Shiloe's Medical Thread. Please help!

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sus4rabbitsnpigs

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:03 pm


Usually the vet does an eye stain. Gentacin really helps if it is an eye injury. It doesn't look like a poke to me, but a vet can probably assess better.

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dgarriques
Got Pigs?

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:05 pm


If it is a cataract will she just go blind in that eye? Is it painful?

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:14 pm


Cataracts aren't painful, far as I know. I think her vision would be impared. She should be able to get around fine though.

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Barbara Osborn
Supporter from '05 - '12

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:12 pm


Sadie's eyes are like that. She has never been officially diagnosed but she is pretty much sightless.

She sure gets around though when she wants to. She scampers up to the 3rd floor and navigates all those ramps as well as the younger pigs.
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Nurgle
...what, what, what?

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:28 pm


An eye poke needs looked at, and eye antibiotics (usually as drops or an ointment).

I don't think pigs have great vision to start with, and cataracts aren't painful.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:37 pm


That is inside the eye. It does appear to be a clouded lens AKA a cataract. Yes, it impairs the vision. No it doesn't seem to bother them much.

The main causes of cataracts are that they can be genetic, age-related, or secondary to diabetes. You definitely should do a blood glucose/urine glucose if you are wanting to know about that. Diabetes can and should be treated.

Some other concerns include the tendency of the eye to develop uveitis (more chronic overall inflammation) and even glaucoma after a cataract has formed. A good eye exam can include pressure readings taken with a tonometer or tonopen to check for glaucoma, which is extremely painful. Uveitis is probably irritating to some lesser degree than glaucoma. There are meds to treat both conditions. Uncontrolled glaucoma usually leads to enucleation or removal of the eye.

I really don't mean to panic you, since it could just be a fairly quiet cataract, but I want you to be prepared in case the eye declines. Early detection and treatment go a long ways. It saddens me to see animals with glaucoma that the owners left for months before trying to get treatment. I can't imagine the pain.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:39 pm


Oh, I did want to say a lot with eye things has to do with the location of the problem. Some, like cataracts or glaucoma are inside the eye. Some are on the corneal surface like injuries, ulcers, and osseous choriostomas. All may be defined by owners as "cloudy" eyes.

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dgarriques
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Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:56 pm


Thank you all. I will watch her a couple days and if it looks worse or changes I will rush her out to the vet. She is not losing weight and is about 3 lbs now. She is eating, drinking fine and going to the bathroom even better (as normal).

They eye when I stare into it (she must think I am nuts) looks to me (the Non expert) almost like it is changing colors. Not cloudy looking to me. So thank goodness for you all that know such things. When I gently rubbed over the eye (closed) she did not act like anything hurt.

She was more upset with me that I saw it duiring dinner time and took her away from her food. She was worried the others would eat it all. Ha Ha.

Now Josephine I do have a question, you said:
You definitely should do a blood glucose/urine glucose if you are wanting to know about that.


How do I do that or do I have to have a vet do that?

klynne

Post   » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:12 am


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
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:25 am


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.

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dgarriques
Got Pigs?

Post   » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:45 pm


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?

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Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:50 pm


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.

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