Akita With One Pupil That Stays Dilated for Days
Our dog is just about 7 years old, and healthy as can be. He is an un-neutered male akita with his left eye completely dialated for a four or five days at a time, and then it gets better, and comes back in a month (almost like clockwork). We have eliminated vacuumming around him (he goes outside for a little while to sunbath) which btw we have a dyson and clean it regularly. We have spent over $500 dollars so far between our regular veternarian and an EYE specialist (1 of only 2 opthamologists in our area) which he reffered us to. The eye specialist said he does see some optic neuritis in BOTH eyes (which only one seems to be bothering him-never the other one) and prescribed an eye drop to be administered one drop in each eye 3 times a day, AND INTERFERON ALPHA 2B which apparently treats tumors, with no proof he even has a tumor. Well he has been on it now for 3 weeks, and looked like he was getting better, BUT it hasn't done anything for our baby. We have searched the internet and found all sorts of possible terrible things this could be, but we are at a standstill of what to do next...please help us, we don't know how to treat him!! Also we have tried ice to his head, asprin, and benedryl (not for long term, just for a day or two at a time.)
Someone PLEASE PLEASE help us, even if it's just some direction OTHER than to see our vet...been there, done that....they don't seems to see any scratches or any problems with the tear production or any problems in the back of the eye...Please help!!
A pupil that dilates on and off can come from problems with the optic nerve or its nerves, the iris, or intermittent pressure rises, so a pressure check during an episode is important. Your specialist's finding of optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve) fits some of this.
Please don't give aspirin or Benadryl without your vet; aspirin can interact with other treatments. Ask the specialist whether an MRI or other tests would help find the cause, and keep a log or photos of each episode to share. Go back immediately if the eye becomes red, cloudy or painful.
See glaucoma in dogs for signs of high eye pressure.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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