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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
  
Location: stray dump capital of the world | Still sending prayers... | |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Thanks guys.
No new updates other than I am climbing through thigh-high snow in this blizzard to get to the barn six times a day to put the ointments in and carrying many buckets of water from the house because my hydrants are frozen! I am doing it! No one is going to say that he lost the eye because I didn't get those ointments in! I haven't missed one! | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas |  Another good Momma!
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2016-01-24 4:13 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | SmokinBandits - 2016-01-24 7:32 AM
Thanks guys.
No new updates other than I am climbing through thigh-high snow in this blizzard to get to the barn six times a day to put the ointments in and carrying many buckets of water from the house because my hydrants are frozen! I am doing it! No one is going to say that he lost the eye because I didn't get those ointments in! I haven't missed one!
Bless your heart, prayers that you dont get sick working as hard as you have been  | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I can only imagine how stressful it must be to not have solid answers for what he has, but yay, no lepto.
We just had another checkup on our lepto mare, and she's lost quite a bit of vision in her right eye now, so sadly, the treatment we have her on isn't saving her eye either. So it's been a hard past week for us here too finding that out. | |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | SmokinBandits - 2016-01-24 7:32 AM
Thanks guys.
No new updates other than I am climbing through thigh-high snow in this blizzard to get to the barn six times a day to put the ointments in and carrying many buckets of water from the house because my hydrants are frozen! I am doing it! No one is going to say that he lost the eye because I didn't get those ointments in! I haven't missed one!
Do you have an update? So sorry for you ladies that are going thru these eye issues. . | |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13502
Location: OH. IO | Checking up on you and your boy.any new updates? | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 387
| I thought id share my story!
Long story short, My gelding poked his eye, had a melting corneal ulcer, I got the surgery done, the surgery didnt work and the eye lid patch died and I continued 5X a day with 5 ointments into his eye, this was all over 5 MONTHS, then we decided to take out his eye, I didn't want to put him through anymore, I was worried he wouldn't make a barrel horse with one eye, took his eye out and put the prosthetic eye in and he rejected it so bad to the vets once again to get that removed, $4000 dollars later I should of just taken the eye out in the beginning, He turned a barrel nicer without the eye! and I felt guilty putting him all through that..
I also had his full brother in my pasture, a year after his incident to the date he poked his eye  I did however decide to go with treating his eye, and if was to progress any worse i was going to just take it out knowing what I knew, but I got lucky and the drops worked, he was however still blind in the eye because there was scarring!
and believe it or not the sister out of the same dam as the 2 brothers poked her eye as well, at this point she was hardly halter broke, I did however leave the eye and fed her some bute, I was a little frustrated and I did keep a close "eye" on her lol and was ready to take the eye out if I had too, but after a month she cleared up and she was also blind due to scarring.
after all that and If i had another horse that needed it, I would take it out and save them the pain, of course Ill try the drops but if its not clearing up I wouldn't do the surgery again, it was alot to put him through for an eye to try and save an eye. and he has the worlds biggest personality! He is sooo cute without his eye! I just love it! 3 siblings with 1 eye! I no longer own any of them but I am currently in the process of buying one back because I miss him They are wicked little barrel horses still! | |
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Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | FlyingHigh, I'm very sorry your mare is not doing well. Are both her eyes affected?
Everyone else, I'm too tired to thank you all individually but I really really appreciate you talking to me.
Update: I feel sick from the stress. It is killing me seeing him like this and it is causing a financial hardship on my family. For three weeks I went out there 6 to 7 times a day and applied the antifungal ointments and the Atropine in the bad eye. He lets me so I am sure I am getting it in. His bad eye is exactly the same. His good eye had a little tear and looked sleepy. Vet didn't seem to think it was anything much to worry about. I don't think she thought it was related. But I thought it was a funny coincidence. She gave me an antibiotic ointment for that eye. Maybe he rubbed it? Maybe the pain from the other eye was causing it to tear? Way back when this all started, I noticed MY eyes felt a little irritated. I mentioned it to the vet. I tend to get pink eye but haven't had it in years and was thinking I was just getting sympathy pains. She took note. I forgot about it until today. I am sure I have pink eye. About a week ago I noticed the white on Lowdown's good eye is pink. I was thinking, hmm, is that normal? You don't normally see the whites of their eyes and I don't remember it being that pink-looking. I am extremely conscientious about washing my hands and not touching my face, etc. so if this is something that we spread to each other, it happened back in December before I even knew he had a problem.
When the vet came out a few days ago and checked the bad eye, she said it wasn't what she was expecting. She thinks the abscess, if it really is an abscess, might have ruptured. I will have to take him to the hospital to find out. I thought if I am going to do that, I am just going to have them take his eye out. I can't keep spending money on stuff that's not working. I just had expensive medication delivered that day--the oral anti-fungal--and so we decided to start him on that as a Hail Mary, and discussed adding an antibiotic. So far he hasn't had any antibiotics. Tonight when we were communicating, she seemed a little negative about the antibiotic; mentioned his gut. But I feel like we should hit him hard as a last resort. However, I am not the vet and it scares me to push my own ideas.
In a nutshell, I'm afraid if we take out the bad eye, something is going to happen to the good eye because that eye is not quite right. Does anyone know about giving oral-antifungal medication and antibiotics at the same time? I don't want to waste any more time. I want to get an antibiotic into him but I also don't want to stop the oral-antifungal.
I hope that was clear. I'm a little tired... | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| SmokinBandits - 2016-02-03 11:44 PM
FlyingHigh, I'm very sorry your mare is not doing well. Are both her eyes affected?
Her right eye is the one that has it the worst, but yes, she has mild irritation in her left, but it responds quite well to the steriods and atropine.
We know where you are on the money aspect. We have put a LOT of money into this mare last year, and to just have her be a broodmare was heartbreaking. Not just on her eyes, she also came up mysteriously lame about the same time, and had to have xrays, multiple joint injections, and it turned out her soles were so thin her bone was only inches from going through the frog in both front feet. So she had special shoes put on, had to be stalled most of the time and live in bell boots, because if she ripped those shoes off, she would've been in some deep doo doo, because they probably would take the whole hoof with them. This was only two weeks before her lepto diagnosis (not connected, we just have really really bad luck), and the horrible reaction to the treatment which was awful in it's own right.
I know we worry about her good eye all the time, because we fear when the uveitis takes all the vision from her right, it may move on and destroy the remaining healthy tissue in the left too, leaving her totally blind.
Truthfully, at this point, colic and ulcers are just going to have to be risked, because if you wait too long (and it might already be 'too long') it may be permanent damage being done. If its as simple as an infection from an abscess, it should clear right up with the right antibiotic in a matter of weeks. | |
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Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Oh boy FlyingHigh, you've had some bad luck too. I'm so sorry. I wish I could think of something to say to make you feel better but I'm sure you've heard it all. We just have to be strong and do our best. And I also think, thank God my horses are in my hands. I may not be rich, but I do know I give them the best of care and it's obvious you do too. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thank you, and your right, we have just about heard it all. Just makes us glad we didn't sell her when the chance presented itself, because it would make us feel awful if she wasn't getting treated the way she deserves, especially after all she's done for me over the years. To see her get treated like we see the other local horses with lepto being treated would make me psycho. haha
We just take it a day at a time, and preach the lepto vaccine to any horse owner who will listen. Just because it came too little, too late for our horse, doesn't mean we can't prevent others from getting it. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| SmokinBandits - 2016-02-03 10:44 PM
FlyingHigh, I'm very sorry your mare is not doing well. Are both her eyes affected?
Everyone else, I'm too tired to thank you all individually but I really really appreciate you talking to me.
Update: I feel sick from the stress. It is killing me seeing him like this and it is causing a financial hardship on my family. For three weeks I went out there 6 to 7 times a day and applied the antifungal ointments and the Atropine in the bad eye. He lets me so I am sure I am getting it in. His bad eye is exactly the same. His good eye had a little tear and looked sleepy. Vet didn't seem to think it was anything much to worry about. I don't think she thought it was related. But I thought it was a funny coincidence. She gave me an antibiotic ointment for that eye. Maybe he rubbed it? Maybe the pain from the other eye was causing it to tear? Way back when this all started, I noticed MY eyes felt a little irritated. I mentioned it to the vet. I tend to get pink eye but haven't had it in years and was thinking I was just getting sympathy pains. She took note. I forgot about it until today. I am sure I have pink eye. About a week ago I noticed the white on Lowdown's good eye is pink. I was thinking, hmm, is that normal? You don't normally see the whites of their eyes and I don't remember it being that pink-looking. I am extremely conscientious about washing my hands and not touching my face, etc. so if this is something that we spread to each other, it happened back in December before I even knew he had a problem.
When the vet came out a few days ago and checked the bad eye, she said it wasn't what she was expecting. She thinks the abscess, if it really is an abscess, might have ruptured. I will have to take him to the hospital to find out. I thought if I am going to do that, I am just going to have them take his eye out. I can't keep spending money on stuff that's not working. I just had expensive medication delivered that day--the oral anti-fungal--and so we decided to start him on that as a Hail Mary, and discussed adding an antibiotic. So far he hasn't had any antibiotics. Tonight when we were communicating, she seemed a little negative about the antibiotic; mentioned his gut. But I feel like we should hit him hard as a last resort. However, I am not the vet and it scares me to push my own ideas.
In a nutshell, I'm afraid if we take out the bad eye, something is going to happen to the good eye because that eye is not quite right. Does anyone know about giving oral-antifungal medication and antibiotics at the same time? I don't want to waste any more time. I want to get an antibiotic into him but I also don't want to stop the oral-antifungal.
I hope that was clear. I'm a little tired...
Before sinking any more money into treatment, please take the horse for a second opinion.
There are certain meds that cannot be given together as they can cause multisystem organ failure.
You need to speak with a vet about which antibiotic is safe to give with which antifungsl he is on | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Oh I thought the plan was stop the antifungals and try an antibiotic? Maybe I got lost along the way.
ETA: I agree with the second opinion, though.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2016-02-04 11:09 AM
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Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Hi guys. I don't think I have to take him for a second opinion because three vets have seen him who have an excellent reputation plus they've been in consultation with opthlamologists at Penn State and another top facilty around here. I really do feel that we've been getting the best of care and if the vet isn't checking for everything in the world, it's because she's trying to watch my finances.
Cheryl, the vet checked about which antibiotic we could safely use with the oral anti-fungal. She WAS concerned about that. We are going to use minocycline, I think it's called. I don't think she feels we need an antibiotic but I fear it's systemic because of his past lethargy (she thinks it has nothing to do with the eye problem) and because the good eye is affected with what we believe is pink eye. I pushed for the antibiotic because I want to cover the bases.
FlyingHigh, I also think about that. I am so glad he is in my hands.
Okay, little update. He has pink eye in the good eye. We swtiched to a different antibiotic ointment for the good eye that's more appropriate for pink eye. I had a mild case of pink eye too. Hot compresses stopped it. Vet said it's not uncommon for people treating horses with eye problems to get pink eye. Though I have been extremely vigilant about cleanliness, I am prone to pink eye. Have had it before, so in myself, I knew exactly what I was feeling. I just think it's a funny coincidence that my horse has two different eye problems at the same time. I think they must be related.
He has been on the oral anti-fungal for about a week-and-a-half. A couple of days ago, I opened a new container of Bute. That night he had obviously less tearing and continues to have less tearing. It's still a lot, but compared to what it was.... The only change was the new container of Bute. I dug it out of the garbage and checked the date. It expired a few months ago! I don't know if it was the fresh Bute that caused the decrease in tearing or the oral anti-fungal kicked in. Either way, it's hopeful. Because now we would be happy if we could just stop the inflammation and infection so that he doesn't have to get the eye removed. He may be blind but that's not the end of the world.
We will start the oral antibiotic. I am a little nervous about it because it was my idea more than the vet's but I feel that if he has something going on in his system, it could hit on it.
That's where we're at now. Thank you all again for all your help and conversation. I always look forward to coming back here to see what you've said! | |
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Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | So sorry for not updating sooner! I hate it when I'm left hanging on a thread!
Since using the fresh container of Bute, the tearing in the eye decreased for a few days, then it got bad again, but not quite as bad as when this all started, and now tonight it decreased again, and the eye is opening up a little when he wants to look at something. I can see the back third is all cloudy. I decided to just finish out the 30 days of the oral anti-fungal before I started the oral antibiotic. Tomorrow I'll be done with the anti-fungal and starting the antibiotic. This is a Hail Mary. I don't think the vet thinks the antibiotic will help. To recap, she THINKS there is a fungus and an abscess that probably ruptured deep inside the eyeball, though the cyctology (scraping) showed no fungus. She said it's probably because it's deep inside and the eyeball healed over it. I think this has been going on long enough. It's been almost two months. I was thinking I'd give the antibiotic ten days to see some kind of improvement and if there isn't any, I should get it over with and take the eye out. It's so stressful to know what to do.... When do I cut my losses?! | |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Truthfully if it isnt healing he probrably will feel better with it out. it must be painful.I know many horses with one eye and still very productive. of course thats if the treatments arent working.. | |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | So sorry that its not healing, but if this were my horse I would have a second opinion befor deciding to remove the eye, but thats just me. You may have already done this as I didnt read all the posts, good luck on what you do most of us have been where your at and its not a good feeling hugs to you and your boy | |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Oh I thought shed had a few other opinions.. | |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bibliafarm - 2016-02-23 6:16 PM Oh I thought shed had a few other opinions..
Oh I dont know if she had other opinions just me thinking to myself, lol. But I agree if the eye is not healing then its best to remove it, but I would just want another opinion from another vet just to back up that the eye is not healing befor having it removed. I have known a few one eye horses and they all have done really well..Some were pony horses barrel/pole horses jumpers and just good old pasture pets. Had one myself  | |
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