advice. I will go back to the vet with mimi.
