Going blind ?

missnikki · Aug 12, 2012

I know PEWs are pretty much blind to begin with however my one boy Dewey's one eye is turning almost clear or white sortof ... is that a cataract? I just noticed this the other day. He is still doing fine in all aspects and does not act like it is affecting him at all. I will try and get an appointment with my vet soon but would like your opinions.

He just turned 1 year old the other day. His brother is the same age and has no issues with his eyes that I have noticed.

hopefloats · Aug 12, 2012

finley has had that cloudiness since he was 9 weeks old he is now well over a year. It can be caused by injury. My rats that have it have adjusted very well.

jorats · Aug 12, 2012

Could be a cataract. If there are no other symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it.

fumblesquid · Aug 13, 2012

One of my rats has this and the vet said that it could be pus or cholesterol, and I think this makes sense because it comes and goes.

I remember he said something about a strain of rats from a certain laboratory that all had diabetes and high cholesterol, and how he wonders if my rat (and others he's seen) is related to the rats from there.

The pus would have been from a respiratory infection that spread, but that has since healed and the cataract-looking eye remains.

I wouldn't worry about it, personally

lilspaz68 · Aug 13, 2012

If the entire eye is gray/cloudy you have something more like an injury or glaucoma etc. If the eye is only gray over the pupil then you have cataracts.

missnikki · Nov 2, 2012

Almost his entire eye is white and I know he cannot see out of it because he always turns his head and uses his good eye to look at me when I come to play or feed them. So far this has not effected him at all other than always turning his head to get a better look at stuff. He's my blind-ish boy.