Hi All Although we've owned dogs for 30 years, Sam is our first Labrador. He is a lovely dog, very chilled although also very stubborn but is plagued by health issues. Inter-digital cysts have been coming and going since we got him last March. But now he has an awful eye problem which despite numerous tests and even biopsies, our Vet can't find an answer for. His life is so miserable as he can't swim, chase balls or have any time without his eye guard on. I have hunted the internet, but can't even find any images to mirror what he has - I am hoping someone here may recognise the problem. He started with a small lump on his upper lid - looked like he had caught it blundering into bushes, now both upper and lower eye area is swollen, inflamed and angry, it is so fragile it bleeds profusely at the slightest touch. I would upload a photo, but can't work out how to (IT numpty). Appreciate any ideas you may have.
Poor thing sounds horrible. Sounds like he has some sort of allergic skin disease. Found this article on bletharitis https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/blepharitis-in-dogs You may need to look at diet to see if he has any food sensitivities. Yellow labs seem to have more problems with skin than black. Go to the bottom of the home page for tips on posting photos. Let us know how you get on.
Thanks JD - I have removed everything from his diet (not easy with a lab), so he is on a grain free, single protein feed with no treats or human food (fish based, as we know he is allergic to chicken). We have had allergy tests done (broad spectrum only, not intensive) and the only highlight was house dust mites, so the house, his bed and he are hoovered daily (luckily he loves it), and his bedding is hot washed weekly.
Are you feeding raw or grain free kibble? Mine is also bad with chicken but ok with turkey. What are you washing the bedding with?
Grain free kibble. His bedding is washed in non-biological liquid and no fabric conditioner. I haven't dared tried any fowl as his excema gets really bad, really quickly if he encounters chicken.
