Wish I had understood about PK

Now that my boys are getting older (14yrs and 10 yrs), I have come to find that I should have been putting artificial tears or some other sort of moisturizer/lubricant in their eyes since day one. They both have the brown pigmentation starting to spread across their corneas. I did not understand that this was a bad thing. I thought it was more of an aesthetic issue. We recently took our oldest pug Louie to an eye specialist, and he said that because pugs sleep with their eyes open (or half open as the case may be), the cornea dries out, and this is what causes the brown pigmentation. The dried out cornea is susceptible to all manner of problems. Am I understanding this correctly? Is there anyone out there who has been moisturizing their pugs eyes for years on end? I wish I had known!!!

We only started with the drops this past summer. Otto had gotten an eye ulcer and we were referred to a vet eye specialist. He treated the ulcer and told us to put moisturizing drops in Otto's eyes every day from then on, several times a day. He said he tells that to all owners of pugs who come to his practice for any reason. Our regular vet hadn't mentioned this up until then, even though we'd discussed PK and I'd asked him to evaluate Otto's eyes for it several times over the years. Otto didn't have it, and the first vet didn't mention using the lubricating drops as a preventative.

So, I am doing it now, but I didn't know about this being a recommended action until fairly recently.

I've been lubricating on about a daily basis for just a little bit now. LuLu has a little bit of brown on the whites of her eyes, but Tyson is looking pretty good so far. Now that we have Mac, and with his eye issues, the ophthalmologist wants us to use the Genteal Gel Drops once a day, so I figure I might as well do all three while I'm at it.

The pk is often reversible once you take away the cause. either dry eye, or abrasion from eyelashes or lids.
to reverse the pk we use the cyclosporin, the tube is .2%, but if your vet gives your a perscription you can get it compounded, and I have used 2% with one aand had great results.

All the good gels are quite expensive, and I have several pugs on gels 5 times per day. I get them online from ENTIRELY PETS, at about 1/2 price.

Penny has had PK ever since she's been with me, and for a long time before that. She is mostly blind in her right eye, and has pretty good vision in her left. I went to the vet school at Ohio State, and the vet ophthalmologist prescribed tacrolimus 0.2% drops twice a day and Genteal gel 3-4 times a day. Her PK hasn't gotten worse, and may be a bit better, I hope. The lubricating gel/drops are so important.

good information to know. I should read up more on PK. sounds like the lubrication can help a lot!

Thank you all for your input. Live and learn! I am surprised, however, that this is not common knowledge with us Pug people, given that the consequences of dry eye can be dire. My precious Louie, (the 14 yr. old) is in the fight of his life. He developed severe respiratory allergies that did not respond to alternatives like homeopathy or acupuncture. He had to go onto the antihistamines and steroids, and that caused a cascade of side effects. The worst has been that he developed ulcers on both corneas. He is temporarily blind. We have been treating it aggressively with powerful antibiotics, etc, but after several re checks, the corneas are not healing. In fact, they are dissolving. We will not put him through surgery at his age, so we are preparing for our good byes. Will keep you posted. Thanks to all of you who responded again.

I am so sorry for Louie's troubles. I am not sure if you are considering saying goodbye because of blindness? One of my pugs is blind and she does extremely well.

Prayers for you in such a difficult situation.

Hugs Joan

My precious Louie has transitioned as of last night Monday Feb 8 at 10pm. Thank goodness I have another Pug, our little Henry Mae, or I would die of Pug withdrawal. I cannot imagine a life without Pugs now. They are the most profound beings.

Doodikins wrote:My precious Louie has transitioned as of last night Monday Feb 8 at 10pm. Thank goodness I have another Pug, our little Henry Mae, or I would die of Pug withdrawal. I cannot imagine a life without Pugs now. They are the most profound beings.

Sorry for your loss. Pug hugs to you.

So sorry for your loss. Saying a prayer for Louie and for you.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thanks for starting this thread to get us all talking. I need to be better about eye drops with my babies. And I'm SO VERY sorry about dear Louie. Peace and Pug hugs.

I'm so sorry to hear about Louie - it's so hard to say goodbye to such a dear companion. I'll light a candle for him and send a hug to you and Henry Mae.

Thanks to all of you for your comforting messages. I have cried and grieved more than I thought possible at having lost my baby. But today I am feeling stronger and seeing a way forward. To celebrate Louie's life! He was an amazing little guy.