Minor Medical Care – Eye Package

Eye disease in dogs and cats can develop due to a variety of causes and, successful treatment involves properly identifying the cause of your pet’s signs.

by Dr. Julie Sheil, VetIQ Veterinarian

Minor Medical Care – Eye Package

Eye disease in dogs and cats can develop due to a variety of causes including bacterial infections, viral infections, corneal scratches or ulcers, and decreased tear production. More serious causes of eye disease include glaucoma, tumors, and trauma. In rare instances, foreign objects such as grass awns can cause eye disease.

Because signs of eye disease can look the same regardless of the cause, successful treatment involves properly identifying the cause of your pet’s signs. This requires a methodical approach using appropriate, and sometimes repeated, testing. If underlying causes are not properly diagnosed, the eye condition will continue or may recur. It is also important to note that your pet’s eye condition can be due to more than one cause at any given time. For example, a corneal ulcer can occur secondary to an eye infection. Successful treatment is a team effort between you, the pet parent, and your PetVet veterinarian.

Signs your pet may have eye disease:

  • Bulging eye: This is a medical emergency. Take your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital right away.
  • Sudden blindness: This is a medical emergency. Take your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital right away.
  • Discharge from one or both eyes (e.g. pus, watering eyes, mucus)
  • Swollen eyelids in one or both eyes
  • Squinting one or both eyes
  • Rubbing or pawing at the eyes
  • Absence of watery tears and excess of thick mucus in the eyes

Pet parents should seek medical evaluation for their pet at the first sign of eye disease. Attempting to self-treat your pet is not recommended and may result in prolonged suffering as pets with eye disease are often very uncomfortable if not painful. Incorrect treatment with inappropriate or potentially harmful over-the-counter products is not only a waste of money but will result in prolonged illness for your pet.

PetVet Minor Medical – Eye Package includes:

  • A physical exam
  • A Schirmer Tear Test to screen for reduced tear production (i.e. Dry Eye or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)
  • A fluorescein stain to screen for the presence of corneal ulceration
  • Discussion of any additional tests or therapies as needed for long-term management

PetVet Eye Package does not include:

  • Cost of prescription drugs (e.g. antibiotic eye drops, pain relievers, medications to manage Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)
  • Cost of non-prescription medications or supplements (e.g. artificial tears, supplements to manage viral eye disease)
  • Cost of follow-up examination and testing to confirm resolution of eye disease
  • Cost of additional tests or ongoing therapies as needed for long-term management

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