Expert: Delores Beck - 6/27/2008

Question
Hi Delores,
I have a 7 month old parti cocker spaniel pup named Murphy.  He was just neutered 2 weeks ago & is doing great. I do, however, have a concern. I noticed tonight that one of his eyes is losing hair around it.  His eye doesn't appear to be swollen & he is not irritated by it at all.  There is no signs of a rash or bumps. I just was looking into those pretty brown eyes tonight & noticed. Is there a possibility he is deficient in something?  He eats Innova puppy canned & kibble & loves it. I've never seen this before in my other cocker. I am taking him to the vet, but she is gone for the long weekend & I will worry all weekend.  I do have an antibiotic salve that I got when he popped a cherry eye a month & 1/2 ago...what do you think?  Thanks for your time, Jill, Maddie & Murphy

Answer
He definitely needs a vet visit but as long as there's no swelling, ithing, discharge I wouldn't panic.

Do not medicate yourself, but if you notice over the weekend it seems to be irritating him, you can safely use some Genteal eye drops.
Most drugstores & supermarkets carry it.  It will just soothe and lubricate the eye.  You can use as often as necessary.

Has the Cherry Eye been fixed?  Is it the same eye?  There could be a connection there.  If your vet doesn't have a straightforward answer, I'd get a referral to a vet opthalmologist.

Since you're feeding an excellent food it's not likely this is a dietary defiency.  Cockers are very susceptible to eye problems and I always advise a good one-a-day with that extra dose of Vitamin A
and my own get a bit of Lutein every day.
Delores