Are sticky eyes and dry eye syndrome linked to dog vaccinations?

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. My guess is that Oscar could have keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) which is basically "dry eye". This is not necessarily serious, per se, but needs to have long-term medication to manage/control it. It is easy to test for this - a simple tear test that your vet can do in the office in just a few minutes. I would test for this. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1326 Just take Oscar back to have the test done and then go from there. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Yes , it is possible that Theo can still get kennel cough, even though he was vaccinated. Kennel cough is a respiratory disease complex that can be caused by a large number of various bacteria and viruses. The vaccination only covers Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is the bacterium which is the main cause. So if your dog catches kennel cough he can still get infected with the other bacteria and viruses, but he will be immune against Bordetella. This then usually causes the kennel cough to be milder. Because Theo has a oozing eye I suggest you take him to the vet for an exam. If he has a fever as well and should he have an eye infection he will need antibiotics, If he has a bad cough your vet can also give him some cough medicine. Usually kennel cough is self-limiting and goes away within 3-4 weeks, but sometimes a dog needs medication to help it get over it.

A swollen face, swollen lips, red eyes, severe itching or difficulty breathing may all be symptoms of a vaccine reaction. An antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can be given but only under the advice of your veterinary. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending you medicate her in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). If her symptoms persist or worsen, have her examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER.

Hi, it is most likely the Bordetella vaccination. It is a bit like our flu vaccination and can cause mild flu signs.I would have her checked over as she could be running a temperature. Hope this helps.

Hello, thank you for your question about Norman. Based on the symptoms you are describing it sounds like Norman is having an allergic reaction. If he received his vaccinations on Thursday, it is unlikely that he is just now having a reaction to the vaccine. Most reactions occur within 24 hours after vaccination. However, some small dogs can be more sensitive when receiving multiple vaccinations. Based on what you've listed, the Lepto vaccine is the one that is most likely to cause a reaction because of the vaccine formulation. It is possible that there is something else leading to the reaction - such as something in his environment (insect, spider, etc). If he continues to have swollen and itchy eyes in spite of the Benadryl I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian so that they can administer injectable medications to help with this reaction. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi there and thank you for posting your question! Eye discharge can be caused from many things. Allergies, dry eye, eye trauma, infection, foreign material, etc. It sounds like the eyes have been improving, so this may have been more of an allergy or irritation than anything. If the discharge continues, I would have your vet take a look at Izzy to determine what the cause is. Your vet will likely stain the eye and do a tear test to determine if there is eye trauma or dry eye present. Dry eye would require a more specific treatment and won't improve with over the counter eye drops. If it is allergies, a great allergy eye drop you can safely use in dogs is called Zaditor (Ketotifen Fumarate). You can administer 1-2 drops in both eyes twice daily to see if that helps with the eye discharge. Again, if the eyes are not improving or worsening, then I would have Izzy seen by her vet. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions / concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation.

It's most likely an eye infection, possibly conjunctivitis. Taking him to the vet now is great, before he damages the eye teslf by rubbing and scratching. Your vet will do an ophthalmic exam, part of which may be putting a dye in his eyes and examining them under a black light to look for scratches on his cornea. Based of the results of the exam, it will allow your vet to know just what is going on and how best to treat it.