Tag Archive for: vetrix eyeq

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KCS in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

amniotic eye dropsKeratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), often referred to as dry eye, is inflammation of the cornea and surrounding tissues due to inadequate production of tears. Tears are necessary to lubricate the cornea and remove debris or any infectious agents that come in contact with the eye. The tear film is a mixture of mucus, fatty liquid, and water.

Symptoms of KCS in Dogs

Most dogs with KCS will have painful, red, irritated eyes. Squinting and excessive blinking often signal a dog’s mom or dad to get their pet to a veterinary professional for treatment. Additionally, KCS often includes symptoms of thick, yellowish mucous discharge due to the lack of the watery component of the tear film. Corneal ulceration may also be present.

Patients with chronic cases of KCS often present with a history of conjunctivitis, eye injuries, and ulcers. Corneal scarring, hyperpigmentation, usually occurs with cases of KCS and looks like a dark film covering the dog’s eye.

Is A Dog More Likely to Contract KCS Because of Their Breed?

KCS most commonly affects middle-aged to older dogs. It’s more likely to be seen in the following breeds:

  • American Cocker Spaniel
  • Bloodhound
  • Boston Terrier
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • English Bulldog
  • English Springer Spaniel
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Pekingese
  • Pug
  • Samoyed
  • Shih Tzu
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Both eyes are typically affected in dogs with KCS, but one eye may appear worse.

Treatment of KCS in Dogs

There are two main objectives when treating KCS in dogs:

  • Stimulate tear production
  • Replace the tear film and protect the cornea

Tear film replacement and tear production stimulants are often used in combination first. However, Veterinarians manage most KCS cases in dogs with a combination of tear stimulants, tear substitutes, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories. Surgery for KCS is reserved for dogs who do not respond to medication and are experiencing persistent pain. Secondary bacterial conjunctivitis is common in dogs with KCS due to debris accumulation and a lack of natural antimicrobial tear properties. Additionally, patients often experience much discomfort and pain with KCS and the ulceration that often accompanies it. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic combinations are helpful for improving comfort and diminishing corneal opacities.

Vetrix created a solution for veterinarians, EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops, to deliver natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components alongside traditional therapies when treating KCS. EyeQ is an easy-to-use, non-surgical option for treating corneal defects and ulcers and keeping a dog as comfortable as possible throughout treatment. What’s more, EyeQ allows easy administration for veterinarians and dog owners alike. The medicine comes in a convenient dropper bottle and is available to veterinary professionals in 6-pack, 12-pack, and 24-pack options.

Provide The Best Care for Your Dog

Getting attached to dogs you see regularly (even if they aren’t your dog) is easy. We can all agree that when it comes to treating dogs with KCS, all we want is for the animal to get better. If you’re a Vet who intends to provide the best care for the KCS and ulcer cases you see in dogs, try out a 6-pack of EyeQ for yourself. If you’re not completely satisfied, Vetrix will work with you to return your purchase.

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What is Veterinary Regenerative Medicine?

eye drops for petsVeterinary regenerative medicine started in the mid-1990s when bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used to treat tendon injuries in horses. Over the last 30 years, veterinarians have made significant advances in developing medications for animals using regenerative medicine to treat a variety of diseases. But before we get into what you can treat with veterinary regenerative medicine, we want to ensure that all readers understand what veterinary regenerative medicine is.

According to the FDA, “Veterinary regenerative medicine is an active area of research for developing new cell and tissue therapies for animals. Such therapies are called animal cells, tissues, and cell-and-tissue based products, or ACTPs for short.”

ACTPs refer to products used in animals that contain, consist of, or derive from cells or tissues. Some terms you may hear associated with this include:

  • Stem Cells (SCT)
  • Differentiated cells
  • Tissues such as blood
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
  • Amnion

Regenerative veterinary therapies elicit a therapeutic response that stimulates healing in tissues. They are used to home in on sites and rejuvenate damaged tissue. Regenerative therapies are also helpful in combating pain in dogs with orthopedic injuries.

What Can You Treat With Veterinary Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is recommended as a primary treatment for specific conditions or used jointly with surgical procedures. At Vetrix, we provide products that harness the natural capabilities of the patient’s existing cells by providing a biological scaffold into which progenitor cells embed. Once the patient’s cells have migrated into the native scaffolding, the cells lay down their extracellular matrix which, in turn, shares signals to differentiate into the appropriate tissue. With this site-specific healing capability, Vetrix® can fully regenerate tissue ranging from:

  • Skin
  • Muscular defects
  • Intestinal lining
  • And others

Our regenerative veterinary solutions are also helpful for the following:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neurology
  • Surgical Applications
  • Oncology
  • Wound management

One of our most popular products is BioSIS ECM Technology. BioSIS provides a natural scaffold that works with and encourages your patient’s (pet’s) natural healing process. A few typical surgical applications you can use BioSIS for include:

  • Gastrointestinal soft tissue repair
  • Thoracic wall repair
  • Body wall and hernia repair
  • Degloving injuries
  • Mass removals
  • Alternative to skin grafts

Learn more about Vetrix BioSIS Technology.

 

Additionally, Vetrix also provides veterinarians with another regenerative medicine to treat wounds. Healion Amniotic Wound Matrix is a regenerative option that utilizes the natural healing properties of amnion to treat patients with severe wounds. Click here to learn more.

 

Vetrix® is the leading provider of veterinary regenerative medicine. As a world supplier of innovative veterinary products, we enable veterinarians to provide exceptional treatment for their patients.

We’re always happy to answer questions about our products, what we do, and how we do it. Contact us today if you’re a veterinarian interested in using regenerative medicine in your patient treatment plans. Contact Vetrix.

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Product Case Study: Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops

If you often treat patients in your practice with corneal ulcers and defects, then Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops may be a solution for you to offer them. These eye drops promote healing, modulate inflammation, and provide long-lasting lubrication. Keep reading to see how they helped a 9-year-old terrier mix canine from losing his eye.

The Patient & The Problem

After trying every medication recommended by their primary veterinarian, pet owners were referred to Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Dr. Kirsten Steele. Their dog’s eye condition was continuing to get worse. If his condition didn’t improve, his eye would need to be removed.

Before trying Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops, Dr. Steele used various treatment methods that yielded no improvement to the dog’s corneas. She then started treatment using Vetrix EyeQ in the eye with ulcers, intending to treat both the ulcer and the inflammation. Within two weeks, the owners reported the corneal ulcers completely healed. Their dog would no longer need to have his eye removed.

Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops—The Solution

After reporting an increase in comfort while on the Amniotic Eye Drops, Dr. Steele recommended use in both eyes to treat the dry eye. She started the dog out on a TID medication schedule and then decreased to BID. Dr. Steele reported that while the eyes were not producing tears and were still a bit inflamed, there was a reduction in blepharospasm. She decided to keep the pet on traditional tear stimulant medications to help with conjunctival goblet cell health.

Dr. Steele achieved complete healing of the ulcers using Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops and restarted a topical steroid and antibiotic combination to treat the remaining inflammation. She reported that the Eye Drops were an effective solution for a patient that wasn’t responding to traditional treatments for dry eye.

The Part We Love

The owners are overjoyed and relieved that their dog doesn’t have to have his eye removed. They’re also grateful that his ulcers and dry eye are under control, that he is no longer in pain, and that his eyesight is improving. Now he can be the energetic and playful pup he once was.
If you think our EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops may be helpful for patients in your practice, or you’d like more information, contact us here. We’d love to answer any questions you may have! And if you’d like to read more interesting information on topics like this, visit our blog.

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