Ask the Vet About Dry Eye (KCS) in Dogs and Cats
While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.
You will receive an answer from Dr. Lindsay and our vet/tech team as soon as possible, usually the same day.
All answers are provided for informational or educational purposes only, and are intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your pet's veterinarian.
It may be necessary to consult your pet's veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your pet's symptoms or medical condition.
CloseAn error has occurred, please reload the page and try again.
CloseWhile efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.
There is no answer related to your question
Got questions? Ask Our Vet Team
While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.
Submit Your QuestionIs there an OTC alternative to tacrolimus ophthalmic drops, my 14 year old has dry eyes and will need to use it for the rest of her life, but the cost is very high plus the vet visit everytime. I had to resort to using refresh eye drops instead. But it wasn't as effective. I am looking for an affordable alternative. I've also try optixcare Eye Lube, purple one Please help.
Hey! If you can't afford tacrolimus or cyclosporine, you might just have to keep using a moisture drop multiple times a day! I like Optixcare or Genteal! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
i put 3 deops instead of one ans her eye got worse for a couple days now is better i dont know if it was because of older meds or too much
Hey! I recommend you bring your dog back to the vet that prescribed the eye drops so they can recheck the eye and make sure it is improving! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
My dog has had green gooey discharge multiple times per day for the last couple years. Our vet said it’s an autoimmune problem and had us try tacrolimus (no improvement) then cyclosporine (also with no improvement). Her next avenue is to send us to a vet specializing in animal eye care. We’re worried about the large financial burden this will place on us because of surgical options I believe will be presented. Is there anything else we can do or try? Natural healing processes? Food options. Or is surgery the only option left?
Hey! This seems like your dog has dry eye that is autoimmune and your local veterinarian is correct. The only thing you can do is constant eye drops and the prescription eye drops that help increase tear production. I don't really know what surgery the specialist will recommend. They may say keep doing what your doing. You did not give an age or breed so this makes it harder to answer the question. If your dog is older around 8-10 I think simply continuing the drops to make him/her comfortable. Constant lubricating eye drops and tacrolimus is the standard of care of dry eye. Dogs with dry eye however can get corneal scratches and scaring which can be painful. They can also go blind in some severe cases. I hope this helps! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Can I get the above drops over the counter? The vet told me my dog Cannot produce tears in 1 eye and will have this the rest of her life
Hey! This is an antibiotic which you can use to help with dry eye. But there are actual eye drops that will help your dog produce more tears called Cyclosporin. But since I don't know the exact diagnosis I don't know what you need prescribed through Petmeds, you can chat with a vet on Vet Live through Petmeds.com and they can send you medications to your front door if they can. You can also use eye lubrication drops twice a day to help. Thank you, Dr. Lindsay Butzer EYE DROPS FOR DRY EYE: https://www.1800petmeds.com/optimmune+ophthalmic+ointment-prod10162.html
It stings. I tried in my own eye. What can I use instead that doesn’t sting or burn. I use Xiidra or Celia in my own eyes and those don’t sting. Is there a dog version of those?
Hey Dry eye, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is a common condition in dogs that occurs when the tear glands do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. There are several alternatives to Tacrolimus that can also be effective in treating this condition: Cyclosporine: Cyclosporine is another immunosuppressive medication that can be used to treat dry eye in dogs. Artificial tears: Artificial tears are topical eye drops that can be used to lubricate the eyes and provide relief from dry eye symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in certain fish oils and other supplements, have been shown to improve tear production and reduce inflammation in dogs with dry eye. Antibiotics: Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections that may be contributing to dry eye symptoms. Surgery: In severe cases of dry eye, surgery may be required to close the tear ducts and prevent tears from draining too quickly. It's important to note that each dog is unique, and the best treatment option will depend on the individual dog's symptoms, underlying condition, and overall health. A veterinarian can help determine the best course of action for your dog and prescribe the appropriate medication or treatment.
Is there something I can replace this item with, that is not as expensive?
Hey! Unfortunately there is nothing else to replace Cyclosporin eye drops. Please simply look out for Petmeds.com discounts, which they have often advertised on their website. Thank you! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
He has both eyes red, and has some discharge coming, would it be pink eye?
Hey! Dogs and Cats can both get pink eye infections. You will need to have a veterinarian asses the eyes to make sure there are no "Corneal scratches" that are painful and need different selection of eye drops. Steroid eye drops are dangerous if there is a corneal scratch. It is safe to only use an antibiotic eye drop at this point without knowing what the eye issue is. Please chat with a vet on Vetster from petmeds who can prescribe you eye drops from PetMeds to get sent to your front door! Thank you, Dr. Lindsay Butzer
My cat is somehow keeping one of their eyes shut, but off and on, has tried to open it. So far, I have tried wiping it with a warm wet cloth. What can be done to treat it?
Hey! This sounds like Feline herpes virus. Dont worry it is not transmissible to humans. You need antibiotic eye drops, oral antibiotics and a Veterinarian needs to look at your pets eye in person. Please go take your kitty to the vet soon. If it is herpes virus which I am almost sure of it.. you can order famcyclovir on petmeds for cheaper prices.
hello there. What can i do for you hehe thanks
I'm not sure what you are trying to ask, but here is a link to our article all about dry eye: https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/dry-eye-dog-cat-28.html
My Daschshund had surgery and the vet prescribed a 1% solution of pilocarpine. I can't find it on your site. Is this something that you can provide.
This is the Ask the Vet section for medical questions. For products that they carry or can order for you, contact customer service. Here is their contact information: Toll Free Number (Call or Text) 1-800-PetMeds® (1-800-738-6337) Email Address customerservice@1800petmeds.com
Can I get a prescription for Optimmune without a Schirmer test? I took Charlie to the vet, we tried the prescribed Tobramycin for 10 days; seemed to help at first but now Noooo :-( I want to try something for dry eye as the vet suggested but would like to avoid further expense. Vet said we would need that test... (I have 4 rescued dogs, need to watch the budget ;-)
Optimmune requires approval from a veterinarian that has met your dog face-to-face. (A shirmer tear test really shouldn't be very expensive - it is just a strip of paper that is placed in the conjunctiva that measures tear production and takes, literally, one minute.)
can you help with insuring with pre existing condition
Sorry, no, you will have to contact a pet insurance company about that.
Our dog was diagnosed with dry eye. She is aggressive and we cannot apply safely to eye. Is there an effective alternative in pill form? Thank you
Honestly, no, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Pet has scant yellow discharge from right eye. No apparent itching, fever or loss of appetite. Treatment ?
Having your veterinarian check him/her out to determine an underlying cause and treat that directly is ideal. If that isn't immediately an option, an ointment like this may help: https://www.1800petmeds.com/optixcare+eye+lube+plus-prod12295.html
My morkie has one eye that seems to be draining a lot and has what looks to be a small star on the eyelid. Also in comparison to the size of the other eye it appears smaller in size as if to be swollen around it. Is there something you can recommend for this? Is there any non-prescription jail or ointment that would help her?
With eyes, I really try to not guess what is going on by peoples descriptions, so it is ideal to see your veterinarian for an exam if it continues. An eye wash, like this one, may help until they can see her: https://www.1800petmeds.com/ophthalmic+solution+eyewash-prod12621.html