Quote: Tracy Collins

Last item I keep on hand is a tube of Terramycin opthalmic ointment which can be purchased without a prescription. (google it for an online seller.). It's a broad spectrum antibiotic cream. Same stuff the vet is selling you for ten times as much.

It can also be found at most feed stores. A few years ago I helped a friend get some when his mom's guinea pig colony babies got eye infections.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

in the dogs' first aid kit: a bottle of ordinary sterile saline solution used to wash contact lenses--

This is great information.

She charged me 10.00 for the tiniest tube of this antibiotic cream. A bit of it ended up on his nose and forehead during the first application, hopefully there’s enough to last the five days. If not, I’ll look for it elsewhere. Thanks for the tips guys.

As well, just wanted to mention, I’m doing this eye marker training with my other two as well. Not only are they incredibly interested in what mom’s doing with Echo but I think it’s a great pro-active measure should something like this come up in the future for one of them. I wish I had known about this and had Echo prepared, would have saved the traumatic man-handling he was forced to go through.

CJ, There will always be something, somewhere, sometime that catches us off guard. I'm glad you're making a useful experience out of it.

BTW that teeny tiny tube is about right. A tube of Terramycin usually costs about $10-$15 although not long ago it was dirt cheap usually less than $5 a tube. Should be more than enough for 5 days ^.^

 Quote: CJ Barrett

... As well, just wanted to mention, I’m doing this eye marker training with my other two as well. Not only are they incredibly interested in what mom’s doing with Echo but I think it’s a great pro-active measure should something like this come up in the future for one of them. I wish I had known about this and had Echo prepared, would have saved the traumatic man-handling he was forced to go through.

You might someday bless the day you started ear-procedure training, too.

But IME, the eyes (the face, period, and the eyes most of all) is the most difficult. Quite understandably!

See someone else if you don't have results asap. The list of causes of conjunctivitis is just what Melissa said, but it also includes some bad guys like distemper and others.
A powerful reflex deep seated reflex protects the eye-- it's kind of wierd to put drops in your OWN eyes yourself. The noodle on the lower lid is a functional technique. Drops applied from the lateral corner (outside) sometimes go easier then from the middle (nose side).

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

You might someday bless the day you started ear-procedure training, too.

I can see this coming in handy. My boys have big, pointy ears and I routinely get my hand swallowed up in them cleaning out dust and the odd bit of wax build up. They seem to love this, groaning and pushing their head closer as my fingers roam around in there (covered with tissue of course). I had to use a wash on Garrett once that he didn’t appreciate too much but tolerated. Is there something more that can be done to prepare them for this?

Betty, I love the “noodle” description. It took me a double take to figure out that this was the ointment and not a part of the eye. Great information for drops too. The distemper is pretty scary. I did have Echo vaccinated at 4 months - just the once, no boosters yet.

The conjunctivitis is still there, a lot less this morning covering less than ¼ of the eyeball, much improvement from the ½ coverage a few of days ago. It’s more whitish now as opposed to the yellowish/green the last two days. I was thinking to give it the two more days and if not completely gone, I’ll book another appointment or should it be gone by now? This will be day 3 of treatment.

The other boys are good. Vince was a little gunkier for a couple of days (nothing like Echo) but seems have cleared up just fine with the cleaning.

 Quote: CJ Barrett

This will be day 3 of treatment.

Totally missing a day here... this is day 4, he's been treated for 3 days. (It's been a busy weekend).

My little bright eyes is once again true to his name. The eyes have cleared.

The collective wisdom of this group is a wonderful thing. Again…thank you all.