Shiloe's Medical Thread. Please help!

[klynne]

Deb, just my humble opinion, but with Shiloe being a young pig, and a dramatic change in one eye, I'd take her in to be checked out. Too many underlying things might be indicated with eye troubles, like diabetes, the genetic condition mentioned above, etc. Also--It does look as if it is down inside the eye, but I'd probably want the flourestain done on the cornea anyway to rule out a surface injury that may have become a deeper infection.

Also, just have to say that in rabbits there are what we "affectionately" refer to as "EC lesions" in the eye--which are caused when the protozoal infection, E. Cuniculi, attacks the eye tissue itself. I know pigs can get infected with EC, but do not know of any documented and confirmed cases of symptomatic pigs.

I mention it because a course of one of the 'bendazoles (Fenbendazole, Oxibendazole, Albendazole) can often clear up eye lesions caused by EC and the animals sometimes even regain all or most of the vision in the affected eye.

[Josephine]

You need to have a good physical exam, stain the cornea, and do some bloodwork. The vet can help you with all that. It does come down to needing an exam. Is it an emergency? No. Would I get it done within the next week or two? Yes.

[dgarriques]

I took Shiloe to the vet this morning. The sad news is she is blind in one eye (Cataracts) sp? He thinks she is starting to develope one in her other eye.

He took blood and the good news is no diabites. So that is a good thing. He said she weighs 3 lbs and other than her eyes she seems helathy. Dr Rambo also said that being cataracts she could sometime have pain. If she does he will give her some eye drops. The only other option is to have the cataract removed by a specialist. But he said that would run about $2000 and he didn't think I should put her trough that.

She was very good at the vets, the ladies all loved her. One even gave her a bath and trimmed her nails. She had to be given gas before the blood test as she did not want to hold still. But she is home, munching on hay and glad to be put back with the other girls.

Poor Shiloe, I feel so bad for her. The Dr did not think it was genetic and was surprised Shiloe got this at an early age. But she seems fine for now.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Oh and also I notice some brown specks in her fur after the bath and they put them under the microscope and the Dr looked and said it was Dandruff and not any sort of mites or bug matter.
What do you do about Dandruff?

[Mum]

I have pigs with cataracts and no problems - I don't think you need to worry at this stage.

And I would treat for mites anyway, if you haven't done it already.

[dgarriques]

I will treat them all today, thank Mum. Do you think Shiloe will be more agressive if she cant see? I need to introduce Rosey next week but dont want to upset Shiloe.

[Mum]

I think aggression is more related to the personality of the pig. But there's only one way to find out :-p

[dgarriques]

Poor Rosey, she may be in for a handful with Shiloe. Somer & Savannah are mellow and I dont think they will care. With Shiloe having a hard time seeing I hate to think it will upset her to add someone new.

[Lynx]

If the eye is not under any pressure internally, I don't think there will be any pain. I didn't think cataracts were a painful condition. There was some cloudiness in Nina's eyes and she never seemed bothered.

[Mum]

I have several pigs who don't see well, and they aren't at all aggressive - in fact, they tend to be nondominant pigs.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

I don't think they should be painful either. She sounds like she is adjusting to it.

[Josephine]

Yes, cataracts can cause pain. It mostly deals with IOP (intraocular pressure as explained previously) as well as the rigid calcification of the lens. Usually, it isn't painful, but it is something that needs to be monitored closely, since the condition can change drastically within hours.

[TexCavy]

As far as vision impairment, many humans with cataracts have described it as looking through a veil. So some vision may remain even in advanced cataracts. But even if she is completely blind in that eye she will adjust and get around fine. I don't think it will change her personality any. Pigs are more accepting of such things than many humans. My boyfriend get grumpier the more vision he loses. I've had three pigs with cataracts and none of them changed their personality due to it.

Good luck with her. I hope she does not ever experience pain or anything more severe from it.