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Strange eye problem

My cat came home with a hugely swollen left eye/face/jaw.No visible external wounds.He didn't eat,drink or move for 3 days.We couldn't afford a vet, so I've been giving him antibiotics at home, as well as eye droppering water into him.His demeanor has improved and he is eating again, but his eye is still huge and as it was swollen open for so long (still is,with the pink meat over half of it) it seems to be "dead" now.It looks plastic and he can't see from it at all. It's really freaky looking and obviously he can't be enjoying it either. What can we do for him here at home?And other than an injury, could this have been caused by something else? I don''t know, a stroke? Or brain thing? He's lost weight recently, and seems to have a skin condition as well. He's really a mess, but I love him anyway!
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587315 tn?1333552783
You should post the pic on the "ask a vet" forum, it's also on Medhelp.  I've had cats for over 30 yrs, and I have never seen anything like the eye problem that your cat has.  I have seen an ulcer before, it looked like a small white area on the eyeball near the pupil.  I saw no red meat or anything like that.  This is definitely NOT an ulcer.  It also looks more than just an infected eyelid.  It looks like the eye has been punctured, which if this is the case, the eye needs to be removed.  The injury is WAY too close to the brain.  You definitely don't want infection to go there.  I am glad that you're giving him antibiotics, but eventually they'll stop working when the open wound keeps getting exposed to germs(outside dirt, litter boxes, etc).  Right now, I can tell that your cat is treatable.  But, unfortunately if the eye doesn't come out soon, then it may become life threatening.

I don't know about the vets that you have talked to, but the ones in my area take post-dated checks, and a special plan called Care Credit(only for animal care).  My vets have refused to put a healthy animal to sleep, from some of the stories that they've told me about.  And, NO, I do not believe in putting a healthy, treatable animal to sleep.  If you let this go another 2 weeks, you may not get a choice.  
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
Okay...that's an ulcerated eye, it's not, actually, as bad as I thought (maybe) believe it or not.

What are you giving him for an antibiotic? It should be amoxicillian (I can't speak for other med's, if it's human med's. Amox is what's used for cats, or rather, one of the med's  used).

I'd mega dose him to start (about 15 mg's per pound of weight) but that's me. A vet would probably do about 5-10 mg's per pound of weight. After a day of that, (twice a day) I'd bring kitty down to a more normal dose (5 mg's) (twice daily). Now, the problem here is what type of med your using. These are very rough amounts, since i'm not sure on what type you've got there...liquid, powder, brand, etc...

there is an eye ointment you can get at the vet. You could try asking the outreach if they can just get you a tube of the stuff (say you'll pay for the med, it's about 10-20 dollars) that would help. But the antibiotic is what's key.

Likely, that eye will be blind, or have a major cast in it if you can get the infection down. I was picturing an eye that was a black orb...what you've got there is an infected area, with an infected inner eye lid (why you've got that red area along the bottom) that's swelled.
A vet would likely charge you $65-85 for the visit and the meds, depending on your area...which , if you don't have, you don't have.

Keep in mind that i'm not a vet, this is my layman's experience in dealing with this sort of thing. You always take a risk with a layman, especially over the internet.

If his mood has improved, than there's a good chance the antibiotic is working, and the infection is receding. Which means, just keep doing what you're doing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I posted a pic of the awful eye in my user profile. It's truly heart breaking.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I did find one "outreach program" but they were over taxed and couldn't help. The eye has not been punctured. I think it was so swollen around the eye that he just couldn't close it and it then dried out? He is obviously already blind as the eye doesn't respond to light or movement.Wish this forum would let me post a pic? When we finally get him all fixed up again, maybe we could fashion a nifty eye patch and he can be the "tough guy" of the block!

Thanks for your help.
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
She's right, don't put anything in the eye. If I'm right about what's happening, there's nothing that can be done to save it. Likely the cornea has detached and the ocular fluid in the eye is the equivalent of polluted. The best thing you can do is medicate when the infection recurs (which it will, over and over until the situation is resolved).

basically, if you see an excess of weeping (gunk, infectious material) then be prepared to dose kitty with antibiotics.

Have you tried googling for any local rescue groups? Or your local aspca? If any organization exists in the area, they'd know about it. I live in a city area so there's usually something about you can access (service wise). But in the suburbs or small towns...it's another story. You may have to travel a bit, which will likely entail lying (generally these groups will only service animals in the immediate area).


As a bit of revenge, I've been contemplating starting an "Un-Humanitarian of the Year" award (and Humanitarian as well, the good ones should get recognition as well).

In it would be listed the names and addresses of any vets who refuse to work out some sort of emergency service with a patient in need. If I get a few folks interested in the idea, and the site allows it, I'll go ahead with it.
     It would be satisfying for us to have some outlet with this kind of situation. the only way we're going to change things if there's some form of accountability for people's actions, and this is a way to do it.
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Unfortuantely, vets can be @#*! holes, it's easy for them to turn you down on the phone.  I swear, if you actually just show up with him, they will not turn you down.  Try that.  If they SEE him, they will feel bad for him and take him in.

And, I would not put anything in his eye if the eye has been punctured-and I'm not sure if neosporin is safe to put in the eye.  I'd be to scared it would cause more damage, who knows if that would blind him.  I've used neo on the body before, but not the eye.

I'd go to the "ask a vet" forum before I put the neo in his eye.

Good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've called every vet in our small town and no one is even willing to make payment arrangements."Payment in full at time of service".... personality wise he seems back to normal. Eating well and talking and purring.We don't get paid for a bit, so in the mean time I'm making sure he's comfortable, and still giving the antibiotics.Would it help to put anything on the eye? I don't know...neosporin or something????

Thanks!
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
I'm assuming you're in america (both of you). What you don't seem to understand is there's no such thing as free health care for pets. Heck, there's no such thing as free health care for PEOPLE anymore (government health care doesn't count. You could have gotten better medical help in the 1800's...or about the same).

So when a person loses their job or are in financial difficulty (in this country, can't speak for others) you are, essentially, screwed.

Dropping a cat off at a vet,  aspca, or shelter without paying will get

A: The cat destroyed (killed).


B: you possibly arrested and charged with a number of crimes. (the only way to avoid this is to say it ISN'T your cat, you just found it in the street, and are dropping it off for them to deal with (ie; kill).

Many shelters have camera systems set up in the parking lot so they can catch people dumping cats on film, get their license plates, and report them accordingly.

By your logic, zodiacqueen, the second a person loses their job and are out of money, they should have every pet and child in the family put down (killed) since they can't afford to take care of them.

*shrug* maybe you're right. I don't know, that's not my judgement call. But as someone who has been incredibly wealthy, as well as incredibly poor (thank you, George Bush!), I can safely tell you;


LIFE IS NEVER THAT EASY.

I'm sorry if you're offended but when you pass judgement on others, you risk being judged yourself. You sound like someone who cares about others, animals as well as people, and that empathy can sometimes block your view of the realities and frustrations of life.


---------------------------------

As to the cat...that eye is effectively dead. It will have to come out, ZQ is right about that.

Now, if you keep an eye on it (so to speak) and watch for swelling and infection, you can medicate with antibiotics to keep the swelling down. But I won't lie to you, it's probably going to be (at the least) a somewhat uncomfortable existence.

But, kitty can surivive it, if you're both willing. People survive with debilitating diseases their whole life. Someone gets a diagnosis of parkinson's and we don't take them down to the hospital to have 'em put down.

So...if i was you, I'd start calling about the area to find any vet or service that offers low cost/payment plan/ or subsidised vet treatment (some areas have them (there are beacons in the dark noght, so to speak), and depending on your income you may qualify. Ironically, the poorer you are, the better the chance).

Because that eye will have to come out, the sooner the better. The longer kitty is like that and you have to keep giving her antibiotics, the greater the chance kitty will develop an antibiotic resistance.

Keep in mind, there's also a chance the eye will shrivel up on it's own...or that this problem will kill your cat.

So...good luck, and let us know what happens.

Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
It would not cost you ANY money to drop the cat off-you might have to take him to multiple vets.  This could be life threatening.  He needs to be seen ASAP!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For the record, I love my pet very much and I'm sorry that you can't understand encountering  financial troubles. I'm heart broken about his condition and I appreciate your sincere effort to be helpful. It never occured to me to become a thief and liar to get him medical attention.I have 3 broken teeth right now that hurt like heck.Think it'll work if I tell the dentist they aren't mine?
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Nothing bothers me more than seeing these posts  This is the second one I have seen on this forum.  If you can't afford your animals, then why have them?  Most of the owners that are on this forum are awesome-YOU are obviously NOT one of them.  What the H is wrong with you?  Are you just going to let the cat suffer?

How would you like to have your face swollen for days, unable to eat, with your eye swollen open for days on end?   SOUND FUN TO YOU???

There is nothing that you can do for him at home, he might've gotten hit by a car and needs urgent attention before he loses his eye.

If you have any timy bit of heart at all, you'll take him to any vet and YOU tell them that you found him like that and DON T say that he's yours, otherwise you might have to pay.  Once a vet actually sees, in person how injured he is, they won't be able to turn him away.  He'll be able to get the help that he needs and DESERVES!!!
Helpful - 0
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