A Droopy Eyelid and a Shrinking Eye in a Shih Tzu Mix
by A reader
I took her (my dog) back to the vet today. I thought it might be Horner's syndrome, but my vet thinks that she has perhaps a neurological injury to her eye. The vet thinks that she probably has either optic nerve injury or eye muscle injury. The vet does not feel qualified to deal with this type of problem and has suggested that I take my dog to see a veterinarian opthamologist.
Is there specific treatment for either eye muscle injury or optic nerve injury?
A droopy eyelid and an eye that looks smaller is a classic pattern of Horner's syndrome, so your thought was a good one. In Horner's, the pupil is small, the eye sinks back so it looks smaller, the third eyelid often rises, and the upper eyelid droops. Long-term inflammation of the eye or muscle damage behind the eye can cause a similar look.
An eye that is truly getting smaller (phthisis) usually follows long-term inflammation or injury. A veterinary ophthalmologist can tell these apart. For Horner's, simple eye drop tests can show where along the nerve path the problem is.
Treatment depends on the cause. Many Horner's cases have no cause found and improve on their own over months, while others need treatment for an ear or neck problem. Optic nerve damage generally can't be reversed, but eye muscle inflammation sometimes responds to treatment. Seeing the specialist is a good next step.
See neurological problems in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
