Answers to Readers' Questions on Glaucoma in Pets. Also refer to veterinarian, ophthalmologist, eyes, fluid pressure, ciliary body, blindness, surgery, medication, cryosurgery, laser surgery, intraocular prosthesis, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Animal Health:
Glaucoma in Pets
The following 39 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Samoyed just developed glaucoma
- Would like to get the medicine for glaucoma
- Feel that vet caused glaucoma in puppy
- Would like glaucoma drops
- Wants to give away medicine for glaucoma
- Dog diagnosed with Glaucoma
- Cat has glaucoma and drops sting too much
- Rabbit diagnosed with glaucoma
- Boxer has blisters in both eyes
- Dog suddenly lost her hearing
Samoyed just developed glaucoma
Question
December 3, 2008
My Samoyed just developed glaucoma in one eye with an IOP of 24 when we first measured it. I've talked to my brother who has (had?) glaucoma and he received what he called cold laser surgery which sounds like it was laser trabeculoplasty - is that available for dogs?
She's suffered some permanent damage from the attack, however she still sees through that eye. She's on Xalatan in the affected eye and is on prophylactic care of one drop a day in her unaffected eye. I know she's at high risk of going entirely blind though, so is laser surgery an option for a cure in the eye that underwent the attack, with preventative care in the unaffected eye? I wouldn't expect a trabeculectomy to be possible because of the long recovery period.
I also understand that TR BioSurgical has a veterinary implant which appears to be under the trademark of ClarifEYE. Is it on the market yet?
Richard - USA
16902
Answer
It would be a good idea to find a veterinary ophthalmologist to give you some options on treating the glaucoma. Your vet may be able to recommend someone or you can try http://www.acvo.org/locate.htm to find one in your area.
If one eye gets glaucoma, it is most likely the other eye will get it within a year or two. Also, the medication only provides temporary relief.
The success rate for laser surgery is not high. The ophthalmologist or vet could give you the details and best options.
Although it is a heart-breaker for your dog to go blind, it still can be a happy animal. You just have make adjustments for your pet.
Best wishes with the health of your Samoyed, and I hope you find a good solution to the problem.
Would like to get the medicine for glaucoma
Question
August 14, 2007
I would like to get the medicine for glaucoma. I have two Australian Silky Terriers a mother and son and the mother really needs help. The son starting to have that glazed over look in his eyes.
Please, I would like some help.
Sincerely,
Leona
Leona - USA
14200
Answer
It is important for you to bring your dogs to a veterinarian for an examination to make sure they aren't going blind. The vet must have the device required to test for glaucoma. You need to be sure that it is glaucoma and not some other eye ailment.
If your dogs do have glaucoma, then the vet can prescribe a correct medicine for them.
Unfortunately, the prognosis for glaucoma is not very good. Usually, the dog will go blind within two years. But that doesn't mean the dog and still not have a happy life.
I hope this helps, and best wishes for good health with your dogs.
Feel that vet caused glaucoma in puppy
Question
April 2, 2007
I took my puppy to a vet within five days of purchasing her. My vet said she had an eye that was healing from something that happend previously (the eye looked slightly pink). Within 12 hours of my vet's extensive exam of the eye, she developed an extremely sensative eye that started to secret a green fluid. Within three weeks he told me she had developed Glacoma. The puppy had shown no signs of this three weeks ago. My vet felt that he might have caused the eye to become worse so in the begining he was not charging me for any of the visits now that it has developed Glaucoma he is charging me for this. I strongly feel that my puppy has this because of my vet.
- USA
13473
Answer
It sounds more like your puppy has an infection in the eye. I would guess the green fluid was perhaps pus. The examination may have aggravated an injury or infection.
If you ever ever gone to in the eye doctor and had a test for glaucoma, a probe is used to measure pressure against your eyeball. Many vets do not have such a glaucoma-testing probe, because they are expensive.
Did you see your vet taking measurements of the pressure in the puppy's eye with a probe? Find out what the pressure was, as compared to what is normal. If the vet does not have any numbers, then maybe she is just making a guess. If that is the case, then you should go to another vet.
Note that glaucoma can not be caused by an external examination. It is a genetic defect that happens inside the eye.
I hope your dog will be okay and does not have glaucoma.
Would like glaucoma drops
Question
February 20, 2007
This is message for Jennifer (her E-mail from Jan.23, 2007) who has extra amount of glaucoma medications (cosopt drops). I could use these for very good cause. Please let me know if she still has those available.
With best regards,
Boro
Boro - USA
13212
Answer
She said she would be glad to try to help you. I gave her your email address, and she will contact you. Hopefully, it will all work out.
Wants to give away medicine for glaucoma
Question
January 23, 2007
My Dog battled Glaucoma for almost 5 years. After laser surgery, ups&downs, he passed away late last year due to other causes. I have alot of his Glaucoma meds which have been properly stored and I dont want to just throw them out. They are so expensive and I would like to donate them to someone or an association where other dogs who are suffering from Glaucoma can benefit from their use. Do you know who could accept this type of donation, or perhaps would you?
Jennifer - USA
12949
Answer
Sorry to hear that your dog had such problems and has also passed away.
The best thing to do would be to check with your vet to see if they know of anyone else has a dog with glaucoma. You might also check with the local animal shelter. Although it is worth a try, you probably won't get much feedback on who you could give the medicine to.
I know you hate to throw away a good, expensive medicine, but it is usually difficult to find someone with the exact same problem. Best wishes in finding someone to donate the medicine to.
Dog diagnosed with Glaucoma
Question
February 20, 2009
About 10 days ago we brought our dog, a seven year old mixed German Sheppard to the vet. The vet diagnosed our dog with an eye infection, prescribed an antibiotic cream to put in her right eye twice a day. We really take of our dog and the minute something is wrong with her off to the vet we go.
After about five days we noticed the eye had no improvement at all. I called the vet talked to a tech and the vet never called back. We took our dog to another vet, and immediately they diagnosed her with glaucoma, they gave her an I.V. and brought the pressure down from about fifty to nineteen. They gave us about five prescriptions. About two days later my son neglected to make sure that she consumed one of her pills, and she ended up back at the vet for another I.V., this time the pressure in her right eye was in the low 70's. We then took her to an eye specialist he looked at her briefly told us she was blind in one eye, gave us an estimate for $2600.00 to remove the eye and told us we need to remove the eye immediately.
I decided to exhaust every effort to try to save the eye, and told the vet surgery would be the last alternative. We monitor the dog very closely her attitude has not changed (still very playful, and we have gone as far as covering the left eye with a patch to see if she is completely blind, she got around fine in our house and a friends house that she has never been in. My question who is the best doctor in this country that will give her a fair shake and try everything to save what sight is left, along with her eye. I do not care about the cost as she is family.
Larry - USA
12345
Answer
Thanks for sharing your story about your pet. It is heartbreaking to have such a problem, but it is good that you have a positive attitude about it.
Best wishes on your dog's health and happiness.
Cat has glaucoma and drops sting too much
Question
August 10, 2006
My cat is diabetic but has an unrelated glaucoma problem called "aqueous misdirection syndrome." She has a prescription for twice a day Cosopt eye drops, but it was just torture for her -- and me. It affected her taste and she stopped eating. Worse, I couldn't get her to come out of hiding to get her daily insulin injections, which were never a problem before. After consulting with my very caring vet, he said that her anxiety level was so bad with the eye drops that on balance it was probably better not to treat her this way. But now her glaucoma is getting worse and I really want to find a treatment that will work. Is there an injection to stop the fluid production? Her daily insulin shots are totally routine now and it would be so great if I could treat her glaucoma intravenously. If you don't know the answer to my question, can you please refer me to another source that might know?
Thank you so much (on behalf of me and Luna),
Karen May
Karen - USA
11682
Answer
There are some glaucoma medications that can be administered in tablet form. But I know it is difficult to give pills to cats. There are also other eye drops for glaucoma that may not sting as much as Cosopt. Finally, there are some surgical procedures that can relieve the pressure, but they are only 50% successful.
Try to find a pet ophthalmologist in your area. Your vet may have some suggestions. Sometimes they have such specialists at vet colleges.
I hope this helps and that you are able to get relief for your Luna. I know it is heartbreaking to have a pet suffer.
Rabbit diagnosed with glaucoma
Question
March 23, 2006
Hello,
I have a lop rabbit who has been diagonised with Glaucoma and i give her drops three times a day which has worked really well. Now the specialist has said it is best that Bunny (my rabbits name)has the prostheses operation now. I am more than happy for Bunny to go through this operation because it is in her best interest but very worried about her going completely blind and her being scared.
Bunny is a house rabbit and has all the love in the world she has a fantastic personality and is very, very happy.
Will she be happier being completely blind after the operation because the pain has gone?
Jessica - ENGLAND
10573
Answer
Usually an animal is puzzled when it goes completely blind. It's like: "Who turned out the lights?" It is not like a human who may know what is happening. Being a house rabbit, she should be able to get by fine. She may bump into things somewhat until she get familiar and is more cautious.
When our dog went blind, we opted to have her eyes completely removed and sewn shut. That seemed to work out the best for her. Our dog is a happy dog but is very cautious when not sure of where she is.
I'm sure that Bunny will be happy and readily adjust to things if she goes completely blind.
Best wishes with Bunny's good health.
Boxer has blisters in both eyes
Question
January 5, 2006
I have a 3 year old female boxer. She has what appears to be clear bubble or blister over both of her pupils. I have taken her to our usual vet and he took blood test that came back normal. He stated that he had never seen anything like it before and has no idea what is wrong.The bubble or blister in each eye seems to be just under the outer lining of her eye. Her vision does not seem to be affected at this time, but I don't want to wait until it does affect her vision before something is done. If you could please give me some suggestions as to what it could be,so that I could either research it myself or maybe even give the suggestions to my vet. Thank you in advance for any help that you may give me. I am really stressed over this, she is so beautiful, physically as well as her personality.
Louise - USA
9559
Answer
The best thing to do is to bring your dog to an animal or dog ophthalmologist in your area. They specialize in eye problems and would be able to tell what is causing those blisters in her eyes. Your vet may know of such a specialist. Also check with nearby colleges that have a veterinary school. They may have such a specialist on staff or could give a referral.
Best wishes in taking care of this problem with our pet.
Dog suddenly lost her hearing
Question
October 11, 2005
I have a ten and a half year old American Cocker Spaniel. Her name is China. She's lately had trouble hearing, and last week was taken to the vet to have two teeth (absess) extracted as well as some lumps cut off. She came home from the vet hearing nothing at all, and it's distressing. She seems a bit confused also, and I'm assuming that the hearing is throwing her off balance. My question is, do dogs go deaf that quickly. I pay close attention to her, she's my best friend. When I first noticed we had taken a six hour ferry trip to the mainland, and she seemed a bit unbalanced, and I assumed her ears got messed up like ours do, you know, the inner ear stuff. It's been approx three weeks since that trip and she's now totally deaf, can't hear a thing. It's very sad. Is there anything I can do. I have an appointment to go back to the vet, and I did bring up my concerns when she was there last, but the vet chalked it up to old age and moved on to other concerns. China seems sad, and she's sleeping a lot more since she came home last Thursday.
Cindy - Canada
8509
Answer
It is possible that China got an inner ear infection from the bad teeth or extraction. That would cause the loss of balance and may be why her hearing was completely lost. I don't like the pat answer from the vet that it is just old age. At the very least, he should show some concern, especially with the loss of balance. You would like to know what the cause is and if it had anything to do with the teeth being pulled, infection, etc.
The fact that she seems to have a change in behavior may indicate that she is in some discomfort. Of course, completely loser her hearing can be distressing too.
Hopefully, she just has an infection and some of her hearing will come back. But if is doesn't she can stil be a happy dog. See the following sites for information on deaf dogs:
http://www.deafk9.com/
http://www.deafdogsatlas.com/
Also, perhaps check into getting a different vet. You might try to find one that specializes in dog hearing problems.
I hope everything works out fine for China.
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Glaucoma in Pets