After three weeks of treatment by our family vet for an inflamed right eye, yesterday we finally got Joker to a veterinary ophthalmologist. He has been squinting a lot, pawing at his eye, and the third eyelid has been visible a good bit, with some redness around the lower eyelid. Our vet has treated this as an infection - various medicated drops, eyewashes, and even an oral antibiotic, all without much change in the condition.
The diagnosis by the ophthalmologist is a "superficial erosion laterally in the cornea. Vascularization is present but the overlying epithelium was loose and non-adherent." To treat it, she did the following: "Corneal epithelium derided and burr keratectomy performed." The notes sent home say, "The burr keratectomy roughens the corneal surface and helps the epithelium adhere." My boy is now on Tramadol for pain and antibiotic drops to prevent infection while his eye heals. I include all of this for those who know more about canine eye problems. This is corneal ulcers or erosions are apparently common in older dogs and especially so in Goldens. She was baffled by the treatment with oral antibiotics and the various solutions our vet had prescribed, knowing they would do no good.
We are alternating among raging frustration, deep relief and sheer joy. Our family vet has charged around $500 for treating the wrong thing! We have been so very worried that Joker's eye wasn't improving and I had begun to fear an underlying neurological problem, given his age of almost 13. Then there's the fact that my boy has endured so much discomfort from the exams and mistaken treatments. The veterinary ophthalmologist charged around $360 - less than the cumulative bills from the family vet - and now my boy should get better.
If he paws at his eye or rubs it, Joker may have to wear the dreaded cone, but I hope the Tramadol will keep him sleepy enough that we won't have to take that step. He has worn a cone quite enough in his life.
This experience makes me echo something posted in another thread: For eye problems, get your dog to a veterinary ophthalmologist, not your family vet! I had urged our vet to refer us to the ophthalmologist a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't put my foot down firmly enough and all of us have paid a price for it. :doh: I'm kicking myself for this and won't make the same mistake again.
The storm called Snowquester by the local press has closed my office and given me an excuse to stay home with my boy today. He'll be getting extra cuddles for sure.
The diagnosis by the ophthalmologist is a "superficial erosion laterally in the cornea. Vascularization is present but the overlying epithelium was loose and non-adherent." To treat it, she did the following: "Corneal epithelium derided and burr keratectomy performed." The notes sent home say, "The burr keratectomy roughens the corneal surface and helps the epithelium adhere." My boy is now on Tramadol for pain and antibiotic drops to prevent infection while his eye heals. I include all of this for those who know more about canine eye problems. This is corneal ulcers or erosions are apparently common in older dogs and especially so in Goldens. She was baffled by the treatment with oral antibiotics and the various solutions our vet had prescribed, knowing they would do no good.
We are alternating among raging frustration, deep relief and sheer joy. Our family vet has charged around $500 for treating the wrong thing! We have been so very worried that Joker's eye wasn't improving and I had begun to fear an underlying neurological problem, given his age of almost 13. Then there's the fact that my boy has endured so much discomfort from the exams and mistaken treatments. The veterinary ophthalmologist charged around $360 - less than the cumulative bills from the family vet - and now my boy should get better.
If he paws at his eye or rubs it, Joker may have to wear the dreaded cone, but I hope the Tramadol will keep him sleepy enough that we won't have to take that step. He has worn a cone quite enough in his life.
This experience makes me echo something posted in another thread: For eye problems, get your dog to a veterinary ophthalmologist, not your family vet! I had urged our vet to refer us to the ophthalmologist a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't put my foot down firmly enough and all of us have paid a price for it. :doh: I'm kicking myself for this and won't make the same mistake again.
The storm called Snowquester by the local press has closed my office and given me an excuse to stay home with my boy today. He'll be getting extra cuddles for sure.