Faith has eye issues supposedly common in Shelties

So, Faith started squinting her right eye a few months ago. Took her in, no ulcers, no scratches or abrasions, a bit red and her third eyelid was up. Treated for an infection with antibiotic and steroid, 10 days. No improvement. Back to vet, recheck, eye pressure is normal. Different, broad spectrum antibiotic. Still no improvement. Finally got into see my own vet in the practice (not that the others aren't great also, but she is SUPER smart).

Faith started getting these blue/gray spots on her eyes at age 5. They are a combination of lipids (like cholesterol) and minerals (like calcium). They didn't impair her vision and comfort. Well she is now 10 and the spots have grown. They are an immune system thing. My vet saw blood vessels growing into her corneas and also thought the thickening of the deposits were becoming irritating. She recommended a vet ophthalmologist about an hour and twenty minute drive away. Took 2 1/2 months to get an appointment.

So the new doc saw her today and to my surprise told me what Faith has is common in Shelties. I've never had this in my dogs, and no-one I know has either, including folks here on the Forums. So I was taken aback.

So now we're on drops and ointments, three different ones, three times daily, oy. Need to wait 5 minutes between each application as well. SIGH. We have a recheck appt in 2 months and hoping that if all looks better we can go back to twice a day.

If left untreated it can result in corneal ulcers.

So wanted to pass this information on to our group. At least the rest of her eye is normal, no cataracts, retina is fine etc. She can see fine, so I'm grateful for that.

 

Well, it will be life-long treatment unfortunately. Luckily, with the help of treats, she is reasonable about letting me do it although I don't think our petsitter will be able to as she will turn her head and clamp her eye shut when she's had enough. You only need a tiny drop of the ointments, and they are quite expensive, so anyone struggling to get it in will waste quite a bit. But we're not leaving again until September for any trips.

The vet said it is NOT in collies, but she sees on average a Sheltie a week with this same problem. Must be genetic. Her eyes are very dry - the oil component of her tears is almost nothing. Which is weird because she's never had any drainage from her eyes or has ever rubbed at them. Often dogs with dry eye get really goopy, mucusy discharge from their eyes.