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Post by daniel on Oct 10, 2016 16:47:40 GMT
To begin with, english is not my native language, so excuse me for my grammar.
Days ago, about three or four days ago, somehow my girls eye got traumatized. I don't know how, don't know when it happened, but she lost her eye. Vet said, that he can't do anything and the only thing left to do is rarely clean the eye with camomile. Did this one time, yesterday. And few moments ago, from this message, the eye started to suppurate and to hurt. Don't know what to do, I left her in cage, and it seems to be OK, regardless of a little of pus. So, what to do, how I can help her?
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Post by saggy on Oct 10, 2016 17:18:42 GMT
Oh poor girl. Can you provide photo so people can see exactly what you mean? I'm not sure what you mean by suppurate?
I would imagine she would benefit from antibiotics. Did he not want to prescribe antibiotics? I would have maybe used salt water though. What kind of cammomile are you using, I know the tea can be used for conjunctivitis but others here may be able to advise you better than me?
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Post by yasmin on Oct 10, 2016 17:25:09 GMT
Welcome to the forum, daniel.
• Has she lost the eye completely or is the eyeball there but blind? Or is it scratched?
• Why did the vet recommend chamomile? You say that there is a bit of pus, meaning it is infected. The vet should give you an eye ointment like Maxitrol or an antibiotic in that case.
• What country are you in? Is this a vet that has seen your degus before?
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Post by daniel on Oct 10, 2016 17:58:50 GMT
imgur.com/a/EQObOThe photo is in link, it is gruesome, so I don't think posting it would be right. The eyeball is there, I think, but it is under thick layer of something, pus, I think. Also, I used Tobradex, twice everyday, but stopped, after vet said, it is antibiotic too, but I don't know, why vet said to use chamomile - maybe, he was just incompetent about that question. I'm from Estonia, a little country on north of Europe, don't know about experience of that vet, as well. Update, found Sulfacetamide, eye ointment with antibiotics, too. Can I apply it?
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Post by saggy on Oct 10, 2016 18:11:40 GMT
Okay, it's not so strange to be honest, just wanted to make sure you weren't using chamomile lotion etc. I'm not sure I would be putting the chamomile into the eye mind you just maybe on the surface around although someone else would have to remark on that one as not entirely sure? Tobradex is a antibiotic and corticosteroid. One thing I would point out, is you must make sure that the dripper or what ever you use to put both in/on the eye will need to be sterile every time otherwise you risk making the infection worse.
Did he mention removing the remaining part of the eye or was he hoping to take a better look after the infection was cleared?
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Post by daniel on Oct 10, 2016 18:31:34 GMT
No, nothing about "removing remaining part of the eye", and I have no idea about his future plans. He didn't said me to visit him again. I think, that the chamomile tea using was more like "prophylaxis" of eye after a trauma. Also, degu have great appetite, but not so active, how she could be. A good sign, I think.
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 10, 2016 20:14:09 GMT
In looking at your picture, it looks like the eye is either collapsed or already gone. Is that correct? I almost think she needs to have it cleaned out and then sewn shut. Does your vet deal much with small animals that are pets, in particular exotic animals?
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Post by saggy on Oct 10, 2016 20:25:55 GMT
To be honest, that's exactly what I was thinking. I would imagine it would be better to remove all and stitched too as would help the infection go quicker and leave less risk of continued pain but didn't want to say in case I was wrong.
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Post by yasmin on Oct 10, 2016 20:27:36 GMT
I don't know if corticosteroids are safe. Can you buy Polysporin for eyes from your pharmacy/drug store? I have used that.
I think you need to take her to a different vet for a second opinion as soon as possible. I agree with deguconvert, it does need to be cleaned out and likely sewn shut. I also think that she should be given antibiotics in case the infection has spread internally.
If she survives this, she should make a good recovery. Degus can lead happy lives even without sight in one eye.
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Post by saggy on Oct 10, 2016 22:55:05 GMT
The same medication is given to humans for the same purpose but I don't know if whether that is safe for degus?
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Post by goolover on Oct 10, 2016 23:37:39 GMT
Hi daniel, would agree with the others that her eye needs removed as if infection sets in, which looks like it could happen quite easily with a wound like that, she could become very poorly or worse. One of my girls got into a fight a couple of years ago and there was trauma to her eye. The best way to describe it is that her eyeball was popped. If you hold a light to her eye you can see the iris is perfect but the middle of her lense is gone. When she self cleans and uses her saliva to clean herself, it collects in her eye so we have to wipe her eye all the time but its never got any worse or infected. She cant see out of it but she is a very happy girl. Another of my girls is completely blind with diabetes but what she lacks in sight she makes up with smell and sounds. Still runs around like a loon and is happy. Not what I would have wanted for her (I cried when i realised nina was blind) and i'm sure you feel the same for your girl but with one eye missing.........she will be just fine.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 12, 2016 10:20:45 GMT
I agree with everyone else, it needs surgical attention from a good vet. If the vet is nervous about operating on a degu, there is some information about anaesthesia for degus here www.degutopia.co.uk/deguvetlist.htm |
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