dry eye pug

[bentech]

Hi, i have a 4 year old pug name Oscar and he have dry eyes problem. i use visocare (optimune generic) twice a day for helping lubricate is eyes but i'm looking for a treatment that can help reduce the brown spot on is eyes. I read that tacrolimus ointment is a new product that can cure the Keratoconjuctivitis sicca but i cannot find it online. Is somebody have a medication that is great to treat the KCS problem ??

[Tinker's mom]

Hello & to the village! Have you seen an opthalomologist? Tinker has PK and is on Cyclosporine1% drops every day.

[AMC7181]

Definitely find a good veterinary ophthalmologist. We just saw one last week for what I suspected was pigmentary keratitis; turned out it is PK. Both of my pugs have brown pigment on the whites of their eyes, but the ophthalmologist wasn't terribly concerned about it. He said the issue is when the pigment gets into the center (cornea) of their eyes. But, even though they have some pigment, he said he didn't recommend prescription medication yet. We're doing Genteal Severe gel drops 2-3x/day.

Your pug may or may not need something for the pigmentation. At least in the US, the major medications for moderate to severe PK are prescription only. Has your pug been checked to see if there is something irritating the eye? The ophthalmologist said that often causes the pigmentation, and if the irritant is removed, it can stop the progression of pigmentation.

[pugaddiction]

I too strongly suggest seeing an opthamologist. We have a pug with PK here and he is on Cyclosporine1% drops 2 times a day. It is not a cure drug, it will slow and in some cases stop the progression of PK. It is only available by prescription in Canada. You can get it online but still need a prescription from your vet. Good luck. Oh yeah and welcome.

[CountryPug]

I *think* optimune and cyclosporine are the same thing, that's what Bella is currently on. Tracrolimus is a newer drug so fewer opthamologists prescribe it. It may work better than Cyclosporine for some dogs, but depending on the severity of the PK, I do not think it's completely reversible. If you have not already seen an opthamologist, I would make an appointment with one. They are much more knowledgeable about eyes than regular vets and they can discuss other options and make sure your pug is on the right treatment. I would also add an eye lubricant as well as the optimune.

[bentech]

thank you evreyone !! like i said, i use visiocare every day, twice a day. visiocare is the generic of optimune (cyclosporine).this medication have been prescrite by my vet last year so i'm 100% sure that my dog have the Keratoconjuctivitis sicca and not any other eye deasese. The KCS do not seem to get worst so i can say that visocare is a great medication to stop the progression of the KCS. Is going to a opthamologist is a good idea ??? I mean he would probably charge me 70$ to tell me that my dog need a 2000$ sugery to repair is eyes !! I know taht KCS is very commune to pug and i want to know if somebody here know if its reversible and what is the medication to use. My vet said that there is no medication to cure my dog eyes except a sugery. but the more i read about this deasese, the more i found new medications that my help reduce the brown film over the eyes.

oh, and what mean ''PK'' ??

[CountryPug]

PK means pigmentary keratitis, a condition that can be caused by dry eye, but has other causes too...very common in pugs. The dark pigment that you see is very likely caused by PK, but only an veterinary opthamologist is qualified to diagnose it and regular vets often miss diagnose and/or over look things. Best to go to a specialist .

[bentech]

PK means pigmentary keratitis, a condition that can be caused by dry eye, but has other causes too...very common in pugs. The dark pigment that you see is very likely caused by PK, but only an veterinary opthamologist is qualified to diagnose it and regular vets often miss diagnose and/or over look things. Best to go to a specialist .

thanks !!! My regular vet had made the test to know what is the amount of tears that what produce by the eye and the result was that is eye dont produce enough tears. he explain to me that i can go see a opthamologist to get a sugery to connect is saliva canal that goes into is mouth to the canal that bring the tears into is eyes (very expensive sugery) or i can use optimune ointment for the rest of is life. But i'm 100% sure of what is causing the PK and its under control. I might call a opthamologist to explain my situation and ask if theres any treatment that will cure is brown eyes and get it back normal !!

[Pugpillow]

Most regular vets who have experience with pugs and other breeds with protruding eyes will be familiar enough with PK (pigmentary keratitis) and KCS (dry eye) that they will know whether or not you should be referred to a specialist. Your vet has already done the Schirmer tear test for dry eye and so sounds like he knows enough.

Dry eye is very common in pugs and I always use eye drops or eye lubrication in the morning and at night for every pug I have, to help stave off the problem. Pigmentary keratitis (the darkening that starts on the white inside part of the eye and gradually spreads to the outside, covering the lens who the pug becomes blind), can be caused by dry eye. The dog's tears are not producing enough water to adequately flush the eye of debris. This lack of fluid causes irritation which encourages pigmentation. So it is critical to keep the eye moist. Your vet has determined that this is the case with your dog and prescribed Optimmune/cyclosporin to help lubricate the eye and slow down the growth of pigmentation. I suggest you supplement this with an over-the-counter lubricant such as Tear-Gel (jelly in a tube) or Natural Tears 2 (drops) a couple of times during the day (not at the same time as the cyclosporin, which should be first thing in the morning and last thing at night). Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant normally used instead of cyclosporin when the latter does not work (on some dogs). Some vets prefer it but most vets prescribe the cyclosporin (Optimmune).

The other potential cause of PK is distichia. This is when one or more eyelashes rub on the cornea and produce irritation. Pugs are notorious for this because the shape of their face and wrinkles often produces eyelids (top or bottom or both) that turn inwards towards the eye, a condition called entropion. If this is the case, you can have the offending eyelashes removed by a specialist at very little cost per eyelash. However, the eyelash may grow back in as soon as a couple of months and may have to be removed again. If this is the case or there are a lot of eyelashes involved, the only way to prevent the problem from causing PK is to have surgery to reposition the lids - a facial tuck. This is expensive (I paid $1600 Cdn plus the initial consult fee) about 5 years ago.

[bentech]

Most regular vets who have experience with pugs and other breeds with protruding eyes will be familiar enough with PK (pigmentary keratitis) and KCS (dry eye) that they will know whether or not you should be referred to a specialist. Your vet has already done the Schirmer tear test for dry eye and so sounds like he knows enough.

Dry eye is very common in pugs and I always use eye drops or eye lubrication in the morning and at night for every pug I have, to help stave off the problem. Pigmentary keratitis (the darkening that starts on the white inside part of the eye and gradually spreads to the outside, covering the lens who the pug becomes blind), can be caused by dry eye. The dog's tears are not producing enough water to adequately flush the eye of debris. This lack of fluid causes irritation which encourages pigmentation. So it is critical to keep the eye moist. Your vet has determined that this is the case with your dog and prescribed Optimmune/cyclosporin to help lubricate the eye and slow down the growth of pigmentation. I suggest you supplement this with an over-the-counter lubricant such as Tear-Gel (jelly in a tube) or Natural Tears 2 (drops) a couple of times during the day (not at the same time as the cyclosporin, which should be first thing in the morning and last thing at night). Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant normally used instead of cyclosporin when the latter does not work (on some dogs). Some vets prefer it but most vets prescribe the cyclosporin (Optimmune).

The other potential cause of PK is distichia. This is when one or more eyelashes rub on the cornea and produce irritation. Pugs are notorious for this because the shape of their face and wrinkles often produces eyelids (top or bottom or both) that turn inwards towards the eye, a condition called entropion. If this is the case, you can have the offending eyelashes removed by a specialist at very little cost per eyelash. However, the eyelash may grow back in as soon as a couple of months and may have to be removed again. If this is the case or there are a lot of eyelashes involved, the only way to prevent the problem from causing PK is to have surgery to reposition the lids - a facial tuck. This is expensive (I paid $1600 Cdn plus the initial consult fee) about 5 years ago.

Thanks !! Do you know Maxitrol ?? My vet tell me to use it and i think it help reducing the brown spot in my pug eyes.