Glaucoma---talk to me about it

A friend has a pug that may have Glaucoma and asked for advice. Other than telling her to get to an eye guy, I don't know much about it in dogs.

Anyone dealt with this before? Meds you recommend? How hopeless is it for keeping the eyes?

Sammy had been diagnosed with glaucoma when I adopted him. When he went into rescue, the pressures on his injured eye (that has since had an enucleation because they couldn't get it to heal) were sky high, and they were moderately high on his remaining eye. He was on Xalatan drops (twice a day, if I recall?) which he took really well. We were doing pressure checks every 4 months at 1st, then every 6 months, once it was clear that his pressures were staying down well.

When I saw the ophthalmologist to make sure that I was doing everything that I could to preserve his vision for the long-term, he said that he wasn't seeing any of the anatomical changes that you'd typically see with glaucoma. He also would've expected it to progress more, as Xalatan is apparently a good "first" glaucoma drug to slow progression, but that it will still continue to progress if it's true glaucoma. He also mentioned that although pugs and Frenchies are both known for lots of other eye problems, they're not really known for glaucoma. (This ophthalmologist has both breeds!)

He wanted to take him off his meds for 1-2 weeks (can't remember the exact time frame now) and then do an all-day pressure curve. Those pressures looked completely fine, so the ophthalmologist reversed the Dx previously given. He mentioned something about pain sometimes leading to high pressure readings, and since Sam had a bad injury when the abnormal readings were taken, that could've mislead the original vet. It made sense at the time to me.

So I guess Sammy's a success story in this instance. He's lost an eye, but not to glaucoma!

Lulu developed glaucoma in both eyes at about 2 years of age. She was from a puppy mill and was a hermorphodite at the age of 5 mo., so was spayed and neutered. During a routine exam, the glaucoma was discovered and we were sent to the University of Illinois for treatment. I know she underwent several tests each time we were there and I had eye drops for her but the miracle of this little lady is that somehow it went away and she never got it again. She lived to a ripe old age (17) and while she had plenty of other physical problems, glaucoma wasn't one of them. I was surprised when the vets there told me it was GONE. My husband had it and had surgery on both eyes and now no drops are needed. Lulu had no surgery, just good clean living, I guess.

Brenda, (puglady3) has a pug with glaucoma. He does go to the eye doctor several times a year to have his pressure checked and is on some medicaton for it. I believe he has done very well. Hopefully she will see this thread and let you know what he takes and how often he sees the doctor

Ahh, yes - Buster is my little medical mystery pug! Glaucoma is just one of his many health issues. Glaucoma, cataracts, vestibular disease, hypothyroid....he is a prime example of why people should not buy dogs from Petland! But I digress...

We were lucky to have caught Buster's glaucoma early because he was already seeing the veterinary opthamologist every six months for his cataracts. Now he sees her every three months (more frequently because of pressure checks related to the glaucoma) and he is on demecarium bromide drops once per day to help keep it "in check". Normal intraocular pressure should be under 15 - Buster's has been as high as 30+ at it's worst. There are surgeries that can be performed but I don't know much about them since Buster's not a good candidate due to all of his other health problems. There really is no "cure" and treatment will be life-long. You're basically just keeping them as comfortable as possible and trying to maintain vision for as long as possible (not to be a Debbie downer but they usually go blind anyway). Here are a few good links that you can share with her, if she hasn't seen them already:

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/GLX/G-basics.htm

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/glaucoma.htm

http://www.blinddogs.com/articles/glaucoma.htm

http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learning-center/professional-monographs/demecarium-bromide-for-veterinary-use.html

Thanks folks. I've forwarded your info on to the pug owner. They aren't sure it's glaucoma, but I told her that she's better off talking to an eye guy about this as opposed to her regular vet--who I was surprised didn't do a pressure test.

I'm sorry but I'm not too familiar with it...however i think speaking to a eye specialist for the dog would be the first step..then she can figure out options and hopefully some of the meds mentioned above could help

sending positive vibes their way and hope everything will be ok!