First of all...all the oil is gone from my kitty's fur and he is fine, active and healthy.
That said...My cat was diagnosed with a small tear in his cornia. My regular vet referred him to another vet that as this piece of equipment...I forget the name, maybe one of the vets here can tell me. Something Spectulagraph ?? It's a hand held device that shines a purplish light into the kitties eye so the vet can get a good look at whats going on inside.
Anyways around this circular tear is surrounded a ring of scar tissue, which this vet thinks is preventing healing from occuring. I've had him on Adequan and Collyrium for the last month with no results. (I took him for a checkup today). This vet seems to think that if I don't spend $1000 for surgery to cut the injured portion out and (he said something about a graph but It kinda went over my head) that over time this tear could get worse and he could lose the eye (it's through to the second layer of the eye..forget the name).
Has anyone ever had this happen to their pet?? Is this vet trying to scare me into spending money unnecessarily? This vet is in a VERY rich part of town. I don't have $1000, but I know I can't live with not doing anything and letting my cat go blind in that eye or worse, losing the eye.
I'd get a second opinon but very few vets have this piece of equipment to diagnose the problem.
Help?? Am I being ripped off?
Kitty has a torn Cornia
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
I would ask your primary vet for a referral to a feline opthalmologist, providing the second vet wasn't already a specialist.
The only equipment I can determine you are referring to is first, the opthalmoscope, which is a hand-held device that has a light source and optic to indirectly examine the eye....common instrument in any clinic. Two, a biomicroscope, which is a more advanced piece of equipment, resembles a regular microscope but is designed specifically for opthalmology. It is also known as a slit-lamp....it allows the vet to get a stereoptic (three dimensional) image of the eye and behind it. The slit-lamp may not be available in every clinic.
Given the nature of the tear, I would seek a second opinion, and that being a feline opthalmologist specifically. Most feline opthalmologists are not more expensive than the general practitioner, unless they include a full state-of-the-art equipment arsenal, other imaging equipment and offer other specialized surgery (such as advanced, micro-surgery). Your vet should be able to refer you to a less-expensive opthalmologist based on his clientele's needs. Depending on the specific surgery, will depend on the price. $1000 may not be out of line for a specific surgery, but this should include a breakdown quote of the procedure, anesthesia, medications, etc. so that you know what is included in the price of the surgery.
The only equipment I can determine you are referring to is first, the opthalmoscope, which is a hand-held device that has a light source and optic to indirectly examine the eye....common instrument in any clinic. Two, a biomicroscope, which is a more advanced piece of equipment, resembles a regular microscope but is designed specifically for opthalmology. It is also known as a slit-lamp....it allows the vet to get a stereoptic (three dimensional) image of the eye and behind it. The slit-lamp may not be available in every clinic.
Given the nature of the tear, I would seek a second opinion, and that being a feline opthalmologist specifically. Most feline opthalmologists are not more expensive than the general practitioner, unless they include a full state-of-the-art equipment arsenal, other imaging equipment and offer other specialized surgery (such as advanced, micro-surgery). Your vet should be able to refer you to a less-expensive opthalmologist based on his clientele's needs. Depending on the specific surgery, will depend on the price. $1000 may not be out of line for a specific surgery, but this should include a breakdown quote of the procedure, anesthesia, medications, etc. so that you know what is included in the price of the surgery.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
None of the names you mentioned ring a bell. The reason I was referred in the first place was my vet was concerned that there might be a foreign body in his eye and she said this piece of equipment is the only way to know for certain.
It's white, has it's own stand. The vet flushes the cats eyes out first with various solutions, the main one being a yellowish liquid, then turns out the light in the room and shines this purplish light into my cats eye.
I guess what I really wanted to know is...can my cat really lose his eye to something like this or is the vet trying to scare me into spending for the surgery.
It's white, has it's own stand. The vet flushes the cats eyes out first with various solutions, the main one being a yellowish liquid, then turns out the light in the room and shines this purplish light into my cats eye.
I guess what I really wanted to know is...can my cat really lose his eye to something like this or is the vet trying to scare me into spending for the surgery.
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
This is why I suggest another opinion, ask your vet for a different referral. I'm sure he knows of other opthalmologists in your area he can refer you to.
Whenever the retina and cornea are involved, if there is a tear somewhere, the vet (or specialist) needs to find out the cause of the tear (in this case, resulting in scar tissue)....then they need to find out if there is a risk of the tear getting worse, or affecting other parts of the cornea. Tears are also susceptible to bacterial infections, so if infections have been problematic recently, then the surgery to correct it may be appropriate.
Different vets have different opinions. Where one may feel the tear is healing or does not present a risk of future problems, another may feel it very well could be a problem....this is mainly based on the vets' experience, knowledge of the eye, previous cases, knowledge of successful treatment. It is also your concern about price, so getting a second opinion will give you just that, a second opportunity for another opinion, another quote on surgical price if necessary, and another look at the cornea for further comments from the vet.
Talk to your own primary vet about your concerns, he is there for you and there to answer your questions, refer you when you request additional support.
Whenever the retina and cornea are involved, if there is a tear somewhere, the vet (or specialist) needs to find out the cause of the tear (in this case, resulting in scar tissue)....then they need to find out if there is a risk of the tear getting worse, or affecting other parts of the cornea. Tears are also susceptible to bacterial infections, so if infections have been problematic recently, then the surgery to correct it may be appropriate.
Different vets have different opinions. Where one may feel the tear is healing or does not present a risk of future problems, another may feel it very well could be a problem....this is mainly based on the vets' experience, knowledge of the eye, previous cases, knowledge of successful treatment. It is also your concern about price, so getting a second opinion will give you just that, a second opportunity for another opinion, another quote on surgical price if necessary, and another look at the cornea for further comments from the vet.
Talk to your own primary vet about your concerns, he is there for you and there to answer your questions, refer you when you request additional support.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
one good thing about the eys..when treated properly they have a great ability to heal...takes time but they often suprise you...
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
Ok I'll check with my family vet for a referal to another vet.
I remember when she referred me the last time, she said only like 3 vets in my part of the province (I'm Canadian) have this piece of equipment. The one that I took him too is about 20 mins away, and the second closest one is 40-45 minutes away, which is a long commute for kitty.
I'm willing to do it if need be. Hopefully the second opinion isn't as grim as the one I got.
The guy I went to today says that the scar tissue is a barrior to healing and that one day it WILL get worse, but how much worse nobody can say. My biggest fear is leaving it and then having it get to the point where he would lose his sight or his eye cause I dunno if I could live with the guilt of knowing I could have prevented it ya know.
Anyways thanks for the advice
I remember when she referred me the last time, she said only like 3 vets in my part of the province (I'm Canadian) have this piece of equipment. The one that I took him too is about 20 mins away, and the second closest one is 40-45 minutes away, which is a long commute for kitty.
I'm willing to do it if need be. Hopefully the second opinion isn't as grim as the one I got.
The guy I went to today says that the scar tissue is a barrior to healing and that one day it WILL get worse, but how much worse nobody can say. My biggest fear is leaving it and then having it get to the point where he would lose his sight or his eye cause I dunno if I could live with the guilt of knowing I could have prevented it ya know.
Anyways thanks for the advice
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
Well, look at it this way, if you see another vet, and that vet tells you the same thing as the other vet, and expresses the same concern, then chances are, the problem may need to be surgically corrected.
But, if the second vet doesn't have those same concerns, he should be able to tell you why, and why he isn't concerned with future problems (that should tell you somewhat about his level of experience). While it is possible for scar tissue to cause further problems down the road, it may not be as serious as to warrant surgery. This is where that second opinion comes in handy, you can then weigh your options, weigh the experience with both vets and make a better decision based on those factors.
I understand the decisions can sometimes be very difficult to make, but whenever you are hesitant, that second opinion is really helpful when faced with such decisions.
But, if the second vet doesn't have those same concerns, he should be able to tell you why, and why he isn't concerned with future problems (that should tell you somewhat about his level of experience). While it is possible for scar tissue to cause further problems down the road, it may not be as serious as to warrant surgery. This is where that second opinion comes in handy, you can then weigh your options, weigh the experience with both vets and make a better decision based on those factors.
I understand the decisions can sometimes be very difficult to make, but whenever you are hesitant, that second opinion is really helpful when faced with such decisions.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty has a torn Cornia
Ok update on PJ.
I took him for a second opinion today to a veternary Opthomologist. I think the first guy I took him to wasn't as the pets before me were not there for their eyes.
The dr I went to today is all about eyes, and even has a student from LA working with him.
Anyways I was told that PJ, in fact, does NOT need surgery right now. He did say that it is possible that down the road he might, but that there is no immediate need for it. He's not really sure what caused it, but seems to think it healed ok and that despite the mark on the cornia, PJ can see just fine. He did say that cause there is a little redness around the eye that PJ might have got a Herpes infection. He assured me that it can't be passed to Humans, but that IF he does have this that PJ would need drops for the rest of his life. PJ had some blood drawn and he's being tested for 4 things (don't recall the other 3), and he's going to call me with the results. I am VERY relieved that I don't have to shell out $1000. Todays $302 was MORE than enough.
I took him for a second opinion today to a veternary Opthomologist. I think the first guy I took him to wasn't as the pets before me were not there for their eyes.
The dr I went to today is all about eyes, and even has a student from LA working with him.
Anyways I was told that PJ, in fact, does NOT need surgery right now. He did say that it is possible that down the road he might, but that there is no immediate need for it. He's not really sure what caused it, but seems to think it healed ok and that despite the mark on the cornia, PJ can see just fine. He did say that cause there is a little redness around the eye that PJ might have got a Herpes infection. He assured me that it can't be passed to Humans, but that IF he does have this that PJ would need drops for the rest of his life. PJ had some blood drawn and he's being tested for 4 things (don't recall the other 3), and he's going to call me with the results. I am VERY relieved that I don't have to shell out $1000. Todays $302 was MORE than enough.