Dry Eye or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca” or “KCS”

[Margaret1959]

I have spent over $3000 in six months with no relief of the Dry Eye in my Rat Terrier.  I have seen two regular Vets and one Opthalmology Vet.  The treatments is always the same, Fluroescien Stain, Shcirmer Test, then meds, so far - Cyclosporine 2 percent, NeoPolyDex, I-Drop/Genteal gel with or without Triemethoprim Solution and or Doxycycline Tablets and Chloramphenicol Drops, etc. etc.

My poor dog is no better than she was six months ago and I am BROKE.  Her eyes are severely itchie, the mucus is thick on them until I put in the cyclosporin and then it globs out to give her reilef for what 2 hours and then her eyes are shut again.  Saline with lubricant does not break up the mucus. When I put a cotton swab in the corner of her eye and get the stuff out she shudders because it hurts.

I need help, I cannot find any more information on line then what these Vets have done already.  I can't get in and out of the Opthalmologist for less than $300.00 and it's always the same thing "This may be as good as it gets", what the????? If she was a human that would not be a good enough answer.

HELP

[krenhv12]

i have a 7 month old pug but since he was about 3 months he started developing some eye problems i have taken him to the vet a million times and ophtalmologists they say he have some ulcers  and they always give him some tobramycin eye drops and atropine ointment i honestly strongly dislike atropine because it dilates his pupils  but this seems to work for a few weeks and his eyes will be totally fine but then he scratches his eyes again and the discharge starts coming out of his eyes im really worried about this ive spent a loooooot on only his eyes and im also broke lol

[Gerry1962]

My 13 year old Cairn terrier has a dry eye. It seemed to clear up when he was on some antibiotics for treatment for an inter-digital cyst, butsince he's come off that, its started up again. Which leads me to think the antibiotics did the trick!!  But it does seem a short-term solution for what is probably a longstanding, age-related condition.  I'm not sure what type of antibiotic it was, but will tryand find out. Otherwise, regular bathing with some warm saline solution also seems to help clean out the 'gunk' he gets in it.  But otherwise it looks quite red and sore, poor guy!.        

[Bebeapril]

Margaret, stay away from Trimethoprim--could be toxic to the tear glands and nerves of the eye. Get over the counter Tears Natural in the vial (individual vials) package of 36. Bebe

[sasha0803]

A MUST read articles on KCS treatment in dogs:
http://www.eyevet.ca/kcs.html

http://www.eyevettampa.com/dry-eye-in-animals.html

http://www.freesitesatxdm.co.uk/evc/content/view/25/19/

from Slatter's fundamentals of veterinary ophthalmology book:
kcs medical and surgical therapy
from pg166-171
http://books.google.ca/books?id=pjJKkwJbLBQC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=%22Parotid+Duct+Transposition%22&source=vrt&ots=QBUrv6D6OB&sig=j8GnRvRyFt01GKqJPQO1lopvk8Y&hl=en&ei=q0JdTY3qC4S2tgfEmMWmCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=13&ved=0CHgQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=%22Parotid%20Duct%20Transposition%22&f=false


from the book Small animal ophthalmic surgery: practical techniques for the veterinarian
surgery for kcs:
pg 134-140

http://books.google.ca/books?id=Uh1aDxe9XycC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=%22Parotid+Duct+Transposition%22&source=vrt&ots=a-NX53YPCD&sig=81e-uxvuVYCMvhy2XfpdYXYN_W4&hl=en&ei=q0JdTY3qC4S2tgfEmMWmCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CHEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=%22Parotid%20Duct%20Transposition%22&f=false

surgery video:
http://vimeo.com/3806841

[Misfits4Me]

Margaret....Is this you? The original Margaret? I've checked this post for years hoping you'd check back in......Oh, I'm excited to think it might be.....Please, let me know......Karla

[margaret1234]

Optimune and Tacrolimus did not work in my dog five years ago, when he was three years old; ophthalmologist said that there was nothing else he could do except attempt to divert saliva to his eyes through surgery, which I did not like.  However, I tried these medications several months later and Tacrolimus started working. Prior to the first treatment, my dog got an antibiotic, and it now seems to me that at that time his liver was too toxic (because of this antibiotic) to respond to the eye ointment (he is a small breed). My dog does not have a liver disease, but he has had problems with allergies since he was a puppy. He is now eight and doing well, he gets Tacrolimus twice a day, and I keep his eyes clean with Natural Tears from a human pharmacy.  I do not use them too much when his mucous is white, but clean his eyes more frequently when it becomes greenish.  He has never received any steroids or oral medications for his eyes, he is full of energy, his eyesight is good and his eyes do not bother him too much even though one of his eyes produces hardly any tears even with Tacrolimus. I do not clean the mucous too much when it is white, because when it is removed, his eye is dry.  I remove it when it is uncomfortable for him, when he squints. He did not get ulcers on any of his eyes during these past five years (he was getting them before Tacrolimus started working).