From:
rezgrrl@netzero.com
Date: 2005-07-23 02:44:07 UTC
Subject: Remove eyes? Here's the catch
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5693033.1122086647340.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Cookie (7.5) has glaucoma in both eyes, and it's giving her a lot of discomfort. My ferret vet told me that she was blind in both, and agreed if that she would do better with the eyes removed--if the eyes are the only problem. Since then, she seems to have recovered some sight in one eye, thanks to the drops he prescribed. The discomfort is still there, and I'm still considering having them removed. A local veterinary ophthamologist wanted $7,000 for both, which I can't afford. My ferret vet wants just under $1,000, including bloodwork, etc. (I do trust his work.)
Here's the catch, and I have been given no direction about this: He says there may also be tumors (probably are, as he also put her on pred and she does better with it than without), either in the ducts or behind the eyes entirely, and that there is no way to find this out without going in. Can this be right? No way to biopsy or X-ray or anything? Secondly, if it is a brain tumor, taking the eyes out isn't going to help, is it? I'm really afraid that if this is the case, they'll have to put her down right there. I really, really need advice on what to do, and the vet was unwilling to take on this role. Operate? Keep on with the drops, pred, and her discomfort? Ask about pain meds?
Her weight is good, and it was even before the pred. She's got some thinning hair on the tail, but I suspect this is mostly from age and the pred (?). Her turds are good. Lately she's had a horrible wet choke-gacking, which I hope antibiotics will clear up. She's also been isolating herself, which does worry me most. She's old, but she still seems strong and alert, and she still explores.
(BTW, the drops he prescribed are Trusopt--Dorzolamide Hydrocloride--newer than those mentioned on archived posts. I'm told these are more recent and need to be applied less often.)
--Clover