Eye Injury

My dog, a puppymill rescue, was injured years ago in the eye and now has to have an ointment put in to lubricate it every day, or lose it to surgery. We are trying to avoid the surgical route. What else can I use in his eye to lubricate. The ointment is not going in too well and I woudl think there are some drops on the market that we could purchase.

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Ointment is your best bet as it stays in the eye longer.  Artificial tears can also be used but would have to be applied more often.  

If the eye is completely diseased and may need to be removed, you are probably delaying the surgery - which is fine - as long as practical.  Once it becomes medically necessary I would not hesitate to do the surgery.