Swollen Eye is a Puzzle
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Our Lola has a little health issue, that's confusing us and the vet :confused: I don't think it's anything really serious, but I'd sure like to ge it figured out.
About three weeks ago, Lola's right eye swelled up to golf ball size. Only the eye lids were swollen and it was a little moist. Her eye ball seemed normal. So, the vet gave her a one shot each of cortisone and antihistamine. The swelling went down and the eye looked normal again.
About a week later, it swelled up again, this time looking a little worse. She got the same two shots and the swelling went down again. This time the vet theorized that it could be an allergy to a plant. Perhaps she was putting her face in something on our walks. She suggested giving her benadryl when it starts to swell. We've done that once already this week, when we noticed the swelling coming back.
So, here we are this morning and the eye is starting to swell again! I wish I knew the cause. The plant allergy theory doesn't hold for me. She hasn't been outside yet today and her eye was fine last night. Plus, it's the same eye every time. I thought we might not give her benedryl to see if the swelling is as bad as it's been. Perhaps it's a bug bite that's taking a really long time to heal.
Does anyone have a theory? :confused:
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I almost forgot. Here's a picture of her eye when it was swollen. It's hard to see how big it was.
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Our Lola has a little health issue, that's confusing us and the vet :confused: I don't think it's anything really serious, but I'd sure like to ge it figured out.
About three weeks ago, Lola's right eye swelled up to golf ball size. Only the eye lids were swollen and it was a little moist. Her eye ball seemed normal. So, the vet gave her a one shot each of cortisone and antihistamine. The swelling went down and the eye looked normal again.
About a week later, it swelled up again, this time looking a little worse. She got the same two shots and the swelling went down again. This time the vet theorized that it could be an allergy to a plant. Perhaps she was putting her face in something on our walks. She suggested giving her benadryl when it starts to swell. We've done that once already this week, when we noticed the swelling coming back.
So, here we are this morning and the eye is starting to swell again! I wish I knew the cause. The plant allergy theory doesn't hold for me. She hasn't been outside yet today and her eye was fine last night. Plus, it's the same eye every time. I thought we might not give her benedryl to see if the swelling is as bad as it's been. Perhaps it's a bug bite that's taking a really long time to heal.
Does anyone have a theory? :confused:
Honestly, I would seek out another opinion. That is too long to have that much swelling, only controlled by steroids and benadryl. She may have something imbedded in her eyelid…or an infection, or both. Did the vet check for other things? Does she have any other welts on her body? Is the other eye affected at all?
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I would take her to an animal opthomologist. They have special equipment and do special tests–just in case it is the eye itself.
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Her other eye does not seem to be affected at all. In fact, there is nothing else unusual on the rest of her body. The vet looked all around her eye and didn't see anything unusual. She certainly might have something embedded in her eye. She often rubs her face on the ground…don't know why. It seemed normal to me.
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Another idea might be entropian. Where the eyelashes get imbedded, or ingrown in the eyelid. Try looking for some info online. It certainly isn't common in basenjis, but I know of one, and have heard of another one that had it.
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I would take her to an animal opthomologist. They have special equipment and do special tests–just in case it is the eye itself.
Oh for sure I would take her to a specialist, an opthomologist… and the sooner the better
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I agree, make an appointment with a vet opthamologist.
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I don't know a lot a B's, but I do know about eyes. I was diagnosed with a rare eye disease 11 years ago, and see my specialists OFTEN! So I've learned the eyes are tricky to diagnose ,and treat if you wait too long.(I am doing well now) ….....About 6 years ago my Cocker,(now in heaven.)got the same thing,as your B, and we took her to a specialist..who found her problem right away...and she was fixed quickly. Eyes in any "creature" are so specialized..you need to see the opthomologist! It will save you time, worry and money in the long run. I will say a prayer that this is figured out soon, and easily........ Good luck .
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Any update on Lola?
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Another thought - hard to say without seeing the dog and I am not a vet BUT one of my b's had trouble with an eye - it would respond to benedryl and then come back. It turned out it was NOT the EYE but a tooth. It was a massive infection/absess of a upper molar - pulled the tooth and used antibiotics voila gone.
I guess over 30 years I've learned one thing and that is try to look at the whole dog and find a vet that will also look at the whole dog because sometimes the problem is not where it appears to be.
(I do think however that entropian might be a good bet and make sure you check for Uvitis, cataracts and glaucoma)
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Dianne is right, teeth can do that also….
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Thanks for the great suggestions. Lola stayed with my parents over the holiday, while we were out of town. She had no trouble with the eye. We got her back this morning and her eye swelled a little. So, my husband thinks she might be allergic to something in our house. The tooth theory is a good one, even thought the vet did consider that.
We've put of taking her to the vet because the swelling is no where near as bad as it was. I'm still not satisfied thought, so we'll seek a second opinion. I'll let you all know how it goes :)
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It is always important to have their eyes check regardless by a Ophth Vet no least than twice a year… if she has not had one recently you really should have her done.
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Twice a year? Or do you mean every two years? I aim for once a year…but with non breeding dogs, don't always attain that.
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Twice a year? Or do you mean every two years? I aim for once a year…but with non breeding dogs, don't always attain that.
Sorry, I did mean at least once every 2 yrs… one a year is better, but during the middle yrs (2 to 8/9 yrs) if there are no early signs of problems, I do every two years for non breeding dogs.... even breeding dogs that are not being used that year would go every two years... unless maybe we are all at a show...
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Thanks. I didn't know that they should see an opthamologist regularly.
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Thanks. I didn't know that they should see an opthamologist regularly.
Yes, it is highly recommended, IMO for all breeds, but especially for ours that have eye problems. Like I said, once I have a base line that shows no problems, I don't have a problem with going every two years when in their prime. And it is not all that expensive at least not in the Bay Area and believe me, we are pretty pricey on Vet things….
