[beks]

One of my dog's eyes the other day was really droopy like the bottom eye lid was all saggy like we thought maybe somthing got in his eye and it was like blood shot, the next day it was ok, but tonight he can hardly keep his eyes open, i don;t know if he's just extreemly tierd, or somthing is wrong with his eyes, its like the bottom lid on both eyes, is saggy! he will open them all the way when he goes out side, or gets excited but the rest of the time he's walking around with eyes half shut,
has anyone had this with there dogs before? is it somthing i should worrie about, or is he maybe just really tierd?
its like he's fighting to stay awak but im not totally sure!

Can you actually see anything in his eye?? It may just be something got in his eye, probably a bit of dust or something.

Or it could be that he's fighting to stay awake... Have you noticed a change in his sleeping patterns that would cause him to be sleepy during the day/evening when he's normally active?

If it continues, and you can't figure out what's wrong, you may want to take him to the vet. My mom's dog developed 'cherry eyes' when he was under 1 year old; his tear ducts were swollen & looked infected. She waited & waited to take him to the vet though (she was hoping that it would clear up on its own), and by then nothing helped. He had 'cherry eyes' for the rest of his life.

[beks]

It has gotten worse, his one eye is cloudy i thought maybe cateracts but it came to fast for that, just with in a few hours today and he can't keep it open very much, i made him an appointment and i am taking him to the vet in a couple hours, hopefully itsnothing to seriuse! i feel so bad for him

As fast as it developed, it sounds almost like an eye infection. You did the right thing scheduling him an appt ASAP.

[beks]

So Cyrus ( my dog) and i went on an adventure to the vet!
they put stain in his eyes to see if there was any scratches and stuff but there wasnt, but apperently the white part where it attaches to the corna.. clear part is really irritated and she said it almost looks like tis coming up, so she gave us eye drops to use. with antibiotics in it, he has to have it like 4-6 times a day, it was such a tiny bottle! i hope it works.

He was sooo good at the vet to, he let her check him out and everything i couldnt belive how good he was for the vet!

i think he knows we are trying to help him, so putting in the drops isnt as hard as i thought it would be!

That's good that you found out what was causing it & are now helping it. I hope it gets better.

[beks]

OH yes his eyes are pretty much back to normal now, although i had to make a seccond trip to the vet to get him more medician.... he chewed his first bottle! tiny little bottle that cost like 25 dollers! i was so mad. but my boyfriend left it where he could reach it, so i was more mad at my boyfriend lol
but he is doing much better now

How do you hold a dog to put eyedrops in? I have done ointment before, but never drops. Just wondering how that is done. And I am happy your dog is doing so much better!!

[beks]

Usually just hold his head, best with 2 people, one to hold him and then one to put the drops in, but we just get him to come sit by us or lay by us and then my boyfriend usually holds his head and i put the drops in, he's being a bit more difficult latly but thankfully his eyes are better so we don't have to put many more drops in! When its just me sometimes i end up having him on the couch and wrestling to get them in, i had him pinned down the other day!

I think he's mad that we went and got a new bottle after he chewed his first one

When we get a drop in we just tell him he's a good boy and when we are done he gets a treat.

I hope that I don't ever have to use drops, ointment seems alot easier! My GSD would love to wrestle that is for sure! LOL

[denacho]

i know this is resurrecting a really old post, but i'm scouring the web trying to find an answer to what is wrong with my 8 yr old male boxer.

just over a week ago, he started acting sluggish and his eyes were very droopy. it is as if the lower inner lining is rolling up over the eye. eating, drinking and bathroom breaks are normal. he's not losing any weight and has not lost any interest in eating. we took him to the vet on Monday where they did blood work and tested a stool sample. they found nothing. he was acting a little stiff in the neck so vet thought maybe he'd pulled something. they put him on Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory). he seemed a little more peppy on Tues but Wed he was worse, more droopy eyes (like he's about to fall asleep) and drooling a lot. but again appetite and bathroom are normal. so they added antibiotic and muscle relaxer to the meds. the antibiotic in case there is something viral going on and the muscle relaxer again, i believe, in case he's pulled something. the vet called yesterday, Sat, to see how he's doing but i told them not much has really changed. he was a little peppier yesterday, like Tues, but still looking droopy late afternoon or early evening - and he's lethargic all the time. he just doesn't have his usual amount of energy. he acts like his old energetic self if a car or person comes up the driveway, but goes back to his sluggishness right after.

i read your post Beks and wondered if you had lethargy/energy issues with your dog when you noticed his/her eye issue? my vet will call again tomorrow (Mon) for an update and i'm going to ask about checking Thyroid or Liver related things. none of it makes sense. it came out of nowhere and my other boxer, his sister, is fine.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by denacho

i know this is resurrecting a really old post, but i'm scouring the web trying to find an answer to what is wrong with my 8 yr old male boxer.

just over a week ago, he started acting sluggish and his eyes were very droopy. it is as if the lower inner lining is rolling up over the eye. eating, drinking and bathroom breaks are normal. he's not losing any weight and has not lost any interest in eating. we took him to the vet on Monday where they did blood work and tested a stool sample. they found nothing. he was acting a little stiff in the neck so vet thought maybe he'd pulled something. they put him on Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory). he seemed a little more peppy on Tues but Wed he was worse, more droopy eyes (like he's about to fall asleep) and drooling a lot. but again appetite and bathroom are normal. so they added antibiotic and muscle relaxer to the meds. the antibiotic in case there is something viral going on and the muscle relaxer again, i believe, in case he's pulled something. the vet called yesterday, Sat, to see how he's doing but i told them not much has really changed. he was a little peppier yesterday, like Tues, but still looking droopy late afternoon or early evening - and he's lethargic all the time. he just doesn't have his usual amount of energy. he acts like his old energetic self if a car or person comes up the driveway, but goes back to his sluggishness right after.

i read your post Beks and wondered if you had lethargy/energy issues with your dog when you noticed his/her eye issue? my vet will call again tomorrow (Mon) for an update and i'm going to ask about checking Thyroid or Liver related things. none of it makes sense. it came out of nowhere and my other boxer, his sister, is fine.

I'd get him off the Rimadyl. Can be very dangerous...

Please Do not Give Rimadyl (carprofen)--CAN KILL

As far as your dog's issues goes I did some research and here are a few possible causes...

Def. have the thyroid checked. Here's an excerpt from the web...

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

1 Weight gain – loss of appetite

2 Skin problems - dandruff, flakiness and irritation

3 Hair loss

4 Lethargy

5 Droopy eyes

6 Stiff joints

7 Intolerance to cold

8 Sudden aggressive or uncharacteristic behavior (depression)

9 Mentally slow or inattentive

10 Pervasive, yeasty smell coming off of the skin


Entropion:

More likely to occur among the heavy-wrinkled type Saints, and dogs with very small eyes. (Non FCI-Saints)
Entropion is a rolling-in of the eyelid. This causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub on the eyeball, which is both painful and often causes corneal ulcers or erosions. The corneal damage can also result in corneal scarring, which can interfere with vision. Usually the dog will squint and tear excessively. If not treated surgically, the cornea will rupture, and the dog can go blind. However, Saints with medial entropion (involving the inside corner of the eyes) show no obvious signs of discomfort. Dogs with inherited entropion should not be bred, as they can pass the trait on to their offspring. If you suspect that entropion is present in your pet, please consult with your family veterinarian. Your doctor may elect to have your pet referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist for further evaluation and possible surgical treatment. Eyelashes turn in and rub on the cornea, causing ulceration. If not treated surgically, the cornea will rupture, and the dog can go blind.


Horner's Syndrome: is a group of signs that occurs when specific muscles of the face lose their stimulation by certain nerves, specifically the sympathetic nerves. It is caused by some type of injury to, or lesion of, the nerves. The injury may occur at the level of the brain, upper spinal cord, or between the spinal cord and the face. In the dog, the most common causes are:

Idiopathic (cause unknown)
Car accidents with trauma to the head, neck, or chest
Bite wounds
Intervertebral (IV) disc disease in the neck area
Infections of the middle ear
Disease of the orbit (area behind the eye)
Cancer involving the brain or chest
As a result of a treatment (e.g.; ear cleaning) or medication
For an unknown reason, Horner's Syndrome appears to be more common in Golden Retrievers. Approximately 40-50% of the cases of Horner's Syndrome in dogs are idiopathic.

What are the signs of Horner's Syndrome?

The classic signs of Horner's Syndrome occur on the same side of the face as the injury, and include:

Small pupil size (miosis)

Protrusion of the third eyelid

Drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis)

Sunken appearance to the eye (enophthalmos)

Dilation of blood vessels on affected side of the face, which makes the area feel warmer to the touch.

*You should also have the vet examine the eye very well but I'm sure that;s already been done. Good luck and please keep us updated.

[CorkyMax]

Was going to say Please get the dog off the rimadyl but see Todd already said this, but it bears repeating!!!

Quote/Todd:I'd get him off the Rimadyl. Can be very dangerous...

Please Do not Give Rimadyl (carprofen)--CAN KILL Please click on the link in Todd's post as the link 'does not take' here when copying!

Thanks Todd for saying that! I go into panic mode everytime I see that killer mentioned being given to a dog in a post! I am even going to go check to see if this member gave email or private messaging as a way of contact and try to get her/him to check out about this as soon as I can.---Sometimes it only takes 1 pill to harm or kill. And then on top of it all--2 other meds are given at same time. Whatever is wrong with the dog--and also to just prescribe all this 'just in case'!!----The poor dog's immune system is being compromised because of the meds---The dog needs to have a healthy immune system to try and fight whatever is wrong. Sorry, but I don't think I think much of this vet!! (My opinion!!)

[denacho]

will certainly check the link about the Rimadyl. i have used it in the past and have had no issues with my dogs, but i'll read what you've sent. i did not mean to imply my vet was prescribing meds "just in case". that was my poor wording. but i'm going to talk to their office tomorrow to say i want to take him off the meds anyway because there is no change in symptoms and i want to test for allergy issues due to several Reverse Sneezing episodes today. both my boxers have had this at times and i'm familiar with the "behavior" so i'm not worried about the action itself but i know it can sometimes be brought on by allergies. i had also planned to ask them to check his thyroid. the only symptom he's exhibiting on the list is the sluggishness but that's enough for me to ask that he be tested. i'm also going to ask them to refer me to another vet for a 2nd opinion. i really trust my vet and i know they would not hesitate to refer me and would agree that a fresh set of eyes cannot hurt.

i'm trying to keep a positive attitude since his appetite is normal and there is no vomiting or diarrhea. but when he's not his usual energetic self, well, that's just as hard. thanks for the feedback! i'll post more when i know more but keep the ideas coming.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by denacho

will certainly check the link about the Rimadyl. i have used it in the past and have had no issues with my dogs, but i'll read what you've sent. i did not mean to imply my vet was prescribing meds "just in case". that was my poor wording. but i'm going to talk to their office tomorrow to say i want to take him off the meds anyway because there is no change in symptoms and i want to test for allergy issues due to several Reverse Sneezing episodes today. both my boxers have had this at times and i'm familiar with the "behavior" so i'm not worried about the action itself but i know it can sometimes be brought on by allergies. i had also planned to ask them to check his thyroid. the only symptom he's exhibiting on the list is the sluggishness but that's enough for me to ask that he be tested. i'm also going to ask them to refer me to another vet for a 2nd opinion. i really trust my vet and i know they would not hesitate to refer me and would agree that a fresh set of eyes cannot hurt.

i'm trying to keep a positive attitude since his appetite is normal and there is no vomiting or diarrhea. but when he's not his usual energetic self, well, that's just as hard. thanks for the feedback! i'll post more when i know more but keep the ideas coming.

I'd take my suggestions to the vet and see what he or she thinks and if it warrants testing. If nothing we'll go from there. I hope everything goes alright. Good thing you're taking a proactive approach in diagnosing the problem and beginning treating as soon as possible! Keep us updated please.

As for the rimadly, as I said check out the link and I also highly recommend not using it. Just because nothing happened to your previous dogs with it doesn't mean it won't happen to your dog now. Some people have lived past 70 years while smoking throughout their entire lives but does that mean smoking isn't dangerous??? On the other hand, some people die after smoking for 15 years. In my opinion it's not worth the risk either way because you never know when and if your dog will become another statistic. Better to be safe than sorry.

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Was going to say Please get the dog off the rimadyl but see Todd already said this, but it bears repeating!!!

Quote/Todd:I'd get him off the Rimadyl. Can be very dangerous...

Please Do not Give Rimadyl (carprofen)--CAN KILL Please click on the link in Todd's post as the link 'does not take' here when copying!

Thanks Todd for saying that! I go into panic mode everytime I see that killer mentioned being given to a dog in a post! I am even going to go check to see if this member gave email or private messaging as a way of contact and try to get her/him to check out about this as soon as I can.---Sometimes it only takes 1 pill to harm or kill. And then on top of it all--2 other meds are given at same time. Whatever is wrong with the dog--and also to just prescribe all this 'just in case'!!----The poor dog's immune system is being compromised because of the meds---The dog needs to have a healthy immune system to try and fight whatever is wrong. Sorry, but I don't think I think much of this vet!! (My opinion!!)

No problem for mentioning it. You have taught me well!

[denacho]

spoke to vet about an hour ago. i let them know that Butterz is not any better and had a particularly "bad"/lethargic day yesterday. i told them i took him off the Rimadyl & muscle relaxer cuz i didn't think those were helping and might even be making him more lethargic (no surprise). i explained he had a series of pretty bad Reverse Sneezes yesterday and that i did find some info saying it can sometimes be related to certain allergies. with that in mind, could we go down that path to make sure this is not some crazy allergy gone wild? so they are suggesting 50mg of Dyphenhydramine (aka benedryl). he's been on that before about 6 years ago when he had a skin allergy and it worked great. so i'll start that today when i get home from work. i'm going to keep him on the antibiotic in case there is something viral lurking and they said there is no reaction between the too.

also, i'm taking him in first thing tomorrow morning to have his thyroid tested. they said it's a very simple test and very easy to remedy if they do find something. of course i know they are not trying to make light of any of this, but i also don't want to put myself in panic mode cuz that can't help him. test results should be back Wed so i will update then - hopefully before with improved results!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by denacho

spoke to vet about an hour ago. i let them know that Butterz is not any better and had a particularly "bad"/lethargic day yesterday. i told them i took him off the Rimadyl & muscle relaxer cuz i didn't think those were helping and might even be making him more lethargic (no surprise). i explained he had a series of pretty bad Reverse Sneezes yesterday and that i did find some info saying it can sometimes be related to certain allergies. with that in mind, could we go down that path to make sure this is not some crazy allergy gone wild? so they are suggesting 50mg of Dyphenhydramine (aka benedryl). he's been on that before about 6 years ago when he had a skin allergy and it worked great. so i'll start that today when i get home from work. i'm going to keep him on the antibiotic in case there is something viral lurking and they said there is no reaction between the too.

also, i'm taking him in first thing tomorrow morning to have his thyroid tested. they said it's a very simple test and very easy to remedy if they do find something. of course i know they are not trying to make light of any of this, but i also don't want to put myself in panic mode cuz that can't help him. test results should be back Wed so i will update then - hopefully before with improved results!

Could very well be an allergy. It could be something in his food, something whether related (it is beginning to warm up and transition into summer so this is very possible), dust, etc. The benadryl is probably not something you'll want to use all the time but rather for severe attacks and try natural therapys otherwise if possible. With him on the benedryl this may mask the problem somewhat and make it more difficult for you to locate and approraitely treat the problem so make sure you know the cause first. You said this behavior started a week ago. Has there been any changes up to that point that could have caused allergies to act up? A change in whether recently? What about food? What type of food are you feeding him and how long has he been eating that particular brand? What you need to do is recognize any possible changes around the time the symptoms exhibited themselves to locate the source of the allergy if that is what it is. The "reverse sneezing" behavior you are talking about is also common with allergies. My dog does this occasionaly.

You may also want to mention respiratory problems as a possibility to your vet as this can also be a cause of reverse sneezing and lethargic behavior. Make sure to rule out nasal tumors too or even the possibility of a foreign object lodges in the nasal cavity.

Have you ruled out hay fever? This is a very common condition in the spring time so this could very well be the issue! Here is what it is according to the net...

Dogs get hay fever, too

Many people dread the coming of spring. Though the new plant and flower growth can be quite lovely, they're also loaded with pollen, a leading cause of distress to those people who suffer from hay fever--and dogs, who may be stricken with canine atopy, a predisposition to develop allergic symptoms after exposure to an allergen.

In humans as well as in dogs, the condition is genetic.
Normally dogs will develop itchy skin and scratch, lick and bite to try and get relief. If not treated, the dogs can scratch so hard that they create sores that can become infected, which usually require antibiotics to clear up.

If the signs of atopy are seasonal and last fewer than three months, oral medications (like cortisone) may be used to control itching. In more severe cases, dogs are given a skin allergy test to pinpoint the specific allergens your dog is sensitive to.

They can then receive injections of the allergic material in minimal doses, which will allow the dog to build up immunities in his system. There are other treatment options such as immunotherapy, antihistamines, steroids, and medicated shampoos.

If you think that your dog is suffering from seasonal allergies, make an appointment for him with his veterinarian.

Here is a generalized list of symptoms;

Itching
Coughing
Sneezing
Lethargic
Stuffy Nose
Etc

I would say this is a very strong possibility. Def. ask your vet about this!

Now comes the time where you could try the benadryl but I wouldn;t use it all the time. No medication is good to use all the time. Only srat using this if you seem to be able to pin point the allergin. Here are some other safe treatments. Stay away from the steroids. They can be very dangerous. Only as a last resort...

Bathe your dog in cool, not cold, water. Hay fever presents with inflamed, burning and itchy skin that cool water can help calm. Avoid warm water that may actually increase his itching. Try putting a few handfuls of oatmeal in the tub with him. Not just any oatmeal, get the colloidal variety made for bathing, like Aveeno.

Try giving your dog an antihistamine to sooth the reaction he is having to the allergen. Diphenhydramine, sold over-the-counter as Benadryl, may reduce the severity of the attack. Ask your veterinarian for the proper dose and watch for diarrhea, a common side effect of the medication.

Wash your dog's bedding often to reduce hay fever allergens that accumulate there from his fur. Dust mites are a major source of problems and frequent vacuuming and dusting is required.

Allow your dog to stay inside during windy spring and summer days when the pollen and mold spore counts are high. Make a place for him to rest where there is no carpet, a collection-ground for dust mites and allergens.

Soak your pooch's paws in a mild Epsom salt solution if he is biting them. Irritated and itchy paws and can bleed from your dog trying to alleviate the itch with his teeth. Fill the tub with just a little water, enough to cover his paws and let him stand there or you can soak rags in the solution and apply them to his feet as he rests.

[denacho]

yes, i've given a lot of thought to what could possibly be causing this if it is indeed an allergy. nothing inside the house has changed (i.e, food, water, treats, shampoo, etc.). we live in the midwest so the weather has been in flux lately. the main reasons i've considered this an allergic reaction are (1) Butterz has been prone to allergies since we adopted him when he was 3 (he'll be 9 in Sept). he had a horrible skin allergy when we got him that turned out to be triggered by anxiety. eventually that subsided with time and careful use of benedryl 6 years ago (2) he also has ear infections that were related to allergies and were cleared up with medication and have not returned in probably 5 years and (3) my neighbor came over a week ago Friday and sounded horrible. when i asked what was wrong, he said "it's my allergies. all this pollen in the air". that's pretty much the same day that Butters started acting lethargic. so throughout this week, i began wondering if all this wasn't simply allergies. that's why i'm trying to go back to something more simple to see if that is the root cause. i plan to keep the benedryl to a minimum so i can see if it helps at all. the suggested dosage is 50mg for his size but i will probably cut that in half to 25mg and see if there is even the slightest improvement.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by denacho

yes, i've given a lot of thought to what could possibly be causing this if it is indeed an allergy. nothing inside the house has changed (i.e, food, water, treats, shampoo, etc.). we live in the midwest so the weather has been in flux lately. the main reasons i've considered this an allergic reaction are (1) Butterz has been prone to allergies since we adopted him when he was 3 (he'll be 9 in Sept). he had a horrible skin allergy when we got him that turned out to be triggered by anxiety. eventually that subsided with time and careful use of benedryl 6 years ago (2) he also has ear infections that were related to allergies and were cleared up with medication and have not returned in probably 5 years and (3) my neighbor came over a week ago Friday and sounded horrible. when i asked what was wrong, he said "it's my allergies. all this pollen in the air". that's pretty much the same day that Butters started acting lethargic. so throughout this week, i began wondering if all this wasn't simply allergies. that's why i'm trying to go back to something more simple to see if that is the root cause. i plan to keep the benedryl to a minimum so i can see if it helps at all. the suggested dosage is 50mg for his size but i will probably cut that in half to 25mg and see if there is even the slightest improvement.

I editied my post above so be sure to reread parts of it. I just finished editing it. Def. pay particular attention the bolded information of hay fever.

[denacho]

thanks Todd for the updated info. i'm still hoping it turns out to be an allergy issue. we did go to the vet this morning and they sent off the bloodwork for Thyroid testing. probably easier for anyone who wants the details to read my kids latest blog post at dailyboxer.blogspot. (i don't have enough posts to do an actual link apparently - sorry 'bout that)

my biggest question about the allergy thing is the ONLY sign would be lethargy. there's been no itching, scratching, or licking out of the ordinary. now i know that doesn't mean it's not a possibility so i am still considering it. and yes it has been particularly windy the last week + so i'm going back to keeping him inside as much as often. i'll be washing all the dog blankets and goodies tonight. it will give me a good excuse to get my husband to clean up some stuff too.

fyi - i did have a co-worker tell me her basset hound did the same thing last year and it last for about 3 weeks. came out of nowhere and vet couldn't find anything. she said she did finally give her very small dose of benedryl and maybe only 3 times and then she seemed to snap out of it. i'm going to hold off on any more meds at this time and see if a cleaned environment helps!