Newt's Eye

[hpdegus]

Well, now Newt's right eye looks odd. I've attached a link to some of the pictures I've taken over the past few days.

photos.app.goo.gl/SuFMRfu681D5yYzJ7

I don't know what's up, but it sometimes looks like he has a mobile film on his eye. It's not always visible and it's usually only visible from a specific angle. The pictures where you can clearly see the film are after I tried to clean the area with a sterile saline wipe.

Thoughts? Does this look like something I can just try to clean, or does this look like a vet visit? He's just as active as ever.

Edit: I'll send an email to the vet as soon as they open tomorrow morning.

[hpdegus]

Added two more photos of what it looks like at the moment. They have the date in the top right-hand corner.

[savvy]

To me, this looks like it could be a localised irritation such as a dust particle. But I'd check with your vet.

[moletteuk]

Difficult to say. It looks worse in the pics where the fur looks paler. Is there any swelling? Have you got any saline you could flush it with, or eyedrops?

[bouncy]

In some of the photos, it almost looks like a cataract. In others, it looks like irritation. I suspect the vet will find you some eye ointment? It makes it look worse to begin with (assuming irritation), but worth a shot?

[hpdegus]

So the vet originally wanted me to come in, purely because of the squinty/red pictures. She said it looks much better this morning.

I did ask if we could instead try eye drops + orbax for a few days. I just really don't want to go into the vet today, especially if I'm going to need to take Q in again soon. And he's very active! The eye doesn't seem to be bothering him either, since I don't see discharge or squinting.

The redness I do think was more because he struggled while I was trying to wipe down the eye. Hoping that between the eye drops and oral antibiotic this will be taken care of.

And yes, he definitely does have a cataract in that eye.

[hpdegus]

Antibiotics and eye drops (not medicated) started! Fingers crossed this helps! His eye doesn't seem to have changed since this morning either.

[yasmin]

How old is Newt?

[hpdegus]

He's almost 6 now.

[hpdegus]

I added two more pictures from this afternoon. I was looking at it again, and the right eye is less reflective. I thought this was a film, but could it be dry eyes instead? And there looks to be maybe some inflammation or redness in the front corner of his eye?

I've been using the vetericyn eye wash, but maybe I should use something else instead. Thoughts?

[savvy]

To me, it looks like he's got a scratch on his eye, but I could be wrong.

[hpdegus]

Definitely possible! That probably means taking him into the vet, right?

He's had three doses of antibiotics (orbax is once/day). I don't think it's gotten worse, but I also don't think it's gotten better. I know it can take a few days to see effects from oral antibiotics though.

[savvy]

I'd give it a few days more of monitoring. If it gets any worse, then vets again.

[hpdegus]

Thanks, Savvy!

I have an appt booked for Tuesday afternoon, so I'll see how it's doing that morning.

[hpdegus]

Now I'm wondering if this is actually an ulcer.

The surface of the eye is kind of textured and not as shiny. There's no discharge or squinting, though. The red on the corner of the eye looks like it might be a blood vessel, which is maybe inflamed?

[savvy]

Has he had dental problems at all?

[hpdegus]

Nope, none. He would have been checked in late January, I believe. He's scarfing down food as normal as well. I'm not seeing any signs of pain, though I know they hide it well.

Edit: added two more pictures from this evening. It maybe looks more like an abrasion? Like he scratched it or maybe hay poke?

[savvy]

I can see a definite line down the eye. If it is scratched, there is likely to be bruising. Have you sent the photos to the vet.

[hpdegus]

Yep, I sent them on Thursday. She said it wasn't ideal, but I could start the oral antibiotics that night and monitor. If it got worse I needed to go to the ER, but if there's no improvement, I have the appt on Tuesday. She did agree that at least Thursday morning looked better than Wednesday night.

[bouncy]

I would ask about an eye ointment. If there is any damage to the eye, it will certainly help clear it up faster.