Eye rubbing and scratching - can't get healed

okgrau8 · May 31, 2018

I'm about at my wit's end on this one... We noticed Stan's right eye was red and swollen, with goopy discharge, so we took him to the vet. Got some ofloxacin opthamalic eyedrops to put in for a week. We're now 6 days in, and while his eye itself has cleared up, no more discharge, I can't get him to stop scratching and rubbing.

My vet keeps trying to push systemic allergy medicine on him, but I just don't believe this is the case, and is only solving for the itch and not for the cause of the problem! I am now to order some antibiotic ointment/steroid cream, but it won't get here for 3-5 days.

Have other's had this issue before? Vet said there was no corneal scratch, but couldn't offer much in the way of another diagnosis. How do I stop the constant rubbing?? He's in a cone right now. Every time i think he's getting better and healing, I take off the cone and he goes right back to it immediately.

Help!

Honeys Owners · May 31, 2018

You can try bandaging the dog's dewclaws to prevent scratching eyes. Not sure what is causing it, but if you have an an antihistamine like cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, or diphenhydramine around, try giving that and see if it helps. Also, make sure dog is not exposed to allergic substances like pet dander and dust, and storage mites - wash dog bedding weekly in non allergic soap, and clean house regularly, and keep dog food in the freezer to prevent the storage mites. Wipe dog down with a wet wipe when he comes in from outside.

What kind of dog food are you giving?

2bullymama · Jun 1, 2018

It is just his eyes that he is scratching... no other spot on him, paws are good and face not red? if yes, then I agree try Benadryl, Claritin or Zyrtec to help.

Benadryl is 1mg per pound up to 3x a day... the other is one pill per day

okgrau8 · Jun 5, 2018

No other spots on Stanley, no hot spots, his paws are fine. He's really not scratching anywhere else. Just the second we take his cone off, he rubs his eyes on the carpet, opening up the scabs on his eyelids once again. We've given Benedryl but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I now have an antibiotic ointment with steroid in it I'm giving to him, but even that doesn't seem to offer any relief yet.

In terms of food, we're feeding him Fromm's Beef Frittata veg and transitioning him to the pork and peas right now.

I know if I take him back to the vet he will just want to put him on apoquel or allergy meds, but in my gut that doesn't feel right, since there's NO other itching anywhere else? I'm keeping his wrinkles super clean and dry, wiping his mouth, wiping down after going outside. I just don't feel like I'm getting anywhere!

2bullymama · Jun 5, 2018

okgrau8 said:
No other spots on Stanley, no hot spots, his paws are fine. He's really not scratching anywhere else. Just the second we take his cone off, he rubs his eyes on the carpet, opening up the scabs on his eyelids once again. We've given Benedryl but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I now have an antibiotic ointment with steroid in it I'm giving to him, but even that doesn't seem to offer any relief yet.

In terms of food, we're feeding him Fromm's Beef Frittata veg and transitioning him to the pork and peas right now.

I know if I take him back to the vet he will just want to put him on apoquel or allergy meds, but in my gut that doesn't feel right, since there's NO other itching anywhere else? I'm keeping his wrinkles super clean and dry, wiping his mouth, wiping down after going outside. I just don't feel like I'm getting anywhere!

Can you possibly get a picture? How old is he?

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okgrau8 · Jun 5, 2018

2bullymama said:
Can you possibly get a picture? How old is he?

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Stanley is 2 years old. Here's a photo I got where you can see his eyelid the best. He keeps rubbing his face on the carpet and it opens up scabs on his upper and sometimes lower eyelid. His right eye is the worst, but sometimes the left gets red now too

Frenchie Grrrl · Jun 5, 2018

I wonder if spraying or dabbing on colloidal silver would help. My husband had an irritated eye and we used it as eye drops and it cleared in a few days.

Hope he gets some relief.

Do you have any holistic vets in your area? Maybe one of them would have a more natural means of taking care of it than your current vet.

2bullymama · Jun 6, 2018

okgrau8 said:
Stanley is 2 years old. Here's a photo I got where you can see his eyelid the best. He keeps rubbing his face on the carpet and it opens up scabs on his upper and sometimes lower eyelid. His right eye is the worst, but sometimes the left gets red now too
View attachment 11995

Looks like little pimples, right?

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