From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2004-07-17 01:55:11 UTC
Subject: RE: Glaucoma and possible eye removal
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2672086.1090029311288.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My vet has successfully treated glaucoma with meds.
The eye pressure can be checked using the same instrument used for dogs (my vet used a Tonopen, I believe) and the pressure should be in the 20-22 or below range, I believe. I've known some ferrets to handle higher pressures pretty well, up into the mid 30's.
We have had 2 little guys here with pressures in the mid 80's. The first had both of his eyes removed, one at a time when affected, and did 'ok', although he had other serious problems.
The other ferret, Bach, was tried on medication for each; open angle and closed angle, then both, simultaneously. It lowered his pressures to the mid 30's for the last 18 months or so. Bach is now 8.5 years young. He is blind, but seems comfortable.
The medications used were pilocarpine and timolol opthamalic drops.
I would not remove the eye unless it didn't respond to the drops. It is a horrible dosing schedule, but if you are able to administer the drops 5 times a day, they may work for him. I would not opt for removal again, unless it was a last resort. I felt it was a tragic thing for Johnny to loose both eyes, and wonder if he wouldn't have been better off having had a mercy shot.
Finally, Never give tylenol to any animal.
Julie
Author wrote:
> Hello. Once again I'm back to ask questions about another ferret of mine Wish. He is blind, possible cateracts (SP?) and glaucoma. His eyes are blue and slowly over the years have sort of 'popped' out and look about 1.5 x's the size of a normal eye for a ferret.> Help?
> Anna, Wish and Gus.