Problem with eyes

iheartbassets4 · 01-08-2012, 12:04 PM

Hi! This is my first post to the forums, but I am becoming concerned about my Basset Hound, Scout. He is 6 1/2 years old and lately I've been noticing that when he goes out in the sun he either squints, or closes his eyes all together. About a year ago he had some sort of eye infection that the vet treated with eye drops, and he has gone back a couple of times throughout the year for what the vet said was allergies. I'm beginning to worry about cataracts/glaucoma and will be bringing him in to get checked as soon as possible. What are the signs/symptoms of glaucoma and what do I need to be on the lookout for?

Mikey T · 01-08-2012, 02:21 PM

the problem with gaucoma in a basset is
1. it is an emergency situation

2. once a dog is effeced it rarely tuurn out wel,l drops, surgery etc at best extend eye sight by a couple years. once diagnosed in one eye t eyesigh is lost in the other in a couple year.

that said squinting is not a symptom
gaucoma bassets

Glaucoma in the Basset Hound

Glaucoma - yes, Basset Hounds are extremely susceptable

Quote:

The only way to know for sure if your pet has glaucoma is to have the intraocular pressures measured by a veterinarian. Signs of glaucoma can include a red or bloodshot eye and/or cloudy cornea. The 'third eyelid' - looking like a pink membrane, may be seen. Vision loss is also characteristic of glaucoma. However, loss of vision in one eye is often not obvious because animals compensate with their remaining eye. Eventually, the increased pressure will cause the eye to stretch and become enlarged. Unfortunately, eyes are usually permanently blind by the time they become enlarged.

Lightning&Stomps · 01-08-2012, 07:06 PM

The test is simple and any vet can do it. You might want to run him by the vet's soon to make sure there's nothing going on.

iheartbassets4 · 01-17-2012, 07:12 PM

I took him to the vet today (his appointment had to be pushed back a couple of days) and they did loads of tests on him (almost $400 worth). They diagnosed his eyes as mild conjunctivitis. The vet was worried about his behavior changes (along with intermittent bile vomits) and was concerned that the eyes and other symptoms could be indicative of something bigger. So we got a complete blood work-up done, a test on his pancreas, and an x-ray of his belly and chest. Everything turned out normal, we'll get the results of the thyroid panel in a few days. So, no glaucoma... but we don't know much. Hopefully the thyroid test will tell us something. Gracie, his sister (litter mate), has hypothyroidism so there is a pretty good chance that that is his problem.

jaleely · 01-18-2012, 05:21 AM

Wow...poor things! Looks like you have a lot of bassety vet stuff. I'm sorry iheartbassets4!! I'm very glad things are getting taken care of though.

Bowser was just diagnosed with "conjuntivitis" but he has had no squinting, and there is a very noticeable discharge from his eye...which has spread to the other eye. Eye drops haven't done a thing for it. I called them the other day, but didn't hear back to see if we could try something else.
His eyes are very goopy in the morning, and every time he wakes up from a nap.
Is that what is happening to Scout?

murraysmom · 01-18-2012, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaleely

Wow...poor things! Looks like you have a lot of bassety vet stuff. I'm sorry iheartbassets4!! I'm very glad things are getting taken care of though.

Bowser was just diagnosed with "conjuntivitis" but he has had no squinting, and there is a very noticeable discharge from his eye...which has spread to the other eye. Eye drops haven't done a thing for it. I called them the other day, but didn't hear back to see if we could try something else.
His eyes are very goopy in the morning, and every time he wakes up from a nap.
Is that what is happening to Scout?

Was he tested for dry-eye, a malfunction of the tear duct? Redness and eye-goup can be symptoms of this condition. Murray has dry eye- special eye drops, either cyclosporin or tacrolimus, keep it under control. The test is simple: the vet places a small paper tag in the eye and measures the tear production. If the condition isn't treated the eye can be damaged.

Soundtrack · 01-18-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraysmom

Was he tested for dry-eye, a malfunction of the tear duct? Redness and eye-goup can be symptoms of this condition. Murray has dry eye- special eye drops, either cyclosporin or tacrolimus, keep it under control. The test is simple: the vet places a small paper tag in the eye and measures the tear production. If the condition isn't treated the eye can be damaged.

Ginger had a similar issue and was also on medication to increase tear production.

iheartbassets4 · 01-18-2012, 12:07 PM

His eyes do have quite a bit of discharge, but they don't really get goopy. Just red. She didn't give him any eye drops, but she did give us some Chlorpheniramine which seems to have helped. I just wish I could figure out what it is he's allergic too if this is really allergies. It's the dead of winter so there aren't too many plants around and I've already swapped out all of the cleaners/detergents that I use for natural ones and it didn't seem to help. He doesn't have any skin issues at all. The vet wants to see him again in a week to recheck him.

murraysmom · 01-18-2012, 04:25 PM

I hope it turns out to be allergies and not anything more serious. Just FYI,
here's more info on dry eye:

Canine Dry Eye Treatment with Cyclosporine - VetInfo

Quote:

"The signs of dry eye may include the rubbing and pawing of the eye/eyes, squinting and light sensitivity. The eyes may appear red and swollen and you may notice that the eye is dry. A mucous discharge may also be present. Infections of the cornea and cornea ulcers will be frequent and the dog will experience a lot of pain.
A Schirmer tear test (STT) can confirm if the dog has a tear production deficiency. "

loopylou · 01-18-2012, 05:12 PM

Sorry to hear Scout's not doing so well, hope it clears up soon.

I bathe Monty's eyes with saline solution everyday to try and help keep them nice and clean. He gets goop but nowt too serious. His eyes are so droopy there is concern that something may get in there and cause a problem. Might be something worth considering when he's better?

01-08-2012, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
iheartbassets4 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 12	Problem with eyes Hi! This is my first post to the forums, but I am becoming concerned about my Basset Hound, Scout. He is 6 1/2 years old and lately I've been noticing that when he goes out in the sun he either squints, or closes his eyes all together. About a year ago he had some sort of eye infection that the vet treated with eye drops, and he has gone back a couple of times throughout the year for what the vet said was allergies. I'm beginning to worry about cataracts/glaucoma and will be bringing him in to get checked as soon as possible. What are the signs/symptoms of glaucoma and what do I need to be on the lookout for?

01-18-2012, 05:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
jaleely Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 942	Wow...poor things! Looks like you have a lot of bassety vet stuff. I'm sorry iheartbassets4!! I'm very glad things are getting taken care of though. Bowser was just diagnosed with "conjuntivitis" but he has had no squinting, and there is a very noticeable discharge from his eye...which has spread to the other eye. Eye drops haven't done a thing for it. I called them the other day, but didn't hear back to see if we could try something else. His eyes are very goopy in the morning, and every time he wakes up from a nap. Is that what is happening to Scout? __________________ Baby Bowsah's Bwog

01-08-2012, 07:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lightning&Stomps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Versailles, Ky. Posts: 1,200	The test is simple and any vet can do it. You might want to run him by the vet's soon to make sure there's nothing going on.

01-17-2012, 07:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
iheartbassets4 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 12	I took him to the vet today (his appointment had to be pushed back a couple of days) and they did loads of tests on him (almost $400 worth). They diagnosed his eyes as mild conjunctivitis. The vet was worried about his behavior changes (along with intermittent bile vomits) and was concerned that the eyes and other symptoms could be indicative of something bigger. So we got a complete blood work-up done, a test on his pancreas, and an x-ray of his belly and chest. Everything turned out normal, we'll get the results of the thyroid panel in a few days. So, no glaucoma... but we don't know much. Hopefully the thyroid test will tell us something. Gracie, his sister (litter mate), has hypothyroidism so there is a pretty good chance that that is his problem.

01-18-2012, 12:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
iheartbassets4 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 12	His eyes do have quite a bit of discharge, but they don't really get goopy. Just red. She didn't give him any eye drops, but she did give us some Chlorpheniramine which seems to have helped. I just wish I could figure out what it is he's allergic too if this is really allergies. It's the dead of winter so there aren't too many plants around and I've already swapped out all of the cleaners/detergents that I use for natural ones and it didn't seem to help. He doesn't have any skin issues at all. The vet wants to see him again in a week to recheck him.

01-18-2012, 04:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
murraysmom Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: southcentral Pa. Posts: 2,235	I hope it turns out to be allergies and not anything more serious. Just FYI, here's more info on dry eye: Canine Dry Eye Treatment with Cyclosporine - VetInfo Quote: "The signs of dry eye may include the rubbing and pawing of the eye/eyes, squinting and light sensitivity. The eyes may appear red and swollen and you may notice that the eye is dry. A mucous discharge may also be present. Infections of the cornea and cornea ulcers will be frequent and the dog will experience a lot of pain. A Schirmer tear test (STT) can confirm if the dog has a tear production deficiency. "

01-18-2012, 05:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
loopylou Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 605	Sorry to hear Scout's not doing so well, hope it clears up soon. I bathe Monty's eyes with saline solution everyday to try and help keep them nice and clean. He gets goop but nowt too serious. His eyes are so droopy there is concern that something may get in there and cause a problem. Might be something worth considering when he's better?

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