Kokoro Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) Hi All I have a 6 month old English Cocker boy named Winston and ever since I have had him his right eye has been a bit weepy. His left eye waters very little, but his right always has a line of wet fur extending from the corner of the eye down his nose. There is no gunky build up or colour to the fluid, it is clear and watery like tears. I asked my vet about it and she said it was perfectly normal for Cockers and that I could wipe the area with some salty water each day if i wanted to. I know Cockers can have eye problems (I got my boy from a breeder and both his parents were PRA and FN clear and I have copies of the test results) but I was wondering if maybe I should take him to an eye specialist (do they have those for dogs?) or at least another vet for a second opinion because my vet was very blase when i asked her about it and she didnt even look at Winston's eye, I got the feeling she just gave me a stock standard answer. So, what do you think? Should i find a specialist or am i just being paranoid? Edited September 16, 2009 by Kokoro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 What does the breed say?. Is there an eye lash that keeps irritating the eye? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Is his face groomed or very hairy?? Agree what does the breeder say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam&Saki Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Perhaps get the opinion of another vet. When Saki had a runny eye the vet treated it a little bit more seriously than that, and ended up prescribing a mild eye drop that cleared it right up x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Could be mild entropian. Can you post a headshot? I don't know why vets think it is "normal" for dogs to have weepy eyes. They may see a lot of it but that makes it "common" not "normal". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I'm thinking maybe entropion as well. (eyelashes rolling in onto the eye and rubbing/irritating) No I would not think it was normal for my dogs eye/s to run all of the time. Yes there are eye specalists for dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 but I was wondering if maybe I should take him to an eye specialist (do they have those for dogs?) Yes they exist, I don't know who it would be in SA though. or at least another vet for a second opinion because my vet was very blase when i asked her about it and she didnt even look at Winston's eye, I got the feeling she just gave me a stock standard answer. I'd probably get a second opinion from another vet. She sounds like she might have been a bit casual about it. Not that it's likely to be anything terribly serious, but it might be easily fixable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kokoro Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 What does the breed say?.Is there an eye lash that keeps irritating the eye? I havn't asked the breeder actually but that might be a good idea. He does have *really* long eyelashes, I have had a look and it doesnt look like there is anything in his eye but I have heard that sometimes eyelashes can grow inside the eyelid. Is there anything I should be looking for in particular to evidence this? Is it something you can see with the naked eye? He doesn't have a hairy face, his mutton chops have been groomed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 What colour is he? Orange roans sometimes tend to have watery eyes but they seem to grow out of it. Also, teething may cause the eyes to be watery as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kokoro Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 Thanks to everyone for their replies Just to update I took Winston to another vet and he has been diagnosed with Distichiasis - improperly placed eyelashes. He has some tiny eyelashes growing on the inside of his eyelid which is irritating the eye and causing it to weep. The treatment is cryosurgery to freeze the hair follicles with liquid nitrogen. So he is booked in at the vet to have the surgery on 26th October. It must be pretty irritating to have an eyelash constantly sticking in your eyeball so I am glad the little guy will be getting some relief but surgery is always a bit nerve racking, probably more so for me than the dog! ;) Also for those in SA I found out there is an eye specialist here called Dr Read (Magill area) but you need a referral from your regular vet to get an appointment with him. Since the vet said the disease is hereditary I am guessing I should also contact the breeder to let her know. I am a little nervous about this as I don’t want her to think that I am criticizing her in any way (I know nothing about breeding!) but it would be the courteous thing to do right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I'm glad you persisted and found out the cause of Winston's eye. All the best for the surgery. I would probably email the breeder to let them know what it happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Glad you have found out the cause He will be much more comfortable after treatment! I asked my vet about it and she said it was perfectly normal for Cockers and that I could wipe the area with some salty water each day if i wanted to. Hopefully you will pass on the diagnosis to this vet- so she may look a little closer next time someone brings a pup in with a weepy eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 And this is precisely why, in every thread where somebody mentions that their dog has eye staining or weeping, I tell them vet NOW! (Not sure why I missed this thread or it would have received the same treatment). You just don't mess with eyes. Many vets don't see a lot of eye issues so cannot diagnose beyond the very obvious. Far better to get a second opinion or a referral to a veterinary opthalmologist for a full workup, even if all that comes out of it is a clean bill of health. Better to be safe than sorry. Glad your dog is going to be ok. Distichiasis is quite common in Cockers and can vary from a couple of stray eyelashes to an almost complete row of them growing inside the eyelid. It is hereditary but it can also be devilishly hard to find dogs that don't have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks to everyone for their replies Just to update I took Winston to another vet and he has been diagnosed with Distichiasis - improperly placed eyelashes. He has some tiny eyelashes growing on the inside of his eyelid which is irritating the eye and causing it to weep. The treatment is cryosurgery to freeze the hair follicles with liquid nitrogen. So he is booked in at the vet to have the surgery on 26th October. It must be pretty irritating to have an eyelash constantly sticking in your eyeball so I am glad the little guy will be getting some relief but surgery is always a bit nerve racking, probably more so for me than the dog! Also for those in SA I found out there is an eye specialist here called Dr Read (Magill area) but you need a referral from your regular vet to get an appointment with him. Since the vet said the disease is hereditary I am guessing I should also contact the breeder to let her know. I am a little nervous about this as I don't want her to think that I am criticizing her in any way (I know nothing about breeding!) but it would be the courteous thing to do right? Hi Kokoro My boy had/has exactly the same thing. It can happen in lots of breeds. Not sure if it's *always* hereditary but it's a good idea to let the breeder know just in case. It can be easily missed by the vet too. In our case it developed into entropian (from the irritation of the eyelashes rubbing agaist the eye) but the extra lashes were missed by 3 vets before being diagnosed. When they were finally found the extra lashes it was under anesthetic, by the breeders vet, and they were quite short and deep in the lower rim, so not easily visable otherwise. The surgery to correct it can involve removing the extra lashes and sometime if it has developed into entropian the dog might need a few temporary stitches as well. Just be aware that even if the lashes have been removed there is still a good chance that they will grow back, often in a different place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 My boy had/has exactly the same thing. It can happen in lots of breeds. Not sure if it's *always* hereditary but it's a good idea to let the breeder know just in case.It can be easily missed by the vet too. In our case it developed into entropian (from the irritation of the eyelashes rubbing agaist the eye) but the extra lashes were missed by 3 vets before being diagnosed. When they were finally found the extra lashes it was under anesthetic, by the breeders vet, and they were quite short and deep in the lower rim, so not easily visable otherwise. The surgery to correct it can involve removing the extra lashes and sometime if it has developed into entropian the dog might need a few temporary stitches as well. Just be aware that even if the lashes have been removed there is still a good chance that they will grow back, often in a different place. Actually, Entropion is a completely and separate condition. Entropion is a condition where the eyelid itself actually folds or rolls inwards. Distichiasis is where eyelashes grow independently inside the eyelid. It is however possible to have both and if I had a dog with both, it would NEVER be bred from. Two strikes is way too close for me! What normally happens as a result of untreated severe distichiasis (or entropion) is corneal ulceration which is painful and can be blinding. It can also cause another condition where constant irritation causes pigmentation to grow over the surface of the eye. And for those who are interested, the "opposite" of entropion (eyelids folding/rolling inwards) is ECtropion (eyelids folding/rolling outwards). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 (edited) Since the vet said the disease is hereditary I am guessing I should also contact the breeder to let her know. I am a little nervous about this as I don’t want her to think that I am criticizing her in any way (I know nothing about breeding!) but it would be the courteous thing to do right? As long as you are polite and not accusatory (not saying you would be!) she shouldn't mind, in fact she should be pleased to be advised it has happened. If breeders aren't told they can't presumably spot issues or patterns that should influence their breeding decisions. Of course, some do like to shoot the messenger. I hope you don't get that response but even if you do, you will have done the right thing. Best wishes for the surgery. Edited September 17, 2009 by Diva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 My boy had/has exactly the same thing. It can happen in lots of breeds. Not sure if it's *always* hereditary but it's a good idea to let the breeder know just in case.It can be easily missed by the vet too. In our case it developed into entropian (from the irritation of the eyelashes rubbing agaist the eye) but the extra lashes were missed by 3 vets before being diagnosed. When they were finally found the extra lashes it was under anesthetic, by the breeders vet, and they were quite short and deep in the lower rim, so not easily visable otherwise. The surgery to correct it can involve removing the extra lashes and sometime if it has developed into entropian the dog might need a few temporary stitches as well. Just be aware that even if the lashes have been removed there is still a good chance that they will grow back, often in a different place. Actually, Entropion is a completely and separate condition. Entropion is a condition where the eyelid itself actually folds or rolls inwards. Distichiasis is where eyelashes grow independently inside the eyelid. It is however possible to have both and if I had a dog with both, it would NEVER be bred from. Two strikes is way too close for me! What normally happens as a result of untreated severe distichiasis (or entropion) is corneal ulceration which is painful and can be blinding. It can also cause another condition where constant irritation causes pigmentation to grow over the surface of the eye. And for those who are interested, the "opposite" of entropion (eyelids folding/rolling inwards) is ECtropion (eyelids folding/rolling outwards). Thanks Ellz I probably didn't explain it too well What we were told is that the contant irritation of the lashes on the eye had caused the eyelid to roll in. But when the vet put a few drops of anesthetic in the eye the lid would instantly flip back out and stay that way for a few hours. So I guess it was not *true* entropian? When the vet did the surgery he took measurements and said that there was no other reason for it. Since the lashes were removed we've had no more problems with the lid rolling in again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Apologies for being pedantic. Eyes and eye conditions are a particular interest of mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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