Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

[lilmanlou]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I hope I can find some answers. My 9 year old pug, Lou, is now blind from the diabetes. He has a lot of yellowish discharge from his eyes throughout the day, especially in the morning. Is this a side effect from the diabetes? I've read that some animals have dry eye. Even though he is blind now, he squints and I feel that he is squinting because it hurts. Though he never makes a sound or paws at them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[CraigM]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

Welcome to you and Lou.
As you probably know, eye problems are common with diabetic dogs. Did your vet, or eye specialist, work with Lou before he went blind? If there is a discharge, or redness, you probably need professional help (more than what folks on this forum can provide).

Got to run, but I'm sure others will be along later.

Craig

[Joan]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

I have 11 rescue pugs currently, and as you know so many pugs have eye problems. Many are susceptible to dry eye, which results eventually in PK, pigmentary keratitis. That shows up as a dark brown film across the eye which diminishes sight.

So if your pug is blind, possibly from cataracts due to the diabetes, that shouldn't be uncomfortable or sore usually. The dry eye on the other hand makes the eye feel scratchy same as yours would if you had a spec of sand etc. The eye is trying to lubricate itself, and since the tear production is reduced or absent, they will produce mucus for lubrication. So a good eye drop will normally stop that, and make them stop squinting etc.

Genteal drops from Walmart work pretty well, but I have 2 pugs who need more, and I order Optixcare c/w Hylaron drops (vet recommended) . These are amazing, you can get them online, quite reasonable. I would give them 3-4 times per day till he feels better, then probably once or twice per day for life.

If the lubricant doesn't help in a wk or so I would see the vet. But I have never had one over the yrs (both diabetic and non) that needed anything further.

Good luck with your little guy! Pugs are so precious.....I am completely biased LOL

[maddiesmom]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

Maddie went to the vet last week and dr tested her eyes. She also has dry eye. My vet prescribed tacrolimus drops. From my understanding the drops are supposed to help the eye produce more tears. I am sure because they are a compounded medication they will be expensive. My vet didn't say anything about using over the counter drops. Wondering if that would be worth trying first?

[farrwf]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

Maddie went to the vet last week and dr tested her eyes. She also has dry eye. My vet prescribed tacrolimus drops. From my understanding the drops are supposed to help the eye produce more tears. I am sure because they are a compounded medication they will be expensive. My vet didn't say anything about using over the counter drops. Wondering if that would be worth trying first?

Cyclosporin & Tacrolimus "trick" the body into producing its own tears. These are the 2 meds, I know of, which cause the body to generate its own tears, or more of them.

The other meds mentioned are basically eye lubricants, and don't cause the production of the body's own tears (lubricants).

I used Tacrolimus ointment successfully with Otis for about 3 years. When I started fostering Sonny, who had the cataract surgery shortly before he came to live with me, I got some Tacrolimus "just in case". Well, last week he was diagnosed with dry eye and, with the doc's ok, started Sonny on the Tacrolimus ointment. Looks like I may only have to apply it once daily, as a single application appears to keep his eyes nice & moist for 24 hours. We'll see ...

[CraigM]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

One more thought. Although my Annie is blind, she still gets high internal eye pressure that requires additional eye drops. There are several different types of drops that reduce the eye pressure, probably all by prescription.

Craig

[amydunn19]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

I tried Genteal with Maggie and it did increase her blood sugar but
Every dog is different. Just my experience....

[Charlie's mom]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

Charlie has been on cyclosporine for nearly a year. It's about $50 a tube which last about 2 months. We supplement with Refresh.

Laura

[Joan]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

I have been using Optixcare (cheapest from Calvetsupply) for dry eye pugs and for Emmitt my diabetic. Really happy with this compared to many other meds I have tried over the years on all my pugs.

Just ran across this article on Pubmed, which shows the results/conclusions of an independent study done on the Optixcare EH, which contains astaxanthin and resvesterol. It showed good results in rats (ugh!) that they induced diabetes and cataracts, then treated with optixcare.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25188009

I also feed supplements with food that contain extra lutein and astaxanthin. Emmitt had small cataract in one eye when we rescued him first of April, do not know how long he was diabetic, but think he was at the shelter when he nearly succumbed to ketoacdosis. Anyway other eye is still perfectly clear, and I think the original cataract is looking a bit better. I realize it is early days yet, but so far so good. Worth the try for sure. At his age, Emmitt would not be a good candidate for surgery

[k9diabetes]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

Tacrolimus and cyclosporine are immune-system/inflammation suppressors. You may have seen the ads on television for people who have dry eye - same thing.

Back when our dog was on Tacrolimus (for a different sort of immune-system / inflammation problem, the eye ointment was mixed up by the ophthalmologist and cost $48 for a tube... think we only ever bought one tube of it.

Natalie

[deonsmama]

Re: Diabetic Eye Condition - Lou

The yellow discharge and squinting very well may mean a corneal abrasion. Unlikely if in both eyes. I brought my newly diganosed diabetic dog back to the er for her third lid being all the way over, squinting, and tears. To sum up two opinions later they keep saying allergies, do not know where you are from but I hear allergies are bad this year for dogs even if they have not had them in the past. I was obsessed with her eyes as it started seriously at the same time but I keep being told it is not at all related. I hope this helps a bit.