In late January, Snowie hurt his left eye on a hike. Corneal abrasion. No idea how. Very windy day. Perhaps dust. Or brushing against a plant. Didn’t notice on the hike. Only saw later, eye was a tiny bit weepy. Got better. Then, 10 days later, got worse. Vet visit. She used a green fluorescent liquid to show up the corneal abrasion. Antibiotic drops. Got better. Went for follow up 5 days later. More green stuff. Patch was getting smaller. But next day, was worse. Then better. Went back a week later. Bit better. But always got worse after the green stuff in the eye—it shows up under a light and indicates where the corneal ulcer is. Got antibiotic gel this time; drops were impossible to get in. Snowie would squeeze his eye tightly shut. Vet said these things can take ages to heal. Three weeks later it looked much worse. That was yesterday. So I made an appointment with the vet Opthalmologist. Amazing to get a same-day appointment! Effect of Covid-19?
Weird woman. But amazing with Snowie. Whispered to him, no loud commands. Loving to him. And so adept at examining his eye. She said that it looked like the eye healed but then the new cells didn’t adhere to the cornea and so would come off, hence why it got better then worse. She anaesthetised the eye with that little strip (I have that when I have my eyes checked) and then took an earbud to see how easily the cells sloughed off. (Made me queasy!) She said he needed all the unadhered cells removed so that a healthy layer can grow back. Whisked him off to theatre. Local anaesthetic in the eye (injection this time). Her assistant held him still. We watched through the window. I wanted to go in but she said she needed someone experienced to hold him still. At least we weren’t barred from watching. And videoing! It looked so gruesome and violent. She used a “diamond-something” tool to lift the cells. Later she said it was a much bigger area that she had to remove. Yikes!! Then she used a needle to roughen up the under layer—looked like she was stabbing his eye!!!—she said this helps the cells to adhere. And finally she applied a clear lens onto the eyeball to protect it. Snowie was unbelievably compliant. She was so complimentary. Although I did say he had probably shut down. The assistant tickled his head and neck the whole time, I guess to distract him. When it was all over he came barging out of the theater, totally over excited!
I asked about pain meds. She didn’t think he would need any. She said no anti-inflammatories as it would affect the healing process (inflammation is part of the healing process). Interesting—my regular vet has said Rimadyl was good for bringing down the inflammation.
All was fine on the way home. But he was knackered when we got home and went straight to sleep. Had his dinner. Then complained that he’d not had his walk. The vet said absolutely no dusty walks. So, no mountain. No beach. No park (which has no irrigation due to the drought so it’s a dust bowl.) It’s so windy here that even street walking is problematic. And we’ve just had a massive mountain fire near us, air is very smokey—probably why his eye got worse. So I took him for a short walk, which ended up being much longer cos we strolled through a food market which is usually bustling—I wanted to see how it was. So quiet. Snowie sniffed out a plate of chicken and the man eating it said to take the leftovers for Snowie!! Which I scooped up in a poo bag (ordinary plastic bag). Well, Snowie would not walk until he’d got all the chicken!! Dragged his heels and hung back!! So annoying!! Meanwhile, the man came running after us with a big brown paper bag full of dried sausages he’d just bought at one of the stalls for Snowie!!! He said he loves dogs. He was about 60 and hugely muscled in tight workout gear—all braun and kindness! I was so embarrassed!!! I thought perhaps he thought I was walking through the market to find food scraps!!!!!!!
So, all was fine until around 9pm. It was as if the tension of the day had caused Snowie’s muscles to go into spasm and any standing or walking was extremely painful for him. He hung his head low. And cried for every step he tried to take. We gave him a paracetamol, which seemed to help—at least he managed to climb the three steps from outside into the lounge. I slept on the sofa and he didn’t budge from his spot next to it. At 2.30 in the morning I was woken from my deep sleep by his screams as he tried to stand up. I massaged his back and we both went to sleep. Again this morning he’s in pain. Eye looks too awful, will hardly open it. I had to put in a lubricant gel. Three times a day. Vet said no need for antibiotic gel, there’s no infection. He’s waggy and happy when he’s lying down. But cries when he tries to stand up or take a step. Thankfully he managed to get down the three steps and made a massive wee while standing on all fours. Ate his breakfast. Although not immediately—unusual. Not asking for his morning walk. But will need to poo—this is his routine.
I called the vet to ask about pain meds. I had to leave a message, vet will phone me back. Receptionist was very sympathetic and actually heard him cry cos he tried to stand while I was on the phone.
I am beside myself. My husband had to go out early cos his sister is undergoing a cardiac procedure and he’s gone to be her support. So I’m stuck here, a bag of anxiety. This poor, poor dog. He’s so compliant but in so much pain. My hands are tired from massaging him, but I’ve think that’s all I can do for now. Wishing the vet to call back ASAP. I’m too afraid to give another paracetamol because I’m unsure if the dosage is only one per day.
Sorry about the long post! I’m beside myself with worry. Terrified he’ll go blind in that eye. If you got this far, thank you for reading.
Weird woman. But amazing with Snowie. Whispered to him, no loud commands. Loving to him. And so adept at examining his eye. She said that it looked like the eye healed but then the new cells didn’t adhere to the cornea and so would come off, hence why it got better then worse. She anaesthetised the eye with that little strip (I have that when I have my eyes checked) and then took an earbud to see how easily the cells sloughed off. (Made me queasy!) She said he needed all the unadhered cells removed so that a healthy layer can grow back. Whisked him off to theatre. Local anaesthetic in the eye (injection this time). Her assistant held him still. We watched through the window. I wanted to go in but she said she needed someone experienced to hold him still. At least we weren’t barred from watching. And videoing! It looked so gruesome and violent. She used a “diamond-something” tool to lift the cells. Later she said it was a much bigger area that she had to remove. Yikes!! Then she used a needle to roughen up the under layer—looked like she was stabbing his eye!!!—she said this helps the cells to adhere. And finally she applied a clear lens onto the eyeball to protect it. Snowie was unbelievably compliant. She was so complimentary. Although I did say he had probably shut down. The assistant tickled his head and neck the whole time, I guess to distract him. When it was all over he came barging out of the theater, totally over excited!
I asked about pain meds. She didn’t think he would need any. She said no anti-inflammatories as it would affect the healing process (inflammation is part of the healing process). Interesting—my regular vet has said Rimadyl was good for bringing down the inflammation.
All was fine on the way home. But he was knackered when we got home and went straight to sleep. Had his dinner. Then complained that he’d not had his walk. The vet said absolutely no dusty walks. So, no mountain. No beach. No park (which has no irrigation due to the drought so it’s a dust bowl.) It’s so windy here that even street walking is problematic. And we’ve just had a massive mountain fire near us, air is very smokey—probably why his eye got worse. So I took him for a short walk, which ended up being much longer cos we strolled through a food market which is usually bustling—I wanted to see how it was. So quiet. Snowie sniffed out a plate of chicken and the man eating it said to take the leftovers for Snowie!! Which I scooped up in a poo bag (ordinary plastic bag). Well, Snowie would not walk until he’d got all the chicken!! Dragged his heels and hung back!! So annoying!! Meanwhile, the man came running after us with a big brown paper bag full of dried sausages he’d just bought at one of the stalls for Snowie!!! He said he loves dogs. He was about 60 and hugely muscled in tight workout gear—all braun and kindness! I was so embarrassed!!! I thought perhaps he thought I was walking through the market to find food scraps!!!!!!!So, all was fine until around 9pm. It was as if the tension of the day had caused Snowie’s muscles to go into spasm and any standing or walking was extremely painful for him. He hung his head low. And cried for every step he tried to take. We gave him a paracetamol, which seemed to help—at least he managed to climb the three steps from outside into the lounge. I slept on the sofa and he didn’t budge from his spot next to it. At 2.30 in the morning I was woken from my deep sleep by his screams as he tried to stand up. I massaged his back and we both went to sleep. Again this morning he’s in pain. Eye looks too awful, will hardly open it. I had to put in a lubricant gel. Three times a day. Vet said no need for antibiotic gel, there’s no infection. He’s waggy and happy when he’s lying down. But cries when he tries to stand up or take a step. Thankfully he managed to get down the three steps and made a massive wee while standing on all fours. Ate his breakfast. Although not immediately—unusual. Not asking for his morning walk. But will need to poo—this is his routine.
I called the vet to ask about pain meds. I had to leave a message, vet will phone me back. Receptionist was very sympathetic and actually heard him cry cos he tried to stand while I was on the phone.
I am beside myself. My husband had to go out early cos his sister is undergoing a cardiac procedure and he’s gone to be her support. So I’m stuck here, a bag of anxiety. This poor, poor dog. He’s so compliant but in so much pain. My hands are tired from massaging him, but I’ve think that’s all I can do for now. Wishing the vet to call back ASAP. I’m too afraid to give another paracetamol because I’m unsure if the dosage is only one per day.
Sorry about the long post! I’m beside myself with worry. Terrified he’ll go blind in that eye. If you got this far, thank you for reading.
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. Hope you can speak to the vet
