Good Thoughts for Cocoa

[meschatsetmoi]

Poor little Cookie had to go to the vet AGAIN today.  She's had so many problems since she was diagnosed with uveitis, almost two months ago now.  The vet thinks that all the eyedrops she's getting have irritated her throat and stomach, because she's been eating very little, vomiting a bit,  and was even a little dehydrated.  He did blood tests (

Comments

[cathouse_mary]

*hugs for her*

Is she presenting with glaucoma? Is she cleared from having toxoplasmosis, bartonella, feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia, and feline herpes virus?

Lucky's eye problems are a result of feline herpes virus, and post-surgery he underwent a course of antivirals and supplements to attack the virus and soothe the inflammation.

Ask your vet for a bag of fluids to bring home. It's summer and elderly cats sometimes need the extra help. I'll steer you to some good tutorials.

[meschatsetmoi]

She had glaucoma in her right eye at the beginning of all this. The ophthalmologist withdrew a sample of vitreous fluid, both to relieve pressure and for microscopic exam. She only showed inflammatory cells. The pressure has since returned to normal in that eye.

But, then, two weeks ago she started to show signs in her other eye. We are now treating both eyes the same, to try and avoid progression in her left eye. Next Thursday we have another appointment, so we will see where things stand.

And yes, she had major blood work done to rule out all the systemic diseases, and she was clear of them all.

Oh, and she did develop a case of herpesvirus about a month ago. She had upper respiratory symptoms and an ulcer in her right eye. She was placed on lysine.

How is Lucky now? How is his vision? How long did it take him to adapt after his surgery?

[cathouse_mary]

Lucky presented with sudden onset glaucoma that left him completely blind on his left eye, which was enucleated once we determined that there was no chance at restoring sight. Two years later, he presented with glaucoma in his right eye and a detached lens. The lens was surgically removed, the retina lasered to hold it in place and then the treatment began with antivirals, eyedrops and lysine.

He was not a candidate for lens replacement and today can discern light and dark, but not much else. He's comfortable, and adapted very quickly to his lack of vision. It was also more humane than the constant, ongoing round of medicines and the resulting stress. The pressure in the eye is normal, he's comfortable and his cuddly self.

He even runs around the house - bumps into things now and then, but he runs!

[meschatsetmoi]

Do you remember, did he lose his appetite at the beginning, when he was sick? That's been the worst thing. She doesn't eat very much any more. I thought, and the vet seems to agree, that she doesn't smell her food well, doesn't see well, the meds are a source of great stress, and her stomach may be a bit wonky. But it still worries me. What do you think?

Thanks, btw, for your comments. It is helpful to talk to someone who's been in a similar situation.

[cathouse_mary]

He did lose his appetite, but that's because he was in pain. After the enucleation, he had fluids at home and was eating pretty much from the getgo.

The meds came after the second surgery, and he also had fluids at home. He was eating by about the third or fourth day after surgery, but the antivirals were kind of rough on his stomach. I switched him to a special wet food for recuperating cats, and added vitamin supplements. He was back up to a normal weight very quickly.

Vitamins: Ark Natural's Feline Antioxidant Granular

Food: Royal Canin RS