Thanks again everyone for your encouragement and support. It was so devastating to have such a perfect little gal end up blind, after planning this breeding and waiting for so long for her arrival. She was just what our "order" requested...built beautifully & picks up her feet so neatly and moves just like her dam. The special color and blue eyes were just the icing on the cake. The initial feeling of devastation has passed, and time will only tell whether she'll regain any/all of her sight. We'll probably give it a month and then take her to a specialist to reevaluate and explore treatment options. If she doesn't regain even a glimmer of sight, I think she'll end up doing just fine. She's got the personality and will, and she will have a job of some sort to do. I'm honestly amazed at the volume of responses that I've received both in this thread, via PM's and via direct emails. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As for what causes cataracts, there are several potential causes that I've seen listed in my internet research but it's not an exhaustive list. It is rare for them to be hereditary, but can happen. Other causes can include exposure to toxins (I suspect toxins like pesticides, medications like Baytril, and so on) or as a result of an injury to the foal while in utero. In Lacey's case, we just don't know what caused it. Her dam has had 9 foals, and Lacey is the first to have cataracts. Her dam lost her first colt to joint ill at around 6 weeks old, has had one red bag delivery (a filly who survived and is normal), lost a buckskin pinto colt to unknown causes, and had 4 other normal foals (all before I purchased her). Since I purchased her in 2007, she has delivered her 2007 smokey black pinto colt, and he can be seen on our website. The delivery of Lacey here was also uneventful. This mare gets the biggest bag and looks like a little cow just prior to foaling. She is the most perfect mother...even passing up food in order to stand near Lacey and guard her to keep her safe -- which is pretty amazing as the mare is very food motivated. Just with Koquet's care of Lacey, she has earned a place with us forever and has been removed from our sales list.
What is absolutely amazing to me is that when we first realized that something was wrong with Lacey's vision, we began frantically calling around to various vets to get their advise. My husband even called the stupid #(&% vet clinic here in town (that I refuse to use after they told me last year to
PULL on a mare's retained placenta) -- this same stupid vet just flatly told my husband
to put Lacey down immediately.
Either way, she's going to make it because she's got spunk and she's obviously got the will the live!
What a little doll she is.
