Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Oisín's Eyes

Hey guys, Oisín's Mummy here.
Today while cleaning some eye gunk off Oisín I noticed brown spots on both of his eyes. I had never noticed before and I could only see them because the sun was shining straight onto his face.
They are dark brown in colour very similar to his actual eye colour so are hard to notice. They also seem to be on the outside layer of his eye *if that makes sense* and not part of his iris.

They don't seem to be hindering his vision as he can still spot if I have a treat in my hand and can follow it as I move it around.
I know pugs can have a lot of trouble with their vision so I'm pretty freaked out as to what it could be, but I don't want to put him through the stress of bringing him to the vet if it turns out to be nothing or something that will clear up on its own (he really hates the vet and gets very stressed out, last time he got sick in the waiting room)

I tried googling it but cant find anything, just pictures of dogs with a brown patch over one eye...not what I am looking for. So I have come to you guys,do you have any idea what it could be? If you do know anything could you tell me what would need to be done to cure it? Would it be possible eye surgery? Also would his pet insurance cover it (they're really sneaky over here and its almost not worth the money)?


*This is a really crappy photo of his eyes but was the only one that kinda showed up the brown dots*

I will most likely end up dragging Oisín to the vet anyways but if anyone has experienced something very similar to it, that would really help :)

Love
  The Mummy    x

13 comments:

Noodles said...

Hi Amanda and Oisin,
I think a vet visit is the only way to know for sure. Check out Bellatrix's blog (http://bellatrix-imapug.blogspot.com/) for her adventures with her eyes. Unsettling. And spots on her eyes turned out to be ulcers from having dry eyes.
Love and hoping it's nothing really
Noodles's Mom

Anonymous said...

Aww, what a cute pug. I'm not a vet, but since he just went for a checkup in april and got a clean bill of health, and can still follow treats with his eyes, I wouldn't worry too much, just keep them gunk free and make sure they don't look cloudy or get red.

The Devil Dog said...

Lucky has that and the pug who came before, Bridget had it as well. I don't remember what it is exactly, but it covers the iris and makes it hard for the puggies to see. Now, before you get all excited, Hearing and Smell are more important to a dog than sight, as opposed to humans for which sight is the most important sense. You can bring Oisin to the vet, they might be able to slow it down with drops. It will probably grow bigger with age.
Lucky has it covering most of one eye and she manages just fine so I would not make a special visit to the vet, but show him the next time you see him.
Hope this helps and doesn't freak you out too much.

Roxy's mom
:)

Salinger The Pug said...

Hi Oisin (and Amanda!),

Salinger has something called Pigmentary Keretitis (google it)which could be what Roxy's mom was describing. The vet explained it's very common in pugs and is caused by the buildup of "protective" tissue around the cornea to protect it from the face wrinkles (it made sense when the vet explained it). He gets daily eyedrops (Tacrolimas)to slow down the condition (which can lead to blindness) but said it's not a huge deal. Salinger has brown spots exactly like what you're describing, BUT....it's definitely good to check with the vet! It may be nothing, but hopefully whatever it is turns out to be MINOR and not terribly costly to treat!

Give him a kiss for us, ok? Please keep us posted!!!

Love,
Laura (Salinger's mom)

Wilma said...

I would definitely follow up with a vet, as much as it sucks for Oisin. I have a similar presentation with my eyes and it is called pigmenting keratitis. It happens when my little bug eyes get irritated and just by my nature of being a pug. I had surgery back when I was about 3. My lower lids were turned in(entropic), and the lashes and hairs would rub on my eye causing irritation, and resulting in the pigment forming over the iris. Pugs love to deposit pigment all over. It't what we do. My drops keep my eyes lubricated, and also help to thin and slow down the progression of the disease. I still see pretty good at age 10. I posted a while back all about it. Just check the tag pigmenting keratitis. Please check with the vet. It could be any number of things and you wouldn't want your baby to lose his eye. Good luck, and let us know how you do.

Crabbie Chris said...

Belly's Dad here, she's at daycare causing chaos. Anyways, Bellatrix had (has) a bunch of eye problems, probably from her eyes being too big. She was sleeping with her eyes open, which caused eye ulcers (like an infection). We had a surgery done to make her eyes smaller, but the right eye has some complications (hair follicles growing hair inside the lid, small infection at the suture sight), which we are still treating. She also had the pigmentation, that looks like the spots/shadows in Oisin's eyes.

Oisin's eyes look small, but he may have a tear production issue, causing his eyes to become dry. The spots look like Exposure keratopathy Syndrome, where the eyeball dries out and pigmentation forms. I'd have him looked at, just to rule out or treat any infections. He might need a lubrication drop before bed to keep his eyes wet (there are human drops that work, that are a lot cheaper than vet specific meds; but check with your vet before using any human meds). The pigmentation can be partially revered using a steroid eye gel from your vet.

I wouldn't worry too much, as early treatment helps most pug eye problems.

Here's a good website: http://www.pugcentral.com/eyes.html

--dan (Belly's Dad)

Suki said...

Hi Oisin,

As much as you hate to go to the vet, its the best way to go. Have your Mom google Pug pigment keratosis. Not sure if that's what it is or not.

Keep us posted. Will send positive thoughts your way.

Hugs,
Suki

Two French Bulldogs said...

Better check it out..not sure with that is. But my Lily has dots all over
Benny & Lily

Too Cute Pugs said...

Pearl has that as well. She's had them for years. The vet told me there's nothing that can be done. Now that she's 11 years old, it is worse but she still sees fine.

To be on the safe side, I would talk to the vet about it but it sure doesn't seem to bother Pearl at all!

Pearl & Daisy's Mom

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

I think it is pigment build up on his eyes but I maybe wrong. If it is usually a doggy eye dr can perscribe drops to help "thin" or slow th build up. If it is build up it could be from dry eyes and you will need drops for that too or it could be from something rubbing on his eys causing it. Sequoia and Tuni have this problem. Hopefully the vet will find out what it is and hopefully he just needs eye drops.

Anonymous said...

You totally need to see a vet on this, but I agree that it may be the start or dry eye. Do you notice that lint and gunk seems to stick to his eyes at all?
If caught and looked after, dry eye can be a simple as lubricating drops in the eyes once or twice a day. The humas buy mine at the human drug store.
Good luck,
Sabrina

Winston Wilbur said...

Unfortunately we have not had any experience with eye problems so can't begin to offer advice. We are very lucky in that Winston has had very few health issues that would be typical for the breed. I was going to mention getting in touch with Bellatrix's pawrents as she has had eye issues to the hilt! I see she has posted a comment here. She would probably be able to offer advice. A trip to the vet to rule out any problems is the best plan of action. Better safe than sorry is my motto. Keep us posted.


Winston's Mum

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Oh i hope you find the answers to solve all the "eye issues".
So many friends are here to stand by you
love
tweedles

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