eye ulcer, any views?

[huntersmoon]

My poor little filly is at the vets having an eye ulcer treated. she came in with a shut eye last weekend and the next day it had opened slightly and we could see a tiny blue patch, so the vet was called and I had to put drops in it. 2 days later she was visited again and the vet said it was worse, though it didn't look any different to me, she scraped the surface off, saying it wasn't healing properly and I had more drops to put in. I was told she ought to go into the vets so they could put drops in more thoroughly. Mai wouldn't let the vet treat her properly,and Im sure she thought that I wasnt getting the drops in, but I had much less trouble getting them in than her! we took her down on Thursday and I visited her on friday to find her with her eye shut and weeping badly, I was told they had to scrape the whole surface of her eye. I really hope they know what they are doing. I have to trust that they do, but it seems that every time they treat her it gets worse. They can't tell me how long it will be, but at £15 per day for stabling, I hope it isn't too long. She is luckily insured for vets fees but they don't pay for stabling costs. This is a horrible thing. She is such a lovely trusting little filly, I hate to think of her having to go through this and the eye probably won't be 100% after, either. Has anyone else had anything similar and can put my mind at rest that this is the correct treatment, I haven't much faith in my vets from past experience, but there are no others nearby and I have to trust that they are treating this correctly.

[Debbie]

Oh not your dear little filly Poor little girl

I don't have any experience with eye ulcers, but can only hope they're treating her correctly. I wonder why on earth they've had to scrape the entire eye? Poor Mai's going to have a lousy opinion of the vet after this, that had to hurt.

Is there any chance of phoning another vet uni, to ask? Or perhaps some online research??

[dalesponyrider]

I'm afraid I haven't any experience at all to help you but just wanted to say that my heart goes out to you. I do hope and pray that your filly starts to show some improvement real soon so you can feel a bit of peace.

[harveydales]

My heart goes out to you too. I have no experience with eye ulcers as such but it does sound as though your filly is in good hands. Both Quest and Harvey have had eye infections in the past and I think the vet said that Quest had a slight ulcer at the time. I had to treat them with eye drops which wasn't easy in Quest's case but he did heal completely with no after effects. It was quite a worry at the time and obviously your filly's situation is more serious. I've got all fingers and hoofs crosed for a complete recovery.

[knight]

Poor Mai, fingers & hooves crossed here for her. Annie used to have eye ulcers occassionally but they always responded nicely to the drops & she was easy to treat. I've never had any so difficult as what Mai's sounds to be. I've never heard of the scraping the eye. Debbie's idea seems sound to me, maybe you can find some more information on line and then check with a second vet if you're not feeling quite comfortable about her treatment. Healing vibes for you Mai.

[jonib]

When Betty cut the side of her eye open she also scratched the surface of the eye which ulcerated. She had to have the usual eye drops,but also for 5 days I had to put in a serum 4 times a day made from her own blood.It was a slightly yellowy thick liquid and it did seem odd but it definately worked. As far as the vet can tell she hasnt suffered any long term effects from the injury,although it took 2 weeks of 4 treatments a day to come good.
So hopefully your poor little girl will heal up well in the end.

The serum did seem to make a difference,although I was very dubious when they described what they were doing. I wonder if they have considered that for her..the scraping does sound horrific,and for such a baby as well

Good luck

[huntersmoon]

Thanks very much everyone, I'm going to see her again today, I heard from the vet on saturday, that her eye is now open again and looking better, they will know today if it is now healing properly. I really hope so!

[huntersmoon]

Still ongoing. went to see her again yesterday, she looks very well in herself, has even put some weight on, which I am pleased about as she lost a bit through the stress of being stabled last week. Just had a phone call from the vet to say that finally this morning there is a tiny bit of improvement. she then dashed my hopes by saying that it often gets better and then worse again! but I've got to think positively, it WILL STAY BETTER!! I looked on the internet about it and the treatment does seem to be correct, which is a relief! Just got the first vet bill just for 1 visit which is over £100!! Glad she's insured! Going to see her again on Friday, when the vet will check her progress again. She's having drops in 6 times a day at the moment! but apparently is now accepting it a lot better, just as well!

[Debbie]

Will keep everything tightly crossed that she continues to heal without backsliding or falters. I'm so glad she's decided to just go along with it all, and that the treatment seems appropriate. I think wondering, and lacking in confidence over a procedure is as worse as not knowing at all.

[khristyne]

we had a horse with a similar problem due to a wormer in its eye. It was scraped and a drain put in and had to stay in the dark for weeks. It is entirely mended now with no ill effects, although they were warned at the beginning that he could lose the sight in it.

sounds like she is getting good treatment, I am sure it will be ok in the end.

[nars]

Glad to hear she is improving. What an ordeal for her (and you too).

[huntersmoon]

After approx 7 weeks we've got her home. Not, unfortunately because she's better, but because the insurance cover has ran out. I am now treating her 3 times a day with drops, it has shrunk slightly but is still looking awful. she has drops made from her blood in it and some others also. She's been an absolute angel throughout, the vets say she's been their best ever eye patient. Don't know how much sight she'll end up having in it, They were talking about removing the eye a few weeks ago, but it does seem to have improved since, so hopefully that won't be happening, that would be horrendous!

[nars]

I know it's a big step to remove the eye, but I do know horses who have had it done as the constant irritation became too much. They adapted fabulously, so please don't think it the end of the world if it comes to that.

I bet she is glad to be home with you. Sending her lots of good vibes for a speedy recovery.

[Debbie]

I know how utterly gutted I would feel if someone was discussing removing Blossom's eye, but I'll echo Jacqui....for an equine, its not the end of the road.

I've ridden a quarter horse mare when I was 16, and her only 'fault' was that somewhere along the road, she'd lost her right eye. The mare was totally adapted, and I think older than me at the time (by one year ).

Her name was Jewel, and "Jewel" was a true gem. She could do practically anything a sighted pony could, but if her 'blind' side was towards the wall, she did need guidance. She had the biggest heart, but not the best in depth sight on that side. She taught me so much.

Jewel was very happy, in herself, her confidence in herself, what she could gauge, and how much she could trust in her rider. I found that out after I accidentally let her drift and rammed my knee into a post, but I hasten, this was on her blind side. That one knee ram taught me more than a thousand lectures from a riding instructor ever could. Not the usual "I told you so", but from a mare that was counting on me. I've never, ever forgotten that valuable lesson taught...and I've gone on to ride so many more horses after her. It taught me to really look after my mount

In time your own girl could be handing down this very lesson to her handlers. In the meantime, although you might need to compensate a little, you'll find that she'll adapt far faster than people if she does lose the eye.

Sending you hugs, and fast healing vibes, because I DO know how utterly gutted I would feel if someone were to tell me the same with Blossom

[huntersmoon]

Cautiously optomistic, the surface of the ulcer has finally healed, though the underneath still looks pretty awful, very pale. She's had some atropin to try and stop the pupil sticking to the underside of the lens. Hope it works ok! She now gets to graze out a few hours if it isn't sunny. (complete with 2 fly masks on!) She will have lost some sight, but anything is better than no eye!, They are going to try steroid drops in to try and reduce the scarring once it has totally healed. though I'm still putting drops in 3 times a day. She has been so good throughout, can't be much fun for a yearling to be stabled for approx 3 months! she skips around in the yard when she's out and has a play! and has eaten my fuschias and most of the herb garden when my back was turned! she's so nosy, I have to make doubly sure I shut every door or she's in the tack room or the chicken pen! But its so nice to have her back!