Experiences of uveitis?

biggingerpony

biggingerpony

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 March 2009
Messages
899
Visit site
The big ginger pony was diagnosed today with uveitis in one eye :( Vet came out today (why are horses always poorly on a Sunday?!) as her eye was big and swollen with a few grey dots that was possible scar tissue from a previous ulcer.

To make matters more interesting she is currently being a fantastic foster mare for an orphan foal (she is SO maternal) so YO was trying to entertain the foal while vet was examining her!!

She is now on pupil dilating drops, steroids and bute and will be kept in for the next few days in a dark yard then will be turned out at night as I think the direct sunlight sets it off. Vet briefly explained that while we caught it early it is probable it will flare up again and can result in the loss of vision in that eye. So will have to be extra vigilant! She will wear a UV fly mask 24/7 to protect her eyes, and will be managed carefully. I was really upset today and I feel like I need a bit of moral support! I'm really interested to know what other peoples experiences of this were?
 
I have and I won't share with you as it was one of my worse equine based disasters it's a terrible condition I hope never to see again .
On the other hand a friends five year suffered an attack she was PTS in old age having never suffered again .
Travel hopefully .
 
The shire x I shared last year was put down because of uveitis, he was having repeat attacks though which weren't responding to meds and the vet and we felt he wouldn't cope with having eye removed. He was also starting to show signs of it in other eye too.

Sorry about your mare but I'm sure it won't be as bad as B's was xx
 
If it helps, my mare had an attack of this, I lost her 10 years later at 32, and she never had another flare up.

I was ultra cautious for 6 months afterwards using a UV mask etc.
 
My old boy had his eye removed before I had him due to uveitis. He coped fantastically with one eye and was my horse of a lifetime. He even coped when he lost sight in his other eye. So even if it comes to that, many horses have no problems adjusting.
 
The magazine British Horse did a article about Uveitis some time ago ,a man said he cured his horse feeding rose hips some one else who remembered his story said they had also cured their horse ,you can buy them dried ,and as they are probably not expensive would be worth a try.
Hope this may help .
 
I had one with it quite a while ago now, we used a UV resistant fly mask and I tried to turn her out at night as much as possible, she had 3 or 4 attacks in the 8 years that I had her ended with her losing the sight in her right eye, but apart from that she had a happy life still in ridden work until she was PTS due to an accident in the field, so there is hope and each case has it's own merits. I wouldn't have gone down the surgery route either.
 
We bought one with it, not much seems to set it off but it cycles and he never has much vision. We're not sure if it's painful so we're waiting till the season is over and probably taking the eye out. He's fine at the moment- competing in FEI driving in the wheel of a team, oddly goes best with his good vision on the inside of the team!?!
 
My old mare had had it, it only flared up when it was particularly sunny and we would give her steroid drops, after a few days it was always fine. i sold her about 18months ago and she's not had problems with it since apparently so don't despair!
 
Took the fly mask off the head of a fellow livery's horse and was greeted by a completely white eye! Such a shock, uveitis diagnosed and treated for a good six months but the decision was eventually made to remove the eye. Owner was devastated at first but just over twelve months later the mare is now doing more than ever - show jumping, XC, the lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top