eye drops

[nfjchester]

has anyone tried the cataract eye drops N-acetyl-carnosine can-c drops ? if so please tell me your experience with this.

[Harry]

Re: eye drops

has anyone tried the cataract eye drops N-acetyl-carnosine can-c drops ? if so please tell me your experience with this.

Yes, I've started Fergy on this CAN-C regimen on July 9. I have not as yet, obtained the liquid Bilberry extract to go along with it, but it's really not required, per the instructions.

I haven't noticed any definite changes in the cataracts except they change in size most every day...from just covering the pupil to again half the size of the pupil. Fergy's cataracts still remain "blue" or infant, in other words they haven't worsened.

I don't really expect any "real" improvement for at least 2 months of treatment, so here's hoping!!

As far as I can tell, his vision is as good as it was before his onset of diabetes.


Cheers

Harry & Fergy.

[buddingartist]

Re: eye drops

My little man Buddy is 10 years old. Last year, we noticed his eyesight was going down and he started hesitating when walking on different texture of flooring or surface. The vet said that he had crystals in his eyes and that nothing could be done about it, it was part of aging.

He was diagnosed with diabetes January 2010, had quite a few set backs and lost his eyesight in one eye and the other one a few days later. That was probably the saddest thing to watch him struggle with. He became lethargic and suffered from anxiety, could not be left alone etc. Surgery in Canada would have meant $4000 ($2000 per eye) and we could not afford it.

We decided to give him a chance and to invest in OcluVet. He is on day 38. At first, we were giving him 3 drops per eye per day however, he started showing irritation at day 31, so now he is only getting 2 drops a day. We have to expect that the results will be slower in light of this but still, we saw some improvement.

At first we thought it was <wishful thinking< on our part but I am convinced that Buddy can now see a little. He is navigating around the coffee table legs that we sometimes move, whereas before he would bump his head right in to it, he used to jump on the couch and right over the armrest, now he does it precisely.

We had closed off 2 rooms (dining room and living room) when he went blind. We reopened those rooms and he is navigating around a massive and solid wood coffee table, jumping on and off the couch sideways so as to not hit the table. The biggest confirmation came this weekend when our 2-year old granddaughter was visiting with our son and daughter in law. There were toys, baby blanket, etc strewn all over the floor in the family room and I watched him navigate around them and not once did he step on any of them.

Being in Canada, the cost of OcluVet runs to about $150 per bottle, with shipping, duties, exchange etc. Websites where it is cheaper don't ship to Canada so we had to buy it directly from the company.

Normally, it is 3 drops per day for 56 days and then 1 drop a day (as needed) however, for a diabetic animal it must be one drop per day. They suggest that the one bottle will last for the 56 days at the rate of 3 drops per day. I don't think it will, I've had a few mishaps but still.

We bought 2 bottles and we are happy we did and it certainly is something we now intend to continue using.

Good luck and hope this helps
Louise

[k9diabetes]

Re: eye drops

I have some very significant concerns about Ocluvet... and really any drop that purports to clear up diabetes-induced cataracts.

At an early stage, I could see some kind of formulation that disrupted the process by which the cataracts form. But once cataracts are present, they are, as I understand it, a degrading of the structure of the lens. The lens is breaking down physically when they reach full maturity.

http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00517.htm

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1945&SourceID=

I don't believe any drop is going to reconstruct the lens structure once the cataracts have developed.

Also, our veterinary ophthalmologist adamantly opposed the claims being made by the makers of Ocluvet. As he put it, if he could fix cataracts with drops, he would do it in a heart beat. He doesn't want to have to do surgery and this is a man who works with rescues and donates a great deal of his time to pets with special needs and limited resources. But as far as he was concerned, Ocluvet was not a bona fide medical treatment.

He didn't believe they would do any harm except in one way - people invest a great deal of money in the drops and, as a result, sometimes postpone or cannot afford to do other important veterinary procedures that would greatly aid their dog's health. That they might pass up an ultrasound because they now couldn't afford it after spending so much on eye drops.

Natalie

[eileen]

Re: eye drops

I concur with Natalie on the use of any eye drop that lays claim to clear diabetic induced cataracts.

Mildred's Ophthalmologist was opposed to these also stating that time and money is wasted by many who have the hopes of these drops bringing improvements.

Money that can be better spent in other areas as well as time passing when if the cataract surgery is then considered it is too late for a lens to be implanted.

[O'Riley]

Re: eye drops

I have no first hand knowledge, but member Icaru outlined a homeopathic cataract protocol that included l-acetyl carnosine. You might do some research and see if the treatment is cataract-specific, or if, because of the antioxidants, it's helping restore eye health in general. I'll quote Icaru here, then provide the link to the thread where the information appeared.

Icaru said: "I read about the use of bilberry extract as an age-old homeopathic cure in two research extracts of experiments done in Italy. Those showed that bilberry extract, taken together with vitamin E, in many case of human cataracts were able to delay or reverse immature cataracts. I bought the bilberry extract from the VitaminShoppe online, the vitamin E is in the 1/4 vitamin pill that Gigi gets morning and evening. I give her 0.5 ml of bilberry extract after each meal. The antioxidant eye drops, however, were prescribed in Spain by a Spanish veterinarian and mine are not sold in the US. However, you might find something similar. On the box it says 'N-acetil carnosine'. Here is a page from a US site that seems to sell the same product:
http://www.wisechoicemedicine.net/st...php?info_id=11
Gigi's cataract disappeared after about 2 months of using these products."

http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/show...ract#post31214

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: eye drops

Good Morning All,

I just wanted to post here and tell you that Chloe's Veterinary Opthomologist in Richmond, VA told me that there is an eye drop called Kinostat that will not only prevent cataracts, but will reduce them as well. He said he is very frustrated though because he cannot get his hands on this drop because it has not been approved by the FDA yet. Here are a couple of links about this drop:

http://www.labome.org/grant/r43/ey/t...s-7320621.html

http://medvetohio.com/pdf/MedVet%20U...ter%202008.pdf

http://abstracts.iovs.org/cgi/conten...ract/46/5/4702

Anyway, I called Therapeutic Vision who makes this drop. They said it will be a couple of years before they will be approved they think. It's very frustrating. Their phone number is (402)740-4397.

Chloe's Opthomologist and also her regular Vet say they will be using this drop when it becomes available.

Hugs to all,

Heidi and Chloe

[buddingartist]

Re: eye drops

Perhaps I came across more like an <infomercial< for OcluVet and that was not my intention. Let me tell you a little about our little man Buddy.

10 years ago when we set out to get our one male puppy, when we arrived at the breeder we quickly realized that it was a puppy mill and we paid a big <ransom< to get Buddy and his sister Cleo out of there. Buddy was completely bald, covered in bleeding sores from untreated mange, one ear had been burnt. We knew that there would be health problems, his lungs were affected and he has had multiple health problems, but we loved them both as they are adorable, lovable and very endearing little furry friends.

Since Buddy was diagnosed in January 2010 with diabetes, he has experienced many crisis situations (acute pancreatitis, acute ketoacidosis, bad experience with caninsulin, unsafe increases in insulin dosage, somogyi, loss of eyesight, multiple food changes recommended by the vet which were unsuitable for diabetes or allergies, cholestasis, bladder stones, multiple paw, gum and ear infections etc.). I didn’t know much about caring for a diabetic animal and I had not yet found any on-line support groups. Eventually, through these support groups, I did find an <angel< for Buddy and she has helped me through some crisis.

Since his diagnosis, we have spent over $5,000 for his care in hospitalization, meds, etc, etc. and we certainly can’t afford an additional $6-7000 thousands for more visits to specialists, ultrasound, blood work, procedures or eye surgery. I can only do what we can afford and my ultimate goal is to make him as comfortable as possible.

When Buddy started having problems with dry eyes, we had to put drops in his eyes twice a day and it helped him. After he was regulated, we decided to at least try and help him further and to spend $300.00 for 2 bottles of OcluVet and to evaluate the progress.

Our decision was pragmatic and we had no expectations other than a remote chance it could help, abeit an expensive eye lubrification and based on my research, I felt they would do no further harm. In my previous post, I simply related what we have been witnessing, the changes in Buddy’s behaviours and I was in no way trying to build false hopes or encourage anyone to spend a fortune on eye drops that claims to correct or restore eyesight. I simply related our experience with the drops.

If I misled anyone, I apologize.

Sorry for the long post

[Noodle]

Re: eye drops

Good Morning All,

I just wanted to post here and tell you that Chloe's Veterinary Opthomologist in Richmond, VA told me that there is an eye drop called Kinostat that will not only prevent cataracts, but will reduce them as well. He said he is very frustrated though because he cannot get his hands on this drop because it has not been approved by the FDA yet. Here are a couple of links about this drop:

http://www.labome.org/grant/r43/ey/t...s-7320621.html

http://medvetohio.com/pdf/MedVet%20U...ter%202008.pdf

http://abstracts.iovs.org/cgi/conten...ract/46/5/4702

Anyway, I called Therapeutic Vision who makes this drop. They said it will be a couple of years before they will be approved they think. It's very frustrating. Their phone number is (402)740-4397.

Chloe's Opthomologist and also her regular Vet say they will be using this drop when it becomes available.

Hugs to all,

Heidi and Chloe

Thank you for posting this information. It sounds very promising and I hope it makes it to market sooner than they anticipate. I wonder if there are clinical trials in places other than Ohio and Nebraska. I'm about 90 minutes away from a university vet program. I'm going to ask my vet at tomorrow's appt if she knows anything about Kinostat and/or clinical trials. We are a little over a year and a half since Noodle's diagnosis and he is cataract free so far. Maybe he is just going to be one of the very lucky ones. But I would love to give him the benefit of something clinically proven to inhibit them.

[nfjchester]

diabetes and chf

does anyone one here have both illnesses with their pet ? chester has both and am really scared and sad .

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: eye drops

Thank you for posting this information. It sounds very promising and I hope it makes it to market sooner than they anticipate. I wonder if there are clinical trials in places other than Ohio and Nebraska. I'm about 90 minutes away from a university vet program. I'm going to ask my vet at tomorrow's appt if she knows anything about Kinostat and/or clinical trials. We are a little over a year and a half since Noodle's diagnosis and he is cataract free so far. Maybe he is just going to be one of the very lucky ones. But I would love to give him the benefit of something clinically proven to inhibit them.

Hi Daisy,

I hope it makes it through faster too. December will be 4 years my Chloe has been diabetic and Praise the Father, she is cataract free as well. Dr. Blair said she is a good candidate for this drop.

I bet there is alot more research out there on the internet than what I posted. Patty would know, she and I have talked about this drop too. If she sees this, maybe she will share what she has on it.

Hugs to you and Noodle,
Heidi and Chloe

[Patty]

Re: diabetes and chf

Hi and Welcome to you and Chester!

I'm not sure that we have a member currently with Congestive Heart Failure and diabetes, but we have had a few with other heart issues and diabetes as well.

Can you tell us more about Chester? What type of dog is he? How old? How long has he had CHF? diabetes?

As I said we do have dogs will other multiple diseases that have led very full and happy lives. Glad you found us.

Take care,
Patty

[Patty]

Re: eye drops

When Heidi mentioned it, I did look it up. When I have some more time, I'll try to dig up that email I have.

[nfjchester]

Re: diabetes and chf

chester ia a 12 year old miniture pinsher . his heart murmur is a 4 - found out he has a murmur in december of 09 . diabetes - found out 2 weeks ago . he is still going through a curve and i guess they want to inject 2 x daily . sounds like they upped his dose to 3 units today - he weighs 13 pounds - he started at 16.8 pounds . this weight loss stuff really SCARES me - to me he looks ill from losing that much weight . i will find out more when i get him at 5 today .

[nfjchester]

Re: eye drops

thanks for all the replies so far - i really appreciate hearing them all . i would like to also hear more about this billberry stuff if you have any info .