Cat Eye Ulcer

[HollyWoozle]

Following on from an earlier thread, our cat Eddie is having isathal eye drops (fusidic acid) for an eye ulcer. This has been ongoing for about 3 weeks now and we last saw the vet on Tuesday who agreed it has decreased hugely (it’s probably 90% better) but there is a stubborn little patch. We are booked in again on Monday and are persevering with drops until then.

Next option (assuming it’s not gone on Monday) is to sedate and debride the ulcer, after which the vet says they usually heal very quickly. I am going in tomorrow to ask more information but has anybody had a cat with an eye ulcer that took ages to heal or which had to be debrided?

I feel so sorry for Eddie as weeks of drops is so miserable but I assume the debriding is also awful and that we’d have to continue drops afterwards? I’m also leaving home on Wednesday PM for a work trip and not home for 11 days, feeling worried about it as my partner finds the drops more difficult to administer. I am wondering if I should just change the Monday appt to debriding already and then it’ll be done and I would have 48 hours of care time with him before handing over to my other half. I can see tonight that it doesn’t look much different to Tuesday.

 

[Shady]

I would probably delay as there are two types of debridement and one is more invasive. After care will be really important but success rate is very high

I have limited ulcer experience but I do know that eye antibiotics don't last long once administered, which is why it's vitally important that they are given properly ( not for a moment saying you haven't). I know first hand how difficult it is with a reluctant cat and I dread having to give ointment even more than drops

I bought a Siamese kitten and just before she was due to leave home she got a scratch and it ulcerated badly. There was talk of having to stitch the third eyelid over to protect the eye so it could heal , but luckily she responded to antibiotic eye drops. I did have to give her Yellox eye drops for a week when she arrived and you will certainly have to continue with some sort of eye med for a time afterwards
Poor Eddie. I hate eye problems, so you have my sympathy. He will heal ,so hang in there a little longer . xx

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks so much for your kind reply @Shady . The vets will call me later to explain what sort of debridement it would be, just to know the options better. We're now 23 days into drops and I can still see a small mark on his eye this morning but it is very tiny (original ulcer was 8mm!). We have successfully administered drops twice, if not three times, everyday since then but it becomes harder to do and he hides from my partner now if he thinks he will do them.

I am just panicking because if it hasn't healed come Monday then my partner will have to take him for the debridement when I'm away, whereas if I decided now I can get him booked in for Tuesday.

Perhaps I am jumping the gun, thank you for your reassurance. I will really try with the drops 3 x a day over the weekend and lots of treats and I am sure it will work out. As you know it's just so soul-destroying upsetting them over and over! Really feel for him and he is the sweetest, kindest boy.

 

[Shady]

Thanks so much for your kind reply @Shady . The vets will call me later to explain what sort of debridement it would be, just to know the options better. We're now 23 days into drops and I can still see a small mark on his eye this morning but it is very tiny (original ulcer was 8mm!). We have successfully administered drops twice, if not three times, everyday since then but it becomes harder to do and he hides from my partner now if he thinks he will do them.

I am just panicking because if it hasn't healed come Monday then my partner will have to take him for the debridement when I'm away, whereas if I decided now I can get him booked in for Tuesday.

Perhaps I am jumping the gun, thank you for your reassurance. I will really try with the drops 3 x a day over the weekend and lots of treats and I am sure it will work out. As you know it's just so soul-destroying upsetting them over and over! Really feel for him and he is the sweetest, kindest boy.

HollyWoozle I should have written a more detailed reply but I had to get one of my own cats to the vet and suddenly realised i'd been dawdling and time had run away
I'm sure by now you have spoken to the vets and he/she has explained the two types of debridement and you have formulated a plan between you .
I know that I had to wait a month before the ulcer cleared and my kitten was given the go ahead to leave the breeder, and that was only because I was experienced enough to continue the eye meds for another week.
Fingers crossed for you . Id like to know how you get on Hollywoozle x

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thank you very much, @Shady. I appreciate your interest. Is your cat who went to the vets OK?

Our plan now is to go to the vets on Monday morning - if the ulcer is totally gone or significantly improved from the last visit then we will come home, if not then he will stay all day for the debridement. I’ll still have 48 hours of after care before I leave and my partner takes over. I will really try hard with the drops over the weekend and see if we can get there enough to avoid the procedure.

Pic of lovely Eds yesterday morning. He is a senior rescue who waited 5 months to be chosen, but I love him more than anything and feel privileged that he is ours.

 

[Shady]

Thank you very much, @Shady. I appreciate your interest. Is your cat who went to the vets OK?

Our plan now is to go to the vets on Monday morning - if the ulcer is totally gone or significantly improved from the last visit then we will come home, if not then he will stay all day for the debridement. I’ll still have 48 hours of after care before I leave and my partner takes over. I will really try hard with the drops over the weekend and see if we can get there enough to avoid the procedure.

Pic of lovely Eds yesterday morning. He is a senior rescue who waited 5 months to be chosen, but I love him more than anything and feel privileged that he is ours.

View attachment 111447

Oh he is beautiful HollyWoozle. Love his nose markings. Thank god you came along to give him a wonderful new life
That is an excellent plan and the one I should have suggested discussing with the vet ,and realised I hadn't as I turned off the laptop and went off hunting for my errant Gremkitty.

Vet visit was for the start of investigating a digestive issue . First bloods came back normal which made me want to burst into tears as I was worried about kidney failure. Next step poo tests and a more indepth blood test. Luckily vet costs here are amazingly low, so nobody needs insurance and you can pay as you like.

Keeping my fingers firmly crossed for you and Eds and hope your weekend of giving the drops goes well. Good luck for Monday . x

 

[HollyWoozle]

I hope all goes well for your kitty and I’m pleased to hear the first tests came back clear! Great news about the vet fees too, that’s such a relief and really allows you to investigate thoroughly.

We’d always find the money for him somehow and Eddie is insured, but we’re at least £1500 down thanks to vet fees for him over the last month or two (hoping to reclaim some but still waiting for insurers) and the debridement adds another £400

Sadly I think it will come to that as I can still see the ulcer in the right light. It’s so frustrating as his eye doesn’t seem sore and he seems to comfortable and cheery in himself, apart from being afraid of eye drop time.

 

[Shady]

I hope all goes well for your kitty and I’m pleased to hear the first tests came back clear! Great news about the vet fees too, that’s such a relief and really allows you to investigate thoroughly.

We’d always find the money for him somehow and Eddie is insured, but we’re at least £1500 down thanks to vet fees for him over the last month or two (hoping to reclaim some but still waiting for insurers) and the debridement adds another £400

Sadly I think it will come to that as I can still see the ulcer in the right light. It’s so frustrating as his eye doesn’t seem sore and he seems to comfortable and cheery in himself, apart from being afraid of eye drop time.

View attachment 111522

Such a gorgeous face ! Yes I can see the eye isn't quite right. I'm assuming from impact damage and not viral/infection ?
I cannot even begin to imagine paying the sort of vet fees you do . I'd already left the UK before they started to rise so dramatically. Even seeing a specialist here is not a lot more
xx

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thank you for the good wishes and sorry for the slow reply - I’m at the station ready to start my journey to Ecuador for a work trip and last few days have been manic.

Eddie had the procedure on Monday and a piece of loose corneal tissue came away. I’ve really worked hard with the drops in the last 48 hours or so and now my partner will take over and do his best His next appointment is on Monday and hopefully that will be it done and dusted. Then we can worry about his weird claw

When I said goodbye this evening he was curled up on the bed and seemed alright. I hope he and my partner get on OK, but they are buddies and I’m sure will manage.

Thanks again for your support @Shady

 

[Shady]

Thank you for the good wishes and sorry for the slow reply - I’m at the station ready to start my journey to Ecuador for a work trip and last few days have been manic.

Eddie had the procedure on Monday and a piece of loose corneal tissue came away. I’ve really worked hard with the drops in the last 48 hours or so and now my partner will take over and do his best His next appointment is on Monday and hopefully that will be it done and dusted. Then we can worry about his weird claw

When I said goodbye this evening he was curled up on the bed and seemed alright. I hope he and my partner get on OK, but they are buddies and I’m sure will manage.

Thanks again for your support @Shady

Oh please don't apologise!
I'm very touched that you took the time to reply and pleased to hear that the procedure produced results. I wasn't sure if the vet was gridding it with a fine needle or using a more gentle approach with a cotton bud. No matter, the job is done and i'm sure lovely Eds will do well now. I was thinking about him this morning funnily enough as I had to get up at 5am and follow the medically challenged Oriental around the house ready to scoop up a poop before he buried it under cat lit. Mission accomplished at 7.30 !
I'm sure your partner will manage HW. Enjoy your work trip and take care. x

 

[HollyWoozle]

Oh gosh, we animal people are all mad really, aren’t we?

They started the debridement with a cotton bud but had to use a scalpel blade in the end The eye looks pretty good though!

I’ll report in when back from my adventure and hopefully he has perfect peepers. Best wishes to your feline friends too

 

[HollyWoozle]

I said I'd report back and got waylaid!

The debridement went well but there was a small black dot which they could not remove... they say it is not a foreign body. My partner did a great job with eye drops whilst I was away and Eddie was seen late April. Vets agreed drops a few more days then we could stop.

Fast forward to late May and I can still see the mark on his eye where the ulcer was. Sometimes that eye is a little puffy around it (but it sometimes was even before the ulcer) and last few days it has been a bit runny. Am cleaning it twice a day and hoping the ulcer doesn't make a comeback, but for now he seems chirpy and it's nothing like before.

If he has to go back then I don't really know what the next step would be... will have to cross that bridge then.

Thanks again for the good wishes and support. He means so much to me and I just want him to be happy and healthy.

 

[Shady]

Well that does sound much better HW and I'd probably monitor for now unless it gets worse. . I've one with an occasional runny eye due to a virus when young. If he's happy and not messing with it then that's a good sign . If he starts squinting and over blinking you'll have to go back to the vet
Next step would really depend on the nature of the spot and whether he's already been seen by a specialist. There are always more options HollyWoozle so don't over stress . xx

 

[HollyWoozle]

Well, here we are again. I'm just back here to remind myself that I complained about drops two or three times a day... after a £300 specialist ophthalmology appointment this morning Eddie has SIXTEEN rounds of eye drops for the next 48 hours. Thank god we're at the weekend and I can hit the gin!

New ulcer appeared as carry over from previous issue but specialist is sure this will fix it and he won't need surgery (I was half expecting them to remove his eye)... so I am counting my blessings and buying him all sorts of gifts!

 

[Shady]

Well, here we are again. I'm just back here to remind myself that I complained about drops two or three times a day... after a £300 specialist ophthalmology appointment this morning Eddie has SIXTEEN rounds of eye drops for the next 48 hours. Thank god we're at the weekend and I can hit the gin!

New ulcer appeared as carry over from previous issue but specialist is sure this will fix it and he won't need surgery (I was half expecting them to remove his eye)... so I am counting my blessings and buying him all sorts of gifts!

I was only thinking about you and Eddie yesterday as I saw a post on a fb cat group regarding an eye infection
I did wonder if you'd need to see an eye specialist from your last post, but I do try to stay positive, rather than assume the worst!. Specialists tend to hit problems in a different and more full on way, different / stronger drugs given sometimes too. Keeping all crossed for you. xxx

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thank you, @Shady! We managed all 16 rounds of drops yesterday and he still came for a bedtime cuddle. His eye does look a bit better already so I’m keeping everything crossed!