Annalouise (Covington, Va) on 12/15/2014
1 -Massage therapy: Each time after I administer the eye drops, I hold his eye closed for as long as dog allows, (no more than a minute or less) and then massage gently around his eye socket, his ears, his temple, his neck, his jaw joint, his entire head and neck area. 2 - Herbs & supplements: Since September I give him one 00 capsule of powdered sweet carrot juice, one 60 mg capsule of bilberry, and one 60 mg capsule of Ginkgo Biloba. I tried the dog glaucoma Chinese herbs from acupuncture vet for about 3 weeks in October, and observed more cloudy blue color in his right eye, no improvements, so went back to carrot, bilberry and ginkgo and could see the brown iris again in about 3 days.
3 - Change of diet: I feed him baked chicken often. Began purchasing dog food that contained real vegetables and with zinc in the ingredients. 4 -Animal acupuncture: Also began acupuncture in September 2014 with a DVM certified in animal acupuncture. After first session my dog became active again, regained his appetite and the weight he had lost. At first acupuncture is more often, now days it is once a month, and working towards less often. The eye drops are still working so far. I can still see some of the brown iris in his right eye. The left eye is unaffected as of this date. He continues to have a good appetite, normal BM, is active, and the eye condition is holding, meaning not getting any worse. 4 - Glycerin, food grade: Per the other posts on this site I keep glycerin on hand in case of emergency spikes. Herbs take longer than meds so I am watching the eyes closely for any improvement. Will post again if any changes. Not cured but not getting worse and the dog is happy, active, his coat is shinny and his appetite remains good.
Replied By Gina (Ct, US) on 03/05/2015
i just found out mine got his primary glaucoma when his pressure reading was 71. Reduced a couple of hours later after putting Xalantan in his left eye. And retested his pressure at 15 from 71. Now, the specialist instructed me with 3 different eye drops like yours. Did your dog respond well with those drops? Let me know.
Just started yesterday night with those drops Until next Thursday for his re-check & see how he responds to his pressure results. Hope you can help & hope for a good resolution. Thank you!
Replied By Annalouise (Covington, Va) on 02/22/2016
Reply to Gina post dated 3/5/2015 & an update of my 12/15/2014 post. 00 is the size of the capsule I was using to put the freeze dried carrot powder in. At the time I gave him one a day by mouth. I have since changed to chicken dog food that contains carrot pieces and veggies that you can actually see in the food. I feed him cooked chicken often.Instead of pills for Ginkgo Biloba and Bilberry, I have switched to a liquid form made without using alcohol and use the dropper to administer directly in his mouth once a day. Per the book Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care, most dosages are based on a 150 pound human, so I do the math for a 60 pound dog. Sadly he did loose sight in the right eye, per the vet hospital, the optic nerve is dead due to the glaucoma, he still sees good with the other eye. Although encouraged to do so, I decided not to have the eye removed because the acupuncture treatments once a month and eye drops daily were working so very good at keeping the dog happy and eating good, and keeping the swelling and spiking down in the beginning. I still keep Heritage store brand food grade organically grown glycerin on hand just in case needed.And it was needed a couple of times at first onset for spikes.
The eye drops prescribed are Dorzolamide/Timolol (a combo) for both eyes 3 times a day, Latanoprost for the right (bad) eye twice a day, and NeoPolyDex for left (good) eye one drop a day. If it becomes necessary due to any future excess swelling or discomfort, I have found a naturalistic DVM who will remove the gland that is secreting the liquid that glaucoma condition is preventing the proper drainage, rather than removing the eye. With this operation the drops will not be necessary I was told. But he will still be blind in that eye account the optic nerve has been damaged.
In summary I have used immediate diet change, more chicken in the diet, immediate removal of collar, acupuncture, prescribed eye drops, changed to liquid form bilberry, ginkgo bioba and getting the benefit of carrots from the food. Within the last 6 months I am observing very little swelling, and less bulging of the eyeball, perhaps the herbs are kicking in by now? The blind eye has a cloudy blue color, and is back to a more normal size. The dog has adjusted, eats healthy, drinks water, and is living a normal life, showing no discomfort at this time.
Replied By Om (Hope, Bc, Canada) on 03/06/2015
Do research always before using drugs. I fail to understand to this day why "scientists " or medical people are capable of such travesty as it does not make any sense. May be common sense is not so common.
Namaste, Om
Replied By Gina G. (Orange, Ct) on 03/08/2015
If you meant for those eye meds from the specialist, are pretty frighten due to these bloggers ' experiencing no help with control their dogs' eye pressure & altered them to do something more costly pains.
I never like the idea of pushing those useless meds for this eye condition on a dog & paying them for nothing. There is a miraculous cure for human glaucoma and that is used by conventional approach.
Even worst by altered way to deal with the pressure control is far more expensive which most specialists would say either do "laser treatments or eye removal and so on..."
Most importantly, I am making efforts to help my dog's eye pressure remains low and stay within normal range. Had him checked in with the vet yesterday while on his 3rd day of treatment!
I didn't disclosed anything about giving him the Vitamin C, Bilberry, Ginok Bilboa & others to my vet. Just saying that many vets & specialists out there to rob $$$$$ for unjustified cause and dishonesty about those useless meds! They're Not putting for the best interest of all dogs that come down with eye conditions. Just the $$$$$ for their services & so-called treatments.
Replied By Martha (Upland, Ca) on 04/11/2016
Replied By Debbie (East Sussex) on 06/07/2016
Replied By Debbie (East Sussex) on 06/09/2016
Read other posts for the dosage, dependent on your dogs weight.
Replied By Cheryl (Pennsylvania) on 05/02/2017
Do you do regular eye testing at the vets to see if this is all working? My vet never even mentioned doing that and I'm looking for a more holistic one.
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you!
Replied By Debbie (East Sussex Uk) on 05/10/2017
Replied By Kevin (Bristow, Va) on 07/05/2017
Replied By Alexis (Canada) on 09/11/2017
Replied By Annalouise (Covington, Va) on 09/18/2018
I have also discontinued the 3 prescription eye drops as they did not help any more, appeared to me to aggravate the eye condition. I continue orally with the Ginkgo Biloba and Bilberry, both in liquid form, both approximately 1/5 of eyedropper at least once a day. In the beginning I did twice a day. There is most likely some Vitamin c in these herbs. Even though he has lost his sight in right eye, I will continue the herbs in hopes of saving sight in left eye for his lifetime. The glaucoma eye is shrinking and getting a light gray covering which his regular vet, who also does my dog's acupuncture when needed, said it is normal and referred to the covering as scar tissue. His pressure stays around 27 which is down from the higher 40/45 range he used to have. No longer need the glycerin for spikes, but it did work very good for that. I did not get the pressure checked often cause I already knew he had high pressure due to glaucoma. And I could tell by looking when the eyeball was larger or more red & tight, and his behavior too, when to give the glycerin to him orally for spikes early on. I noticed his eye pressure was higher when he was being seen by a different vet than usual.
Baked chicken from deli (remove skin) or Perdue brand chicken breast pieces (no antibodies) sold in packages at grocery store fed to him at least once a day.
Never used a collar or choker chain around his neck after onset of glaucoma and began using a harness exclusively. The only vaccine he gets now days is for rabies account it is a law in my state.
Chewy remains normal in every way and most people who see him do not notice his eye unless I tell them. He will sometimes bump into things on the side where he has lost vision so have to be careful of that. For outside flea/tick prevention, I dust his cedar shaving bedding with DE in the summer months and occasionally dust inside bedding and his dry food. His appetite is very good.
Hoping my posts will help others to try alternatives.