From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-15 20:29:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Calibrating the glucometer
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., steve austin <kazpat1@j...> wrote:
> As far as the eyesight, anyone have any good advice for telling if
the
> ferret is blind,
Dear Patty:
The "all-important" retinal exam by your vet is still the best way,
however, a vet will do two other things that you can do, too. Whie
neither are 100%, they are how we get our first ideas that an animal
is blind.
#1. Use the "menace test" From the side, quickly bring your hand
toward the animals face. The normal instinct is to pull away from an
obvious threat. Now if you can do this without causing air currents,
which a blind animal can pick up on, or brushing the hair or
whiskers, you may get a good reading.
#2. In a darkened room, shine a small penlight into the eye, move it
away, and move it back toward the eye. A ferret with a functional
retina, or a ferret whose light path is not blocked by an opaque
cataractous lens, will exhibit pupillary constriction. I fhte retina
is gone, the pupillary reflex will not occur.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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