Piper has a luxated lens in one eye

[Mama Kim]

Hi, I haven't been on this forum in a long time. We have a 14 year old Cairn named Piper. She is in pretty good health with the exception of an arthritic tail and hips. But it does not slow her down and she is still very active. We noticed her right eye was goopy. I thought probably conjunctivitis. So we took her in to the vet today only to find out she has a luxated lens.

The lens has broken loose and popped out in front of her iris. So they are dilating her eyes in the hopes the lens may fall back through the pupil. They tested her eye pressure which was good so no glaucoma (yet). They said she may eventually have to have her eye surgically removed if the condition doesn't improved.

My question is has anyone experienced this with their Cairn? Vet said it's only the second one she's ever seen. The other was due to trauma from a car accident

Thanks in advance for any advice/experience you can share!

Edited September 18, 2017 by Mama Kim

[sanford]

Dear Mama Kim,

 So sorry to read of this. I have no experience to offer...Only my wishes for a successful resolution for Piper. The important thing is that you saw the vet without delay. Hoping to hear better news after you follow up with the vet!

P.S. I like your Smiley Blanton quote... Very true!

[Pepper Bug's Mom]

Oh no...hope she is feeling better soon!!!

 

[Mama Kim]

Thanks for the good wishes. She returns to the vet this afternoon to check eye pressure again. She really doesn't seem in any great discomfort as she stole a pair of socks from my workout shoes this morning as per usual!

I was just hoping maybe someone else may have experienced with their Cairn since everything I've read said terriers are prone to this. I had never heard of it.

Sanford, it is a particularly fitting quote, right?

[bradl]

Nice to see you again Mama Kim, although sorry it's for a health issue  

Like others so far I haven't any experience with this specifically. I do know that the CTCA has an eye diseases contact listed on their health related concerns page and that Pam has been helpful to others in the past (particularly with regards to OM and I think maybe dry eye if I remember).  Anyway it may be worth reaching out to see if she can point you toward any helpful resources.

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Eye Diseases
Contact: Pamela G. McDonald

Good luck!

[pkcrossley]

congratulations on getting piper to such a grand age in such good shape. hope this problem gets itself straightened out but sounds like she will be good no matter what. i had a small dog who lost an eye (glaucoma) and it did not affect him at all. if anything he was more comfortable without the pain. all best to you and piper!

[Min D]

We had a 14 year old cairn who had eye problems, not the particular one piper has- but through my experience it really appeared to me that a vet is more a generalist when it comes to eye issues, we went to a dog eye specialist who really helped with her eyes the latter part of her life.

its just a thought.....You may want to check it out.

[Mama Kim]

We do have the University of Tennessee veterinary school and hospital right here in town so that may be an option. The vet did mention it but first we needed to see if that lens could be moved. 

But I do have a small bit of good news! When my husband took her back to the vet the next day, her lens had significantly moved back into place (though not exact) and vet is treating her for pre-glaucoma as her eye pressure was just slightly elevated. Drops twice daily in the eye. I take her back on Tuesday of next week for eye pressure recheck. I will be speaking with the vet then about the option of taking her to a veterinary ophthalmologist dependent upon her progress. We're really trying to avoid the trauma of surgery if we can manage the eye without it. She is 14 1/2 and I feel like surgery would be so traumatic. 

This picture was taken yesterday morning at breakfast while she waited for Daddy to share some egg white. It's her right eye that is the trouble. She is in very good spirits, running in the yard last night. Other than the eye, you'd never know there was anything wrong.

And I just want to add that she has been the sweetest, most compliant Cairn ever. Just a fantastic little personality. She's my sweetie.

Edited September 21, 2017 by Mama Kim

[Mama Kim]

Oh and I really appreciate all the kind words and words of encouragement. I'm very worried about my girl.

[Mama Kim]

On 9/19/2017 at 3:48 PM, bradl said:

Nice to see you again Mama Kim, although sorry it's for a health issue  

Like others so far I haven't any experience with this specifically. I do know that the CTCA has an eye diseases contact listed on their health related concerns page and that Pam has been helpful to others in the past (particularly with regards to OM and I think maybe dry eye if I remember).  Anyway it may be worth reaching out to see if she can point you toward any helpful resources.

Good luck!

Thank you! It's nice to be seen. I wish it were under better circumstances though she is doing well at the moment. I went back to work (Piper comes with me on occasion) and haven't been as active online and Piper has been well so just haven't really visited much.

I appreciate the contact info! 

Edited September 21, 2017 by Mama Kim

[Min D]

53 minutes ago, Mama Kim said:

We're really trying to avoid the trauma of surgery if we can manage the eye without it. She is 14 1/2 and I feel like surgery would be so traumatic. 

Just to let you know - we live in Nova Scotia, Canada and the eye specialist here said it would require surgery to fix her ulcer on her eye- it was Xmas time and they couldn't do it until after the Holidays.

we were headed to Florida and she suggested we see an eye specialist there- we expected surgery and they did the procedure without putting her to sleep and without pain- I guess they have lots of practice and for them it was a routine procedure, took about 10 minutes.

[Hillscreek]

Piper you are so sweet. Have no expertise on this matter. Just sending best wishes.

[pkcrossley]

she sure has a sweet face and sounds like you got very good news.congratulations on doing great with a great dog. 

[Mama Kim]

My fellow Cairn people know how precious these little furbabies are to us. I will update again on Tuesday after her next appointment. Please keep sending good thoughts and prayers for her. They are so appreciated!

[Mama Kim]

Just checking back in to say that this has escalated very quickly. Upon check-in yesterday at vet, it appears the pressure is continuing to rise in her affected right eye, and now a bit in the left. They are now treating her for pre-glaucoma. She gets drops in both eyes, and another more aggressive drop in the right eye. Vet says if pressure is not down next week and has continued to rise, they will want to do an enucleation (removal of eye) and possibly both eyes if the left continues to rise in pressure too. I think one eye removed would be ok on her at 14.5 but I don't know about both eyes. I'm not sure I can do that to her. She's already partially deaf. 

Someone else mentioned ocular melanosis. Anyone know what that is and/or how it differs from glaucoma? She was asymptomatic (at least to us) until just a week and a half ago, so I'm still in shock. 

My sweet girl. You can see her little wonky right eye in this photo. She still is so full of life, stealing my socks every morning, running in the yard, just being a general nuisance as Cairns tend to be (I mean that in the best way). 

[bradl]

OM used to be known as Pigmentary Glaucoma.

It is a disease of the adult to aging dog primarily (if not exclusively) found in Cairns.

I urge you to review some of the material linked at the CTCA site (ocular melanosis / secondary glaucoma) and have your vet contact Dr P-J.

Dr P-J has been doing research on this for years he is very interested that any cases be identified and he is very helpful. He can give your vet some guidance to rule it in or out, and if it is OM there is no one better to be in contact with.

One of our members who had a dog diagnosed with OM clinic called him and he spoke at length. She said he was great. Another member (may she rest in peace) donated her dogs' eyes years ago to his research. 

[Mama Kim]

I appreciate the info, Brad. I will send this to our vet.

[pkcrossley]

so sorry to hear this. keep up with the drops, let's hope it works. when you say the "vet," do you mean the ophthalmologist or your general vet? i'm sure if the question of surgery arises a second opinion from a specialist will be part of the process.

i agree with you that one enucleation is a fairly minor issue and two is a very different thing. i can tell you that totally blind dogs generally do well, but of course you must assess your piper's over all situation. hoping you get encouraging news soon. thinking of you.

[Mama Kim]

13 minutes ago, pkcrossley said:

so sorry to hear this. keep up with the drops, let's hope it works. when you say the "vet," do you mean the ophthalmologist or your general vet? i'm sure if the question of surgery arises a second opinion from a specialist will be part of the process.

i agree with you that one enucleation is a fairly minor issue and two is a very different thing. i can tell you that totally blind dogs generally do well, but of course you must assess your piper's over all situation. hoping you get encouraging news soon. thinking of you.

Yes, our regular vet who is in regular contact with the opthalmologist at the University of TN veterinary hospital. I just sent her all the info Brad sent me re: ocular melanosis. Just in case. 

I appreciate the good thoughts. Will keep this post updated as I can. She's at work with me today. 

[Mama Kim]

An update once again. Saw the vet yesterday. Piper's eye is responding to the meds! So for now, we continue the glaucoma meds for her and have a recheck in December. Of course, if we notice any changes in behavior or appearance, we need to see the vet sooner, but for now we and her vet, are pleased with her progress.

She really is the sweetest Cairn. I love the second picture which shows her collection of toys and socks on her pillow. Crazy girl.

[pkcrossley]

good news and good work. what a precious little angel.

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[Hillscreek]

Hoping she continues to do well and give you joy.

[kieiras mom]

Happy for the good news. Hope things continue to improve.

[LindaMC]

Piper is so stinking cute, I love the photo of her laying up above her toys, it's adorable.  I'm happy to read that the meds are working and pray that they keep on working their magic.

[Mama Kim]

You'd honestly never know anything was wrong with her.