Blind in one eye

[MadamBelladonna]

hey guys i just noticed that Algernon is blind in one eye. The eye that he is blind in is just a little bit milky. I don't think there is anything I can do about it but if there is please let me know. One of my friends and I did a little test and he didn't react when we waved a finger in front of his bad eye but he reacted to his good eye. Don't think there's anything I can do for his eye but let me know :cry4:

 

[victoria]

Some hairless rats are prone to eye infections (and/or injuries) because they have nothing to protect their eyes from debris. Can you describe the milkiness? Is it centered? Disc shaped? Does his eye smell like infection?

 

[MadamBelladonna]

He's not hairless, he's a beige-hooded. It's gotten worse since last night, it's much more noticeable (the milkiness). It's pretty much his whole eye, don't notice any smell or anything. It doesn't seem to be bothering him...he isn't acting like he's sick or in pain, just doing the same stuff he always does. One of my friends that used to work in a pet store said that one of the rats they had suddenly got a milky eye and the next day the eye had died and I'm kinda freaking out now...I'm wondering if it's just a cataract or something like that but I don't know how quickly something like that would become noticeable. I just noticed a slight milkiness last night but now the eye is REALLY milky.

 

[lilspaz68]

It sounds like an injury to his eye. As long as the eye doesn't swell and bulge, it might heal on its own. Or if he was scratched and it burst the eyeball, the eye may shrink and die...just keep a close "nose" on him for infection. Is he rubbing at it, is there any porphyrin?

 

[MadamBelladonna]

He hasn't been rubbing it, there's no porphyrin on his eyes, just the usual amount around his nose when he wakes up

 

[MadamBelladonna]

So it's starting to look worse now...still no smell but I'm thinking it's infected. Taking him to vet tomorrow to get it checked out...he's starting to rub it...

 

[lilspaz68]

If you have eye drops or ointment (without a steroid) you can use that. You don't want the eyeball to dry out that can cause some serious stuff, leading to infection.

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Ok...
Found 4 different kinds of eye drops in my cabinet and have NO CLUE if I can use any of them.

1. Bausch and Lomb (brand) Advanced Eye Relief
2. Clear Eyes Triple Action relief
3. Equate Sterile Eye Allergy Relief (Itching and Redness Reliever)
4. Bausch and Lomb Renu MultiPlus (Lubricating and Wetting Drops-for contacts)

I don't know if any of these would be safe, anyone know? Are there any specific ingredients that I should NOT use?

 

[MadamBelladonna]

I'm thinking it may already be infected...no evidence to support that, just gut feeling.

 

[victoria]

Does Neosporin make eye/ear drops? I'm not sure if Shelagh's recommending medicated eyedrops or just ones to lubricate the eye. I got ones prescribed by the vet for the only eye injury I ever had, they were similar to the Polysporin ones sold in Canada (I wish I could remember the name).

 

[MadamBelladonna]

my mom found an antibiotic ointment that had safe ingredients. Rubbed a tiny amount around his eye... it looks so bad :cry4: i really want to take him to the vet now but the Animal ER near me won't see rats...

 

[victoria]

It's probably best to wait until the morning and see a vet that is experiences with rats. ((hugs)) to your little boy.

 

[MadamBelladonna]

I'm really hoping the vet can get him in, he's usually really busy. I'm really freaked out about him right now...he's been with me for quite a while and he's always been such a healthy little guy and I'm scared I'm going to lose him like Templeton I hope it's not painful...he doesn't act like it is, barely flinched when I rubbed ointment on it, but I can't imagine something that looks that bad not hurting...

 

[lilspaz68]

Can you post a picture? I and many others have seen some really icky eyes. Eyes look terrifying when they aren't "right", but it doesn't always mean that its as bad as it looks.

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Um...How do you post a picture? :mrgreen:
Sorry, most tech-challenged person you will ever meet...

Still trying to find a place to take him. BOTH of the vets in my area that will see rats are gone today...I swear I have the worst luck with these people... :gaah:

 

[MadamBelladonna]

OK FINALLY found someone...half an hour away. My appointment is in about an hour, I'll let you guys know how it goes :joy:

Pretty sure he will hafta lose the eye at this point...much worse than yesterday...

 

[lilspaz68]

Underneath the window you type your reply in is a "click here to add an image to your post"

OR you can get an account for a free photo/video hosting website like Photobucketand upload your pics and link here.

 

[Dazzle87]

Poor guy, well I hope it is something easily treatable. Good luck.

 

[lilspaz68]

Hope its just a small infection which can be treated rather than a puncture or an issue behind the eye.

Good luck!!

 

[mamarat]

Fingers crossed for your sweetie.