Expert: Silva Mirovics - 12/7/2007

Question
I have a Bull Terrier with dry eye and have been told I could use Codliver oil capsules, by putting a few drops into the dogs eye by a friend who had dog kennels and had to do it to one of the boarders.  The vet cream is $90 a tube and will only last 10 days.  can you suggest anything at a reasonable price to help my dog.

Answer
HI Karen,
Dry Eye is an annoying problem and is also an autoimmune disease.  This is where the body gets confussed and attacks itself.  Dry Eye can take quite a while to get on top off.  I know my dog had it and it took us about 4 months to sort through it.  It is really dangerous to let the eye get too dry as this can cause ulcers and blindness.  It is also imperative to wipe out any of the gunk as soon as you see it.  This gunk covers the eye and starves it from oxygen. This can also lead to blindness and irreversible damage.
Opti-Immune is very expensive (as you mentioned) but you may need to get your dog onto this initially as it keeps the eyes lubricated.  If you decide instead to use eye drops then you need to give these at least 4 times per day - again because it is so importnat to keep the eye moist and healthy.  The vet can easily add fish oil to the eye drops.  Because fish oil is so high in Vitamin A, is keeps the eyes healthy.  I would not recommend using fish oil on its own in the eye as this could cause blurred vision.  Check with the vet.  It is so important to take any eye condition serously in order to save the eyes and keep them healthy.
When my Roxy was diagnosed I worked with a vet who supported natural therapies.  I started her on one tube of Opti-Immune, and also gave here the eye drops (to which vet added some drops of fish oil).  I also worked really hard with her nutrition to give her immune system the boost it needed.  Natural supplements to boost the diet, all natural diet (fresh fruits and veggies, raw meats), Colloidal Silver (1 teaspoon per day) added to meals.  You can also use Colloidal Silver to gently clean and wash the eyes with.  Flaxseed (linseed) oil added to daily meals.
We maintained the eye drops with added fish oil for about 3 months.  We only used the one tube of Optimmune.  On top of this we added lots of immune boosting nutrients (as mentined above).  And we were very lucky that a conditon that we were told would be with Roxy forever, was gone after 4 months.  That was a year ago now, and she has not had any eye problems since thank goodness.
It is important to have a vet whom you trust and can talk to about these things.  There are now more and more vets supporting alternative therapies, so find one in your area who does.  Run all these suggestions past a vet first.  And remember that in order to get on top of an AutoImmune Disease, you will have to committ to a lifetime of healthy eating and supplementation for your dog.
I hope this offered some help to you Karen.
Take care,
Silva.
www.roxysworld.com.au