Ask the Vet About Dry Eye (KCS) in Dogs and Cats

This is the Ask the Vet section for medical questions. For products that they carry or can order for you, contact customer service. Here is their contact information: Toll Free Number (Call or Text) 1-800-PetMeds® (1-800-738-6337) Email Address customerservice@1800petmeds.com

Optimmune requires approval from a veterinarian that has met your dog face-to-face. (A shirmer tear test really shouldn't be very expensive - it is just a strip of paper that is placed in the conjunctiva that measures tear production and takes, literally, one minute.)

Sorry, no, you will have to contact a pet insurance company about that.

Honestly, no, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Having your veterinarian check him/her out to determine an underlying cause and treat that directly is ideal. If that isn't immediately an option, an ointment like this may help: https://www.1800petmeds.com/optixcare+eye+lube+plus-prod12295.html

With eyes, I really try to not guess what is going on by peoples descriptions, so it is ideal to see your veterinarian for an exam if it continues. An eye wash, like this one, may help until they can see her: https://www.1800petmeds.com/ophthalmic+solution+eyewash-prod12621.html

Since there are so many potential underlying causes, it is ideal to see your veterinarian but if that isn't immediately an option, this eye gel may help: https://www.1800petmeds.com/i-drop+vet+gel-prod12622.html

Often this is "allergic conjunctivitis" with a secondary infection, but there are other possibilities. When it is mild, just rinsing with human eye normal saline (like contact wearers use) can help. His sounds a little worse so an over-the-counter eye gel like this one is where I would start with him: https://www.1800petmeds.com/i-drop+vet+gel-prod12622.html Then if it doesn't, seeing your veterinarian for an official diagnosis and stronger prescription medications may be necessary. They will need to stain his eye to be sure that he doesn't have any corneal involvement to be able to start the stronger medication that contains a steroid, but I am hopeful that that over-the-counter eye gel may be all that he needs. There is a lot of histamine release with these inflamed eyes, so an oral antihistamine, like benadryl, may help as well. Their Benadryl (only active ingredient should be diphenhydramine) dosage is a LOT higher than ours - we dose them at 1mg per pound of body weight.

Yes, but none work as well as prescription Optimmune, like this product: https://www.1800petmeds.com/optixcare+eye+lube+plus-prod12295.html

These eye & upper respiratory issues are common. It is almost always viral. Many cats will improve on their own with no treatment, as long as they are eating pretty well and not lethargic (mopey). If they become more lethargic and/or stop eating, seeing your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis and more targeted treatment is ideal. Few easy things to do right now that will hopefully help: (1) Humidity may help, even if it's just a hot steamy bathroom multiple times a day. A humidifier works better, for longer, if you have one, use warm steam. (2) Lysine is an over-the-counter immune supplement that helps some cats - there are many brands that are formulated in chews, powders, gels, etc. that are flavored for cats like this morning: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Immune+Support+L+Lysine+Chews-prod11643.html (3) Terramycin eye ointment - https://www.1800petmeds.com/Terramycin+Ophthalmic+Ointment-prod10190.html (4) Newer studies are showing that probiotics help these kitties as well, so 2 good brands of probiotics to look for are "Proviable" (https://www.1800petmeds.com/Proviable-prod12083.html) and "Fortiflora" (https://www.1800petmeds.com/Purina+FortiFlora-prod10376.html)

I would need to examine her and run some quick tests on her to see exactly what is going on to really recommend anything. There are many possibilities (dry eye, cataracts, many corneal diseases, glaucoma, etc etc.) = all are treated very differently so see your local veterinarian if it continues or worsens.

Treating the underlying condition, whether it's allergies with a steroid or dry eye with Optimmune or something else, is ideal to stop the receurrence.

Only ointment and drops are ordinarily recommended for eye (ophthalmic) problems, so I don't know what you mean when you say "I see you do tablets, do you do liquid". Here is the only product I see that we carry: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Neo+Poly+Dex+Ophthalmic-prod10184.html but contact customer service to see if they can compund or order you something. This is the Ask the Vet section for medical questions. Here is their contact information: Toll Free Number (Call or Text) 1-800-PetMeds® (1-800-738-6337) Email Address customerservice@1800petmeds.com

Optimmune works much better for most dogs with dry eye. Here is a link if you would like to read about it: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Optimmune+Ophthalmic+Ointment-prod10162.html

I don't like to take chances with eyes, so seeing your veterinarian is ideal. If that isn't immediately an option, this is often allergic conjunctivitis this time of the year, so: If it is mild, just rinsing with human eye normal saline (like contact wearers use) can help. If it is a little worse, an over-the-counter eye gel like this one may help: https://www.1800petmeds.com/I-DROP+Vet+Gel-prod12622.html Then if it doesn't, seeing your veterinarian for an official diagnosis and stronger prescription medications may be necessary. Oral antihistamines (like benadryl - only active ingredient should be diphenhydramine) may help - their dosage is a lot higher than ours - we dose them at 1 mg per pound of body weight given orally 2-3 times daily.