From:
jazmufsky@aol.com
Date: 2002-09-28 02:36:37 UTC
Subject: Intraocular pressure and dilating gtts
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <32302733.1033180597900.JavaMail.root@scandium>
I have a fuzzie who is around four and has, since he came to me almost two years ago, has had very watery and very large eyes. I became concerned about him when he quit eating for a week or so, having to be hand fed. He began eating again, but I noticed his left eye was protruding just a little bit more than the right. As I work for an ophthalmogist, I became concerned about the possiblity of glaucoma and pain as a possible reason for him not eating.
My vet looked at him yesterday and said his left pupil was constricted and he was favoring his right eye. He suspects he is blind in the left eye, but couldn't check any further as his retinoscope wasn't working. He has cautioned me about the possiblity of lymphoma although all his lymph nodes are normal and he feels no masses. Everything else seems fine, he's four pounds, everything going in and out okay and his energy level hasn't changed.
The doctor I work for is a pediatric ophthalmogist and I asked him to do a pressure check with the hand held tonometer (not the puff of air); he said no problem. I was considering having him dilate if the pressure was okay. My questions are these: What is the normal IOP for a ferret? What gtts should be used to numb? We use Tetracaine for humans. And, what gtts to dilate? We use Atropine, cyclogyl or a combo of neo/cyclo and another gtt(can't remember off the top of my head). Any other ideas as to the reason for the symptoms?
Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Trish