Eye troubles

[fenshae]

Cleaning the cage today, I noticed that Ginji's eye was looking weird. I'm not positive how long it's been like this, but I sure didn't notice it until this evening so it must have been sometime after breakfast today. I couldn't get a picture to really turn out.

But his left eye is slightly swollen (not hugely, but slightly) and the eye itself is reddish and cloudy (it's normally black). I tried to get him to hold still long enough for me to get a really clear look at him. There was a small white "dot" near/on his pupil and I *think* there was a visible scratch -- it was hard to tell because he was squirming so bad.

My guess is he got into a fight with his brother over some food and got a claw in the eye.

Is this something that might resolve on its own/with nursing care or are we definitely looking at an enucleation? I haven't used a vet in town (I'm in Austin now) yet. I can take him on on Monday if I can find someone to take him (I did get one recommendation but it's about 20 miles away, still looking for a closer option), but I'm iffy about an enucleation being my first experience with an unknown vet unless it's my absolute last option. (because I have oh-so-wonderful surgery experiences already, ugh)

 

[victoria]

It sounds like an infection, it may be able to be resolved with antibiotics and not need surgery. Definitely worth trying meds before going the surgery route.

 

[fenshae]

Here we go. managed to get some pics. The lighting isn't that great and it was hard to get him to settle down long enough to photo.

Here's the eye.

And it's a little blurry, but here's both eyes for comparison.

There's maybe just a *little* swelling, but not much, and no discharge/rapid blinking/odor that I could detect. There's a little black dot, and then a white dot on that, and it almost seems to stick out. You can just barely make it out in the photo.

 

[hopefloats]

It almost looks like inside his eyes are bloody. I wouldn't say infection unless it smells but it looks injured.

 

[mamarat]

I use Polysporin eye drops and if that doesn't help it's vet time. It could be trauma to the eye.

 

[hopefloats]

I use Polysporin eye drops and if that doesn't help it's vet time. It could be trauma to the eye.

In the states we have to have a prescription for those.

 

[Dahlas]

I use Polysporin eye drops and if that doesn't help it's vet time. It could be trauma to the eye.

In the states we have to have a prescription for those.

over the counter here..... that is what I would try first...

 

[lilspaz68]

There's blood in the ocular bulb itself, could be due to several things but if you are seeing a possible injury that could be it as well. You will need to get drops or ointment so the eye doesn't dry out (if he's not blinking or closing his eye properly) and watch and wait to see if it resolves on its own. Be prepared to jump though.

 

[TheRatQueen]

Is he getting any 'film' on it?

And as everyone else is saying, get the gel from the vets.

 

[fenshae]

Well, good news: it's staying lubricated and the color is going back to normal, most of the swelling seems to be going down so overall it looks much better. It's looking kind of cloudy/milky instead of red. So far, so good I guess?

Where is the pupil usually oriented in the rat's eye, though? I can't say I've ever paid any attention because their eyes are all one color. But I can see what I assume is his pupil (it's a dark/black "dot" in the eye, anyway) but it seems to be off-center/toward the front of the eyeball. Then again maybe that's just because he was looking at me and I'm over-thinking this lol.

 

[lilspaz68]

Sounds like the blood is reabsorbing which is good...the milky could be from the injury and should pass as well. I take it his eye shape is still very normal? If so the eyeball wans't punctured and everything should heal in time

Pupil is in the middle

 

[fenshae]

Eye is mostly a normal size/shape, but there is a small part that seems to extrude. If you look at it from the top, it's like a bump on the surface of the eye -- sort of looks like a fold in a contact lens, except it's round. Viewed from the front it looks like a small hole, which I was mistaking for the pupil until I got him in different light.

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Hope his eye get's better!