My dog's tacrolimus drops are costly. Can I use Refresh Tears instead?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is usually treated with medicated eye drops such as Tacrolimus though there are different medications that can be used depending on its severity. However, tacrolimus is a commonly used medication for this. Your veterinarian could prescribe this. Good luck!

This treatment is clearly not effective. That is probably due to the fact that is not the right treatment for this type of dry eye. Dry eye is often an autoimmune disease, that means that requires an immunosuppressive drug (cyclosporine) to treat it. Please have a look at this link to have a comprehensive explanation about it: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2 2092

You can safely use OTC tear gel lubricant for keeping the cornea moist, but it won't cure uveitis or an ulcer or any kind of inflammatory process going on. Sometimes a warm water compress with a clean washcloth is helpful when the eye is painful as well. Angel may have a very painful process like glaucoma going on, so if she continues to be squinty you really need a diagnosis by a vet. Any pharamacist can help you find a gel lubricant for eyes that is sold over-the-counter.

Hello. The drops that suppress the immune system are not treating a food allergy, rather they are treating an auto-immune disease that affects the tear duct itself. Your vet should work-up the eye by doing a schemer tear test to determine if Fall is producing an appropriate amount of tears. If Fall has a low tear production then the immune-suppressive drops should help. I would continue to try these and see if it resolves. If these are not working then I would suggest seeing an ophthalmologist. Good luck with Fall.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, Refresh artificial tear solutions are safe for dogs. You can try applying some drops to her eyes 3-4 times a day to see if this resolves her clinical signs. Yellow discharge can be a sign of infection, however, which requires eye medications prescribed by your veterinarian. They will first want to perform a full ocular exam to look for evidence of corneal scratches or ulcers, as this would alter treatment. As a reminder, never give dogs pain medication that is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

I am so sorry to hear that Kaimana is experiencing these problems with her eye. Start by placing an e-collar or cone on Kaimana to prevent scratching or rubbing. If the eye is injured, inflamed or infected it is likely painful, this will prompt Her to scratch or rub her eye. However, this could inflict further damage, infection or even an ulceration. An rlceration is a tear in the top layer of the eye and is a serious condition. Because eye concerns with dogs, such as infections, corneal ulcerations, cataracts and glaucoma, can progress rapidly I would have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the issue immediately. The precise medication can then be dispensed by your veterinarian. Your vet will use a special tear stain drop to visualise the eye and the top layer to make are there are no ulcerations, and check for other conditions before prescribing medications. Please do not attempt to treat an eye infection at home with any over the counter medications, drops or ointments. This can lead to permanent damage and unnecessary pain or discomfort. I hope this answer was helpful and that Kaimana feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sky. Unfortunately, there are no oral supplements for dry eye. The only treatment is the topical application of eye drops to lubricate the surface of the eyes. If the eyes are not responding, then drops to decrease the body's immune response may be required. Do not allow him to paw at his eyes as he could cause damage. I hope this information helps!