Eye problem

Brought dog to vet for conjunctivitis. He healed but scratched his eye. Can’t get him in for another two weeks. Animal  ER was less than pleasant. This old guy has diabetes that brought on cataracts. No vision currently so no concern of impaired vision. Looks like corneal ulcer but I am not sure and perhaps onset of glaucoma since the scratch. Any advice or help appreciate until he gets in. He is living life as normal. Running, walking, playing. No squiring, holding eyes closed etc like he did during his last vet emergency. So I am assuming there is no pain associated with this current injury. Is there anything I should do while I wait for the October 26 vet appointment.

Hello!  Eyes ulcers are often classed as  emergencies on the day that they first become visible and it seems likely that this eye has been extremely painful (if you've ever experienced the pain of having grit in your eye, then it is a first step to imagining an ulcer on the cornea.  The pressure of diabetic glaucoma can be painful too!) I hear that you do not think it to be painful now, but dogs don't always show pain in the way that their owners expect and, what with the ulcer, increased pressure of glaucoma and threat of infection (eyes are surprisingly close to the brain), your vet needs to assess this eye. The 26th October is a long way away.  Could it be triaged sooner?  I understand that you have the first available appointment and that there may be no sight to save, but it makes sense to call and ask permission to send a picture case the vet feels that this is an emergency.  I can't speak for them, but if they are able to, it is possible that your dog would thank you for it. In the past, I have often removed blind, sore eyes - which sounds dramatic, but the cosmetic effect can be surprisingly good and any pain / infection risk reduced significantly.  If an eye is blind, then it is not particularly useful, so this may turn out to be the way forward. Meanwhile, your vet may suggest appropriate medical treatment.  Diabetes may need to be stabilised for example and pain relief may be needed.  Please do not attempt this yourself in a diabetic dog as there are enormous risks to getting it wrong (diabetes predisposes to kidney disease, as do many human pain meds).   Please contact your vets, ask to be triaged for a possible emergency appointment  and let  them suggest the way forward. Best of luck.

I’m just very confused.  Dogs exhibit pain in different ways. When the initial injury happened the dog never moved. Was lethargic. I couldn’t touch his face and he would whimper.  The dog since then has returned to running, playing, eating, I can push and touch around the eye and he doesn’t even flinch.  I understand that this could be an emergency. His diabetes is managed and is okay at the moment.  I’ve continued to give him an antibiotic.  I have told every vet clinic the problem and they just tell me to wait.  If the eye has to go, it has to go.  I was wondering if giving him Muro 128 would be problematic.  It could help ease the corneal edema ?

I am now very confused myself.  If your vet, the one you are registered with, has already assessed this case, concluded that there is no pain and asked you to wait, then this is likely to be the correct course of action. If they recommended pain relief, you should give it.  Please don't prescribe and give any pain relief yourself because human pain medications are not always appropriate for animals and can make things worse, especially with diabetes in the mix.  I am not your vet and as such, am not going to check out pain medication for you. Best of luck from here!

(Having reread this, I think the important part is that your vet has understood and assessed this case before making the decision that it can wait for a few days.  If so, their clinical decision tops mine - I am not after all the patient's vet and have no idea of the back ground.  If a clinical decision has not been offered, it would be wise to check.)