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Post by serina48723 on Sept 10, 2006 12:13:26 GMT -5
Well this rescue Beacon has had it rough. I knew that something wasn't right but he is alive. I can't leave him alone, and when I addressed the fact that this new rescue, taken from a drug house got sick and dehydrated I wanted to do a little more checking. My first concern was the fact that bright light didn't seem to bother him. No wonder to, as he is blind. He can see very little. I realized that something wasn't right when I went to the video store with him. He hopped right out of the pouch and right onto my shoulder. Stayed there through the bright lights of the store. I found that odd. So I finally got into my exotic vet and told him the story. My suspicions were confirmed. He has cataracts. A low fat diet may help (which I give anyway, but who knows what he ate before I got him) but the drugs from his previous owner has showed its first sign. My hubby wants me to put him down. I refuse. If my child were blind I wouldn't put it down. Being that he is only a year he has a full live to live. It hasn't had a chance to be happy yet, nor know what that is. So I have never had this. Poor Beacon. Know where he is at now? Perched on my shoulder like a bird. Anyone have any suggestions other than a low fat diet that I already do to give this baby a good life. Putting down is not an option.
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Post by serina48723 on Sept 10, 2006 15:27:43 GMT -5
I am so upset, so distrot I don't know what to do. I tried starting dinner tonight. For a half an hour do you think that I could figure out why the hamburger wouldn't cook. Nope.
It would help if I turned the stove on! What do I do? Serina needs help.
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Post by bebopfox on Sept 11, 2006 2:02:12 GMT -5
Just treat him like any other kind of glider. He doesn't need to be put down or anything.
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Post by gimmiesugar on Sept 11, 2006 11:05:52 GMT -5
Nope. Another girl on GC had a blind glider and she was worried about him, but she soon realized that he got around just as well as the other gliders and unless you looked right at him and saw his eyes, you wouldn't even know he was blind. He'll do fine. They have ways of compensating for stuff like that.
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Post by serina48723 on Sept 11, 2006 14:14:38 GMT -5
Ah thank God. I thought so to. However his toys are gunna have to be in the same place, his water bowl and food dish and everything to minimize stress.
I took him to my mother in laws last night. Before long she was going goo goo gaa gaa for him. Do you want this hunny, do you want that. I have some juice for you. This poor baby I just see a glider. I can tell by looking at him that he wants to be happy.
Just this morning I got him out. Just the sound of my voice made his ears stand right up. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't help but bust wide open with tears, both happy and sad. Then down my shirt he went, then in the pouch he went. His head bobs up and down as he is using his sense of smell and hearing and other senses to get around and compensate.
The hubby isn't winning this argument. I wouldn't put down an imperfect child. I think of my animals as the same way. Can I hear an amen.
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Post by Morocco Rock Fox on Sept 11, 2006 16:35:25 GMT -5
Amen and here is something on Cataractous: WHAT ARE CATARACTS?
A cataract is an opacity of the lens of the eye. The lens is behind the iris (the brown or blue part of the eye) and can change its shape allowing animals to see up close. The lens is covered by a thin capsule, which is the consistency of cellophane.
In front of the lens is a clear fluid, aqueous, and behind it is a clear gel, the vitreous. The vitreous helps keep the retina attached. The retina is a layer of cells that functions similar to the film in a camera, i.e., it receives the light and allows animals to see.
CAUSES OF CATARACTS
Cataracts may develop because of an inherited defect, with age, or secondary to inflammation, trauma, diabetes, or retinal degenerations.
CATARACT PROGRESSION
As cataracts progress, they go through different stages: immature, mature and hypermature. In the later stage cataracts may leak proteins that cause inflammation inside the eye called uveitis. Lens-induced uveitis is inflammation inside the eye. The eye having an allergic-like reaction to the cataractous lens. Lens-induced uveitis can damage the eye leading to complications such as glaucoma, retinal degeneration or retinal detachment, all of which can blind the eye.
CATARACT SURGERY
Cataract surgery involves removing the lens and the front part of the lens capsule. The capsule in the back is usually left in place to maintain the normal arrangement of the structures in the eye. In some cases an intraocular lens implant may be inserted to improve close-up vision after surgery.
To perform cataract surgery the patient must be anesthetized. Then, an incision is made in the cornea and the lens is removed. Two types of surgery are used in animals. In most cases a small incision is made and phacofragmentation performed. Phacofragmentation utilizes sound waves to break up the lens and then the small fragments are removed. The second type of surgery is performed in cases where the lens is too hard to be broken up by the phacofragmenter. Very old animals may need this type of surgery. A larger corneal incision is made and after removal of the capsule, the lens is gently expressed from the eye in one piece.
PATIENT SELECTION AND PREPARATION
In order for your pet to be considered for cataract surgery, it must be free of serious illnesses, skin and dental disease. Pre-operative blood tests are performed in all animals to help rule out any undetected kidney or liver disease.
In order for your pet to benefit from surgery, the retina, the tissue in the back of the eye that receives light, must be intact and functioning. Ocular ultrasound is performed before surgery to make sure the retina is attached. An electronic retina test called an electroretinogram (ERG), is also performed to make sure the retina is functioning well enough to go ahead with surgery.
OWNER PARTICIPATION
After cataract surgery as the owner of your pet, you will have a lot of work to do to help achieve a successful outcome from cataract surgery. Several types of eye drops need to be given 3-4 times a day for a few weeks after surgery. Also, oral medications are given for a few weeks after surgery. Eventually topical medications are decreased, discontinued or used in very small amounts. Sometimes, however, an animal may need some medications for extended periods of time. An Elizabethan Collar is usually necessary to keep your pet from rubbing its eyes after surgery.
Several rechecks are required after surgery. Typically rechecks are 1 day, 1, 3, 6, and 10-12 weeks after surgery. Then we may recommend rechecks 1-2 times per year. These rechecks are necessary to detect and avoid any complications of surgery that may decrease the animal's sight.
Cataract surgery is an elective procedure that requires a considerable amount of your time, effort and expense. Estimates are provided for each patient. Intraocular lens implants are additional costs. Two to four recheck examinations are included. Other rechecks and medications are additional expenses and not included in the initial estimate.
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Post by serina48723 on Sept 11, 2006 17:50:35 GMT -5
Well we know that drugs caused this one. So the vet doesn't know if this will be helped with a low calorie diet or not. Sweetest suggie I have ever seen though. Kinda is like my lapdog Chihuahua Winnie the Poo if that tells you anything.
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