Corneal Scratch Still Cloudy and Painful After 12 Days
Reader Question
On January 9, 2013, I came home from work to see my seven-year-old Cairn Terrier (mix?) holding his left eye shut. I rushed him to the vet, right then. The vet said he had a mild corneal scratch and prescribed Gentocin eye drops and Amoxi 225mg. We had to stop the eye drops because, after one application, my dog was still in pain, now five hours later. I can tell because he becomes reclusive, won't eat, sits up, won't go outside, and is restless. So, one day later, the vet put him on some other eye drops -- Remend -- until the cornea healed enough to allow use of the Gentocin again. Today is January 21, and we tried one application of the drops at 11:30 this morning; he is still in pain. The vet is concerned because Duffy's eye is still clouded. I've read on the Internet that it should only take four to five days for the cornea to heal, but his is not, or, at best, is only getting a little better. Could it be something else? Perhaps an ulcer or something in the eye, though, upon examination, the doctor didn't see anything? Is there an alternative to Gentocin? What should I do?
Thank you so much for your help.
Answer from Our Team
A simple scratch usually heals within about a week, so one that's still painful and cloudy after 12 days needs a closer look. Possible reasons include an indolent (non-healing) ulcer, a foreign body or extra eyelash, dry eye, infection, or inflammation inside the eye. Some dogs find gentamicin drops irritating, and your vet can choose another antibiotic.
Ask for a repeat stain test, a tear test, and a careful look under the eyelids, or a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist. Ask about pain relief by mouth too, since he's clearly uncomfortable.
See corneal ulcers in dogs for why ulcers sometimes don't heal.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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