Cataracts

[maxapple]

When my pony's injections are due in July I am going to get the vet to have a good look at his eyes to see if he might have cataracts.

He has become more spookier than normal in the past year or so, and his reactions to things he spooks at are more 'violent' (i.e. he spins suddenly etc) He has always been highly strung / fizzy (he is a arab x welsh) but the spooking is a relatively new thing and his reaction to things he he scared of is quite strange.

My horse physio mentioned she had an eventer who was very similar who was diagnosed with cataracts.

Just wondered if any one had any experience of this?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

You should be able to see cataracts - they appear as milky patches on the cornea. Other eye problems you wouldn't necessarily be able to see but you cam do a very very basic startle test yourself that might give you an idea. Startle test is to bring your hand very fast towards your horse's eye. Obviously, stop before you hit him but let him think you're going to hit him. He should startle away from your hand. Check both eyes. Not definitive at all as some horses react to the movement of the air rather than purely visual clues. You could set up an obstacle course in your arena: place feed bags, pushchairs, mounting blocks, rugs, anything you can think of that's unusual, round the arena then walk your horse round (both reins) and observe his recations (ha ha!). You might see him trying to look at an unfamiliar object by moving his head around to use the other eye, in which case you've got some facts to work with. To be honest though, I'd be looking for more basic things to have triggered his unhappiness. Tack, back, teeth, change in feed, management, lost a friend, etc etc etc.

 

[ligiahag7902]

You should be able to see cataracts - they appear as milky patches on the cornea. Other eye problems you wouldn't necessarily be able to see but you cam do a very very basic startle test yourself that might give you an idea. Startle test is to bring your hand very fast towards your horse's eye. Obviously, stop before you hit him but let him think you're going to hit him. He should startle away from your hand. Check both eyes. Not definitive at all as some horses react to the movement of the air rather than purely visual clues. You could set up an obstacle course in your arena: place feed bags, pushchairs, mounting blocks, rugs, anything you can think of that's unusual, round the arena then walk your horse round (both reins) and observe his recations (ha ha!). You might see him trying to look at an unfamiliar object by moving his head around to use the other eye, in which case you've got some facts to work with. To be honest though, I'd be looking for more basic things to have triggered his unhappiness. Tack, back, teeth, change in feed, management, lost a friend, etc etc etc.

Thanks you for the post.

 

[maxapple]

Thank you for that post - thats really helpful.

I have had his back, teeth, shoes all done in the past 2 weeks (and have them all done regular as clockwork) and saddle so I know thats all fine.

The first time he spooked was at a stallion in a field opposite where we were hacking - he span and bolted and I flew off the side. Perhaps you are right and he just scared himself silly and it has made him more anxious. He's really good 99.9% of the time, just over reacts when he sees something and his tendancy is to run the other way.