Ophthalmic appointment

[Marsha Cassada]

I am taking Dapper Dan to an eye doctor tomorrow. He injured his eye in October and I just can't seem to get him well. Sometimes I think his eye is improving, then, as today, I go out and it is swollen and running.

I decided to go to a specialist instead of taking him back to the local "GP".

Anyone been to an equine ophthalmic specialist?

 

[picasso]

Never been to an equine one, but our dog goes to one. I really like her. Wishing you luck.

 

[Joanne]

You are doing the right thing. They are specialist and an eye problem can quickly cause blindness or the loss of an eye.

It is great that you have one in your area! I am sure your horse will be on the mends soon!

 

[madmax]

Yes, my 24 year old mare had the same symptoms last summer and was treated by an eye specialist.

The exam was as usual with an injury, except she spent more time with the scope looking behind the eye.

My mare had a fungus infection deep in the eye. I had intense treatment for 2 weeks (at home), involving an antibiotic ointment, antibiotic drops, atropine and drops of serum made from her own blood. It all had to be spaced somewhat apart and each one several times a day, I made a chart to keep track of all of it. At first she wore a fly mask that I sewed a piece of silk fabric inside of it to block light on that eye. I put it on the inside because she was rubbing it and the mask fabric was too irritating. I was told she could lose the eye unless I could be diligent. It was definitely time consuming but worth it, it worked! Healthy and normal sight.

Good luck.

 

[Loess Hills]

[SIZE=10pt]I'm very glad you're taking him to an eye specialist. [/SIZE]

We've had several horses develop different eye problems from infections, some which can cause ulceration and loss of the eye. First they'll need to determine what type of infection it is by taking a culture. Then they can determine how to treat the problem. Wishing you a positive outcome in your horse's treatment!

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

We have several great opthamologists in our area (Louisville/Lexington) and they are absolutely wonderful. One of them actually lives 5 miles from me! She's come to see my QH several times for an ongoing neurological issue that stems from an eye symptom. She was absolutely great. Expect to see the same tools you see in the eye doctor office when you go, dilation, bright lights, etc. Its very little stress on the horse, most I've had exams with barely blinked (haha). I've had a number of horses looked at professionally, my QH is the first I've had examined myself. Its simple and easy exam, as far as the horses are concerned! And they know so much more about eyes and eye issues than a normal vet. We have a great relationship between me, our normal vet, and a number of specialists. Our doctor is very quick to refer us to a specialist if its an issue outside his specialty.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Thanks for the replies!

What a day! Sleet and snow in the night. Couldn't get the trailer out with my towing pickup, as still too much mud from ice storm. After that didn't work, I used the old farm pickup to get the trailer out. Loaded muddy horse.

Drove 3 hours to my appointment place and had to wait, as the dr had an emergency.

Eye dr was an older woman named Virginia Schultz. Her diagnosis was severe allergy. The pain had caused him to close off the duct which allowed the moisture to drain down the nose. That's why it's running down his face. She saw no damage to the cornea, thank goodness, and said it looked good. I didnt' realize the horse could close the duct but she said a hrose will do that if the eye is painful.

She wore a magnifying head/eye piece and used the little light like human eye doctors use.

She will be sending the bill, so I have no idea how much it will be.

She is emailing me a list of over-the-counter treatments to try 3 times a day, and if that doesn't work she will prescribe something.

I guess the good news is he doesnt' have a serious problem. The bad news is, this could an ongoing thing for the rest of his life. So, I suppose, like people, horses can acquire an allergy in later life. The original injury may have been caused as he rubbed his irritated eye against something.

While I was at the equine center, a woman brought in a beautiful mare used for cutting. Her face was so friendly and intelligent! (the horse, not the woman). The woman said it was the best horse she'd ever owned. She was a world champion. Not sure what the mare was in for, but I heard the vet say he was giving her bute. So, I asked how long the horse could do that job, and the woman replied" until she goes lame".

Another client was there with a race horse. He was concerned about a slight swelling in the leg. The vet did ultrasound and found nothing and told the owner the hrose could go back into training. The concerned man kept asking, well what was the swelling? The vet said the hrose had probably knocked that inside of the leg with the other leg and it was not an issue. The horse was sound.

So, two clients, who had different approaches to their horses...

 

[Joanne]

Thanks for sharing those stories!

I am sure if you spoke with a few veterinarians they would have simular stories about their clients!

 

[Loess Hills]

[SIZE=10pt]I'm really glad the specialist was able to determine the problem and give you some treatments![/SIZE]

And very interesting stories.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I got my bill for the eye appointment on Feb 26. The doctor had told me she would email me a list of over the counter drops to try. I called to remind her, but she never got back to me. So I get the bill for $150. When I sent payment, I wrote a note to remind her about sending me the list. Yesterday I got the email with the list of drops, so I thought I would share with other folks who might have this problem with their horses:

"Try some of these over the counter if he continues to tear a lot.

Crolom

Acular

Zaditor

Alomide

Vasocon-A

Opcon-A

Naphcom-A

Alocril

Patanol

Alamast

These are usually used by people for seasonal allergies."

I am trying Opcon at this time. I do see the reddening improving and not as much tearing. I am wondering if he is allergic to bermuda, as normally he doesn't get any supplemental hay unless the weather is so terrible that they stay under the shelter. So, we are due for another spell of bad weather and I will be putting hay under their shelter; I will be watching to see if the eye condition occurs. I did have some timothy and blue stem in the past, so maybe that is why his eye condition seems worse now, as I only have bermuda hay. (I have a large pasture with native grasses, and that is their perferred forage. If I put hay out when the weather is good, they don't bother to eat it.) If the bermuda seems to be the culprit, I will switch him to alfalfa until I can find some other hay. I have heard that bermuda is a common culprit for allergies.

You can probably tell from my post that I was annoyed about having to remind the specialist about treatments. After a six hours drive to meet her at an equine center, I felt my horse deserved professional attention and followup.