Our older Bull Terrier has dry eye. He gets a thick film over the eye. We put a/b in it and drops, but it is temporary relief.
His little slitty eyes must feel like he has sandpaper in there. He does not see so well.
Anybody got any comments or ideas from experience.
Check with your vet first, because it’s an entirely different species and it could be an entirely different result, but, I do have a cat with dry eye. She was diagnosed with dry eye when she was about three years old. I used drops, and, one of the things the vet told me to do was to start supplementing with L-Lysine, which I did. Apparently, dry eye can be caused by the herpes virus and the L-Lysine strengthens the immune system. This cat is now 15 years old,. I have not used drops in years and her dry eye has not progressed. Her yearly checkup shows no damage. It’s my understanding that L-Lysine is a quite benign supplement. It’s tasteless and the powder mixes with food readily. I use the human grade L-Lysine from Carlson Labs but there are many forms out there, including treats.
Have you had him diagnosed by a vet, or vet opthamalogist? I would think there would be something better than just antibiotic ointment; maybe something daily just for lubrication? I’d definitely get him to a specialist if your vet isn’t recommending more than antibiotics; you don’t want to end up with further eye problems. I had a friend with a springer that had multiple eye problems and ultimately they had her euthanized. She was in so much pain that they euthanized her at a young age - maybe 10? This was after years of trying to fix the eye problems.
Definitely don’t wait for it to get worse. 
Poor pup!
Yes- dry eye is quite common in Bull Terriers. You need to take her to a canine opthamologist where they will do a tear production test and then she will probably have to be on cyclosporine drops (a steroid) for life. Please don’t try to treat this at home or mess around with OTC drops. It’s like having glass or sand in the eyes and is not comfortable at all.
Has your dog been tested and found to truly have a lack of tear production? If he has then he should be started on cyclosporine, which is not a steroid but an immune suppressant medication. This medication is needed for life. Tacrolimus was another medication, but has been limited in availability. In addition to the cyclosporine you can use Celluvisc, an artificial tear that you can purchase at the drug store. This can be applied IN ADDITION to the cyclosporin 2-4 times daily (or really as often as needed).
Please have your dog seen by a specialist though because you want to make sure the only issue is actually “dry eye” and not entropion, distichiasis, etc. which are also common in bull terriers and can occur concurrently with dry eye.
Please do not just take internet advice if you have not seen a veterinarian yet as eye conditions are not only painful but more difficult to control if poorly treated for too long. Bull Terriers are not a breed for the owner without deep pockets:(
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7919182]
Our older Bull Terrier has dry eye. He gets a thick film over the eye. We put a/b in it and drops, but it is temporary relief.
His little slitty eyes must feel like he has sandpaper in there. He does not see so well.
Anybody got any comments or ideas from experience.[/QUOTE]
My horse has had dry eye. Fairly rare in horses. Not well studied. Thick film over eye. Seen by vet and opthalmologist. Tear production test etc. It’s an auto immune disease. Antibiotic ointment at first then cyclosporine. Took maybe 2 months or more to get rid of it. That was last spring. Eye has been fine ever since.
You should take the dog to a vet, preferably an opthalmologist. It needs to be professionally diagnosed and treated.
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