Pug eye issues / potential surgery

I'm headed to our vet tomorrow after going to the one up north, who didn't even know what PK is.

Poor Wally--I think because E has always been my problem child, I expect Wally to be fine, but I was afraid he might have an ulcer on his eye while we were up there (he didn't), but with the light, etc., I could see what looks like PK, although it looks different from the small amount E has.)

I'm not sure when it started, but it's growing from the corner of his eyes toward the center. The vet gave me steroid drops, but not cyclosporine, which I know some of you use.

Wally has had eyelashes frozen off twice (most recently when he had the palate surgery earlier this summer). The first time, was after I went to the ophthalmologist years ago. I ended up having my regular vet do the removal, b/c it was $250 vs. $1400, and he (regular vet) specializes in brachycephalic breeds. I made the appointment with him first because I just want to know what's really going on, since the up north vet was clueless, but I guess I'll probably be headed to the specialist, too.

For those of you whose pugs have had to have eye surgery or who have some serious issues, do you all see a canine ophthalmologist?

Wally is just about 4 and a half, btw.

Thanks.

I took Sammy to an ophthalmologist, and was very pleased. He not only told me that he really does NOT have glaucoma, which he had been diagnosed with in rescue, but also did his medial canthoplasty for what I thought was a very reasonable price. I'd at least do a consult with one, and then if he or she determines that surgery isn't necessary, continue with follow up care with your regular vet.

Thanks, Ginger. I'm seeing the regular vet tomorrow (made the appointment while I was up north--we got back Friday evening), but I imagine I'll go back to the ophthalmologist.

So did Sammy have PK? Is that the reason for the surgery, to ward off any more?

I'm sending you a PM.

So sorry your boy is going through this! My vets have a specialist ophthalmologist on staff so eye issues are always referred to him if he is on call. Otherwise for emergencies any of the ves there will do the initial consultation, but follow-up is always with the eye-guy. I think if you can see a specialist, it's always best.

Logan has seen the ophthalmologist several times since he was 7 weeks old.

If you don't know, he was my foster and had a badly damaged eye when I picked him up. Since his visits he has been on tacrolimus and Genteal drops twice a day. One eye is completely blind and his other eye has some scarring. The good eye has a black spot on in the corner of the white and I think it spread a little bit. I am going to bring him back for a follow up in the fall because I will do anything and everything to save his good eye. He is only a little over 1 1/2 yrs. We were originally told he would need his eye removed but my Vet referred us right to the ophthalmologist before she would even see him.

I feel comfortable seeing a specialist for his eyes. It's about $300 just to walk in the door but it is so worth it.

Kayla is my only one who has eye issues (knock on wood!). She had PK in her left eye. When I initially talked to my regular vet (who I trust very much) about my suspicions that she had PK, he thought I was crazy. He really didn't seem to know much about PK. So I took her myself to the canine ophthamologist and of course she has PK. We see the ophthamologist every six months, she takes Tacrolimus drops once a day in both eyes. I trust my vet wholeheartedly with general care, but the thing I learned from the PK experience with Kayla is that no matter how much I trust my vet, sometimes it's just time for a specialist.

Good luck.

Thanks, everyone. We just got back. It IS PK, and the vet had noticed it before and marked it in his chart w/ drawings, etc., (which makes me feel better), but it has grown, and while he said he can absolutely do the entropion surgery (he said he does at least one a day--he specializes in pugs/bulldogs, etc.), he's more conservative about it b/c he doesn't think it necessarily helps w/pugs as much (I know several of you HAVE seen success with it) , AND he did say I should go to the specialist to get a second opinion, so in all, I'm glad I went to him.

I'm pretty sure the specialist will say to do the surgery, then I just have to decide who I want to do it, which will be hard, since I'm sure my vet would do a fine job since he does it so often...but I don't want to doubt myself, etc. We'll see, I guess, after that appointment, which I'll make tomorrow.

Thanks again for all of your information and support!