white stuff in eyes

[raingirl]

Yesterday I noticed these little white things in Odin's eyes. My first thought was maybe infection, but we were at the vet Tues night and she didn't see any. She injected some dye in his eyes, and water, could this have caused it?

He is already on eye medication after cherry eye surgery.

Any ideas? I noticed it again today. It's like whitish and long, along the bottom of the eye.

[raingirl]

You know what? I think I figured it out. He has dry eye, also called "Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)". This is what a website I found said:

What are signs of KCS? Your pet may show signs such as redness to the white part of the eye or sclera, squinting or rubbing at the eye from discomfort, a thick green-yellow discharge over and around the eye indicating a possible infection, as well as changes to the cornea that affect its clarity. The surface of your pet’s eye may no longer have a “glistening” appearance. Your pet may have an increase in the mucin component of the tears to try to compensate for loss of the aqueous component. This will create a milky to creamy white discharge that needs to be periodically cleaned from your pet’s eyes. KCS may affect one or both eyes.

We put lubricating drops in three times a day, but he still scratches a lot and has sore eyes. I feel so bad for him...

[Lizzie]

Could it just be some sleep that has gotten on to his eye ball? Ick ...like what happens to some humans in the morning??

[Lizzie]

Sorry you posted while I was typing...that is likely what it is.

It does sound very sad. A lot of people won't adopt pets with special needs--he is lucky to have you. What a learning curve for you guys...a dog and special needs! I am sure it is tough, but it sounds like you and Odin are doing great!

[mona_b]

I was just thinking the same thing Lizzie.Tron gets it the odd time.And it's not just in the morning.

[parkerjen]

How long ago was the cherry eye surgery? I know after puggles had hers, they wanted her to wear a cone if she started scratching or rubbing her eyes. It could just be caused by the surgery if it was recent. Poor thing though, I remember how much puggles eyes bothered her afterwards. She still gets the white stuff in her eyes, I just clean it off with a wet cloth when it gets to the corners of her eyes