Annalouise (Covington, Va) on 12/15/2014
My 60 pound 10 yr old mixed chow chow was diagnosed with primary Glaucoma right eye in September 2014. The pressure stayed around 40 and times spiked as high as 63.. Three different eye drops were prescribed. It was suggested to use a harness instead of using choker chain, which I did. I was told that eventually the left eye would get glaucoma & that the eye drops would not work to bring down the pressure at some point in the future. The prognosis was NOT optimistic, it was the same as the other posts I've read. So I began a search for alternative methods for treating glaucoma.
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.
Re: Glaucoma for Dogs Maddie Hopper (Moscow, Id) on 04/03/2014
Just wanted to comment on a comment by Andrea of NY: Regarding the pharmaceutical companies, I had been able to buy Dorzolamide eye drops for my dog at Rite Aid. I don't remember the exact price, but it wasn't more than about thirty dollars with my discount card. Then, one day the pharmacist informed me I could no longer use the card, and the price would now be something like eighty dollars with a different discount card, but if I wanted to pay twenty dollars for yet another discount card the price would come all the way down to seventy dollars. Curious, I asked "What will it cost if I have no discount card, and the answer was one hundred and five dollars!
Shortly after, I was talking with our vet, not the one who prescribed the drops, and she offered to see if she could get it for me. She did, and it cost me twenty-six dollars. A similar travesty happened with Prednisolone drops for the same dog. The price our vet was given at local drug stores was over one hundred dollars. Then, she found a veterinary supply that sold it to her and she sold it to me for twenty-nine dollars. Don't know what she paid, but we can be assured it was less than what she charged me. So, all I can figure is that the prices some people have to pay for these drops are obscene and unjustified.
I just wish I could find a natural remedy for glaucoma for our dog. I know about Vitamin C, but it's really scary backing off the drops when you don't have a way to tell what's happening with the pressure. Thanks for listening,
Maddie
Vitamin C for Dog With Glaucoma Jennifer (Anchorage, Alaska) on 03/06/2013
My 9 year old blue heeler was diagnosed with Glaucoma on 3/3/13. At the visit the vet was not optomistic of him retaining his vision as his pressure #'s were high. They gave me a combined eye drop and pain chew. The next day we went back to test the pressure again, it had risen 10 more points!! They gave me additional drops and also an oral med. I started doing research on the 3rd to see if I could find a holistic remedy to ease the pain and discomfort he was feeling as my vet explained that there isn't a cure. I found an article about vitamin C, well several articles... And also some articles about diets. He wasx already on a holistic diet so I didn't worry about that but the vitamin C option was interesting. Since vitamin C is water soluable he can't overdose and my vet refused to give me feedback on how much I should give him. I administered about 1000mg in his food on the 5th. I am watching his bowl movements for loose stool (sign to decrease the vitamin C dose). I took him back in this morning the 6th of March and low and behold his eye pressure was back down to 16 & 19!!! The vet was shocked and had many questions to ask about his diet and changes I had made. I am not a scientist but I do have a feeling this additional step I took may have saved my dog's vision.
Glycerin Worked for Lab With Glaucoma Deno (Pasadena, Ca) on 02/25/2013
My 7 yr old 90 lb. Lab has glaucoma, and pigmentary uveitis. The eye specialist in Pasadena rx was 70mls of glycerine divided into 4 parts; given over 15-20 minute in 1/4 cup of milk.. It worked to bring the pressure down. We had the pressure checked shortly after dosage was given. Dr is eye care for animals in Pasadena.
Glycerin, Vitamin C Helps Dog's Glaucoma Jeny (USA) on 06/22/2012
I noticed there were no glaucoma remedies on earth clinic for dogs so thought I would post my experience with my dog. She had an eye removed last year due to glaucoma and is currently having issues with the second eye. She is on the usual medications... Xalatan, Cosopt and Predneferin. However she still has pressure spikes every now and then that cause her to go temporarily blind. When this happens I give her oral glycerin. This was suggested by the eye specialist she is seeing. He said that in emergencies when the pressure spikes and the eye goes really cloudy to give her 10mls of oral glycerin.
Glycerin is amazing. Within about an hour or so, she has her sight back. My dog is an English Cocker Spaniel. I measure out 10mls and just pour it into a bowl. She licks it up as it has a sweet taste.
The second remedy I use is Vitamin C. There are a lot of studies online about vitamin c and glaucoma. For dogs you need to give them the Ester C form of vitamin c as the other types can be a bit harsh on their stomach. I give my dog 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet at night. Each tablet is 625mg. At her last visit to the vet her pressure was so low, the vet had trouble measuring it. I think the vitamin c has something to do with that.
