Baxter's med thread

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:11 pm


Yeah, there was actual visible damage to the surface of his eye. There was some possibility that the ulcer was caused by him not being able to close his eye completely, but the actual surface marks that appeared when they stained his eye don't really make sense as being related to elongated roots. Or at least I don't think. I guess there's a chance that he scratched the eye because it was already bulging more than usual? But his eye was totally normal when I went to work that day, and when I got home it was red, bulging, and had obvious surface abnormalities all at once.

I appreciate the insight, by the way.

egustavson

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:19 pm


I have no idea how fast elongated roots could go from no apparent effect on the eye to causing it to bulge enough and affect a pig's eye sight.

I guess there may be nothing else wrong and his eye is healing normally. The swelling could be due to the metacam wearing off, as you suggested.

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:35 pm


Yeah, it was very sudden. Going from no symptoms to a bulging, teary, red eye seems extreme if it's elongated roots, considering that extreme change was not accompanied by any similar change in eating skill/habits. When I left for work at 8 am it was fine, and when I got home at 6 pm it was like that.

I still plan to give the opthamologist a call today. I certainly hope it's just part of a slow healing process and not a deeper problem. If that's the case, though, I hope that it heals without ruining his vision first. Though to be honest, I'm not TOO concerned about his vision as long as he gets healthy otherwise, since pigs seem to do so well with limited or no vision. Not ideal, but as long as his quality of life is good.

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:10 pm


The opthamologist said that at this point as long as the surface of the eye is looking better, that's what she primarily concerned about. I'm still considering taking him in to my regular vet for an xray. I don't know how long to give it before doing that, though...

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:23 pm


The other "one-sided" possibility that comes to my mind is dental abscess. I think dental rads will show this.

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:28 pm


If that's the case the Baytril and Bactrim should help too, right?

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:34 pm


Mumble yes sorta kinda hopefully maybe. The one we had was pretty bad, not lanceable from the outside, and Baytril contained it but did not cure it.

If nothing else those will help keep it in check (if it exists). I don't want to scare you but that eye does look awfully bulgy to me. Does he seem in any real discomfort?

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:50 pm


He seems quite comfortable, actually. I assume because the pressure of the eye has been normal both times they've checked it. It's actually looking pretty darn good tonight. I hesitate to type the words for fear of jinxing it, but I think he's been able to blink completely for the past couple of days so I guess the swelling must be decreasing some. The only time I notice discomfort is when sunlight catches his eye (he squints that eye more than the other) and when I'm applying ointment (he flinches pretty strongly).

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:22 pm


That's good news.

Light is still going to bother him for a while, and they hate hate hate ointments ... so if those are the only times he evidences discomfort, that is good.

Is the bulginess coming down some?

https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40183

... might be worth a look. Baxter's eye seems nowhere near this bad, but Ace seems to simply have accommodated bulgy eyes.

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zazzified

Post   » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:37 pm


Yeah, it seems like it's slightly reduced.

I actually read that thread earlier today. The last pictures break my heart because his eyes look so bad, but the important thing is that his quality of life is good. That's a very interesting read.

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zazzified

Post   » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:13 am


Well, his eye is finally starting to look significantly better. Still a little bulgy but much better than before. He finished a course of Baytril but he is still finishing up Bactrim, and I am still doing the eye drops, ointment, and some Meloxicam.

I was planning to take him in yesterday for an xray, but when I noticed the improvement I decided to wait for now. It has been better for a good 24 hours now so I am hopeful that the eye doc's theory that the swelling would go down once the eye healed the surface injury was correct. If he doesn't continue to improve through the weekend, he'll go in early next week for an xray.

egustavson

Post   » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:49 am


Thanks for the update. I was hoping the silence meant that Baxter was improving.

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