Dog Community

my dog has a cloudy eye - can anyone help?

Posted : 4/17/2006 3:40:35 PM

Hi Everyone,

I wonder if you can help me.
I have an adorable furry animal called Jip (sheepdog cross) who is really suffering with a cloudy eye. He is 2 years old & otherwise he is in very good health. He has a good diet, shiny coat, plenty of exercise, etc. However, since he was a puppy he has had trouble with his left eye. He was in a terrible wormy state at birth but we managed to get him back naturally!! In the last 6 months, his eye has really deteriorated & is covered in a white mistiness so he can't see properly. Have tried everything to clear it (nutrition, herbs, eye oils & mists) but the best results are a small reduction in cloudiness before it flares back up again. I don't want him to lose his eye.
Has anyone had similar trouble? or do you know of any treatments that work?
Any advice appreciated for a worried lady! Thanks very much

furryanimal

lindsey

Posted : 4/17/2006 3:44:01 PM

sorry! I'm new to this game....the attachment didn't work out too well. Its an old pic so he is clear of a cloudy eye in this pic!

forpaws

Posted : 4/17/2006 3:51:23 PM

Hi and welcome to the board of doggers.

It looks to me like both eyes have the cloudiness which would indicate cataracts. Nothing you can buy over the counter is going to clear that up. I would take your fur child to the vet and have them check it out more in depth.
If the dog is not squinting, weepy eyes, and the whites of her eyes are not red and inflammed it does not look like it to me, then I would say cataracts or something along those lines. I really don't see any divits in her eyes either.

sharismom

Posted : 4/17/2006 3:51:42 PM

Hi Furry, Welcome to the forum.

I'm going to suggest you get this dog to a vet ASAP. Eyes are nothing to mess with. I have a 15 y.o. husky mix who has suffered from chronic dry eye in both eyes since the age of 4. She finally lost one eye last year to a rupture caused by the constant infection I battled in the worse of the two. The remaining eye is relatively healthy and she is only just now losing sight in it.

If your dog has an infection, it is very serious. I'm sure others will be along shortly who know more about your specific breed's tendencies, but no matter what kind of dog he is, the eye does need medical attention to prevent further damage.

Good luck, and let us know how he is!

lindsey

Posted : 4/17/2006 4:28:00 PM

Hi Forpaws & Sharismom & thanks for your replies. Sorry to hear about your husky's eyes Tina. With Jip, there is some redness in the white of his eye so I'm not sure what that indicates? I will have to get a professional to look at it - just worried about the medication side of it as he has been reared naturally. I used herbs to get rid of his tapeworm problem etc & don't intend using antibiotics.... on the other hand I want my dog to have a good eye so will have to explore the options.....please keep posting any ideas in the meantime....thanks again!

furryanimal

forpaws

Posted : 4/17/2006 4:36:14 PM

Furry, if it is something like an eye ulcer, you will have no choice but to use antibiotics.
I do hope it is not something like that. It is painful, very painful.
Please keep us posted. Thanks.

sharismom

Posted : 4/18/2006 7:19:25 AM

Furry, like Forpaws said, it may be unavoidable to use meds. I commend you for trying to keep Jip's treatments as natural as possible. Do you use a holistic vet? That may be an option, too. I didn't know until I came here to the forum that there was such a thing.

I hope you can resolve Jip's problem!

probe1957

Posted : 4/18/2006 7:56:16 AM

It looks to me too like both eyes are cloudy. I do not share your enthusiasm for "natural" remedies, especially in this case. The dog needs to see a vet. It could be anything from an injury to an infection.

You say "in the last 6 months, his eye has really deteriorated..." At some point, it strikes me as prudent to realize that what we have been trying isn't working. Beyond that, I will keep my comments to myself. [

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amstaffy

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:07:50 AM

Welcome to the forum!
I too would suggest seeking the advice from a vet. Eyes can deteriate quickly to the point where it might need to be removed in days depending on what the problem really is.
A forum like this is great for simple things and support but we are not vets(although we do have a few) and diagnosing should be done by some one who is.

Good luck and keep us posted

marty_ga

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:39:09 PM

I agree with the others...Vet visit asap. One of my dogs has cataracts, and although she is older, I know some dogs can develop this when young. I think it is hereditary.

We see an opthalmologist at the state Vet school every 6 months, and it only runs about $45 dollars for the visit. We have to put anti-inflammatory eye drops 2x day, and that runs about $28 per month. I would not trust this to natural remedies either...it is much too important to save her vision while you can.

lindsey

Posted : 4/18/2006 6:08:54 PM

Thanks everybody for all your replies. Thanks Tina I am trying to find a decent holistic vet who will hopefully be able to point me in the right direction. Up till now it is my Mum who is the wonder woman with treatments.... I am a great believer in holistic medicine & plant medicine & this has kept things at bay.......but its not eradicating the probelm so clearly more urgent action is required! We have been faithfully attending his eye for a while now but we are not getting to the root of the problem.

I'll let you know how I get on....thanks for your concern.
speak to you soon
furryanimal

jessies_mom

Posted : 4/18/2006 10:18:21 PM

Holistic vets aren't all that common; I know there are none in the area where I live. Please, if you can't find a holistic vet very soon, take your dog to a regular vet.

jessies_mom

Posted : 4/20/2006 9:12:20 PM

furyanimal, How is Jip? Have you found a holistic vet or taken your dog to a regular vet?