Leaky eye socket

[rhapsody]

For some reason, "Mini-Eye"s empty eye socket is constantly porphy. Er, at least I think the socket is empty - can't really tell if he's got a micro eye in there.

Is this normal for one/micro-eyed rats? He's healthy otherwise ...

 

[jorats]

Usually they secrete porphyrin due to some kind of stress. He's new to you so that could be it for now. But I haven't any experience with micro eye. If lilspaz doesn't see this thread, I'd PM her, she's had a rat or two with micro eye.

 

[lilspaz68]

Well even if the eye was damaged or is a micro-eye, the harderian gland which produces the porphyrin will often continue to work. How does the eye socket smell? Is it just a little or a lot?

 

[mamarat]

I had a rat born with no eyes and he still produced porphyrin. Boo had no eyes in the sockets though.

 

[rhapsody]

This morning I stuck "Mini-Eye"s face in my nose and took several whiffs - couldn't detect any unusual smell. But then again, odors have to be rather potent (ie. fear poos) for my allergy-clogged nose to register them. Might ask the hubby to take a whiff when he comes home on Friday.

As far as the leakage goes, the fur around the socket is almost always damp with porph.

 

[handmeafish]

Don't rat eyes constantly produce poryph, but just to keep the eyes moist, and then they over produce in times of stress? Maybe if there isn't an eye to keep moist it might just leak? especially if is a birth defect (or mini eye) rather than surgery? Don't the surgens sew the lids closed? I don't really know, but that was my first guess when I read this.

What I do know tho, is that a rat I re-homed has a leaky eye, constantly. She was on ABS for about 6 months with no improvement. I thought it would settle down when she got into a good home, but it didn't (she went with some friends of mine) She's perfectly healthy other wise, and I consulted a number of vets and different people who thought maybe its just her.