Eye looks odd

[setterlover]

As they were in most of the day waiting for the vet I decided to put them out overnight and have done so since.
It seems to be working out well .They have got the pole barn open so can come back to shelter if they want and I do put haylege out there so there is food if they choose to come in and shelter.
Have ordered a UV mask for him ( if we ever get any sun,,)
The eye does look better and where there was a little light discharge / watering that appears to have stopped it's also less visible I think comparing it to the photos I have taken.
( I think I will photograph every week for comparison as it's often hard to remember what you saw)
I feel much less stressed over it now.
All we need now is some better weather!!!!

 

[Alibear]

Glad to hear that its all working and things are improving. Long may it last

 

[ycbm]

I'm really pleased things are looking good, and fascinated about what drug your vet may have injected as I can't find a reference to the study online. I have found a smaller study using Interferon AlphaB, which is hailed as ground breaking and will possibly transfer into human medicine, as it was used against eye tumours in horses first. Could you possibly take a look at your bill and let us know what the drug is?

I hope the progress continues.
.

 

[setterlover]

I must admit I will be interested to know the name of the drug but didn't concentrate on what he said. He logged into something on his phone to show me the study I think he said 9 were only injected he also rang another vet to discuss the dosage and frequency of usage.
He said it had also been used after surgery to help prevent grow back but they found use on its own was as effective as it helped the immune system to fight back whereas surgery can promote cell growth as the body tries to repair the incision site.
I offered to throw away the packaging but he cleared it up and took it with him!
I usually get the bill after about 2 weeks so will make a note of it when it comes.
To be honest I was a bit overwhelmed as I was expecting to encouraged to go for surgery.

 

[ycbm]

I must admit I will be interested to know the name of the drug but didn't concentrate on what he said. He logged into something on his phone to show me the study I think he said 9 were only injected he also rang another vet to discuss the dosage and frequency of usage.
He said it had also been used after surgery to help prevent grow back but they found use on its own was as effective as it helped the immune system to fight back whereas surgery can promote cell growth as the body tries to repair the incision site.
I offered to throw away the packaging but he cleared it up and took it with him!
I usually get the bill after about 2 weeks so will make a note of it when it comes.
To be honest I was a bit overwhelmed as I was expecting to encouraged to go for surgery.

I'm so pleased for you both that something new and effective is available.
.

 

[setterlover]

The drug he used was mitomycin
This what I have found about it .
Mitomycin affects how DNA is made in cancer cells, causing cell death. Since
cancer cells tend to divide faster and with less error-correcting than healthy cells, they are more sensitive to this damage. This cell damage slows or stops the growth of cancer cells

 

[ycbm]

The drug he used was mitomycin
This what I have found about it .
Mitomycin affects how DNA is made in cancer cells, causing cell death. Since
cancer cells tend to divide faster and with less error-correcting than healthy cells, they are more sensitive to this damage. This cell damage slows or stops the growth of cancer cells

Very interesting, thank you. From googling it that's an antibiotic but more usually used for cancer in humans. I hope it works well for you.
.

 

[Ricedance]

I had a tumor lasered off my oldie a few years ago on his tail and used micromycin after for 7 days on the rough wound if that makes sense. It’s never come back (spindle cell carinoma) it’s very good stuff!

 

[setterlover]

Vet was here today to do second lot of treatment. Two weeks after the first treatment .He says the tumour has shrunk considerably after 1 treatment .
He injected it again and when he was sedated and you pulled back the third eyelid you can see it is a lot smaller.
I have photographs of it before treatment and one taken one week after treatment one taken today. He wants me to photograph it every week (when I can) and send him a message with the set of photographs on 1st April (when I get back from holiday)off next week Cruising the Mediterranean for a couple of weeks escaping the grotty weather!
Lovely friend moving in to look after the animals.

 

[Fransurrey]

Fantastic news! Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[setterlover]

Lower image shot original photo top shot eye photographed this morning .
Definitely looks different perhaps less solid .
Have to WhatsApp the vet on 1/4 with the shots I have taken so far plus one taken on 1/4 to assess next visit.
Away at the weekend (off to the Mediterranean to escape this dreadful weather and recharge for a couple of weeks) lovely friend moving in to care for the animals.She has the vet on speed dial in case any big changes( his suggestion)
As he was only injected a week ago there is a little swelling at the bottom of the eye past injection that gradually disappeared after 2 weeks

 

[setterlover]

Waiting for the vet .The tumour appears to be growing again not at the corner but at the back as the eye is bulging more plus he seems to be walking awkwardly on all 4 feet. It could be neurological or
more likely to be Cushings given symptoms he has displayed over the last 6 months ( foot abscess coat growth) the vet didn't want to test as waiting to see how the eye treatment turned out.
We are assessing him this afternoon with a view to pts given his age (25) if it is low grade laminitis in all 4 feet due to Cushings I am not prepared to shut him in to treat the laminitis and make him miserable for what time he has left he adores being with the others and it would cause him great distress.
We have had a good couple of months so I may call it a day.Just add they are on very limited grazing and hay is weighed plus only out dusk until dawn as vet wanted him out of sunlight so corralled on a massive (75 ft by 20 ft) shady pole barn together with hay weighed during daylight.

 

[AmyMay]

We’ll be thinking of you x

 

[Orangina]

Thinking of you, sorry to hear this x

 

[setterlover]

After a long discussion with the vet there is a lot going on with him as well as the eye which has definitely got worse and is now behind the eye as well as in the corner after the initial improvement
We have decided to call it a day.She has dosed him up with bute by injection so he is a lot more comfortable and will come out tomorrow afternoon to PTS.
I have sorted out disposal for tomorrow late afternoon/evening and we are going to walk him down to one of the fields which is full of grass so he can go stuffing his face with grass!
He deserves to have a dignified death with me by his side loved to the very end.
Not all horses get that.

 

[AmyMay]

Sorry the outcome isn’t better. He’ll have the send off he deserves though

 

[Cortez]

I'm so sorry it is his time, but you know you're doing right by him. He's a lucky boy.

 

[View]

So sorry that you will lose a friend, but I hope you can find comfort that he is going with dignity and peace.

Wishing that tomorrow goes as easily as it can.

 

[SilverLinings]

I am so sorry to hear that you will be loosing your horse @setterlover, it sounds like you tried hard to look after him but the bad side of advancing years has caught up with him. I hope that tomorrow goes as well as can be hoped and that he enjoys having a stomach full of spring grass. He is a lucky horse to have an owner who puts his needs before their own desire to delay facing the loss.

 

[setterlover]

Thanks everyone it never gets any easier but it's the right thing to do.
I hope the gang of two who are left will cope with his loss although they do tend to be together a lot they did always like to have him around for when they wanted a quiet stand and mutual groom session with him.
Mind you they are 19 and 24 so I could be going down this PTS rabbit hole again but hopefully they will both go on for a few more years.
I do feel at peace with decision .

 

[oldandgold]

So sorry that you are having to say goodbye - devastating for you, but the ultimate show of love letting him go. Take care, will be thinking of you tomorrow

 

[Hobo2]

You sound like the sort of owner that a horse is lucky to have. It sounds a lovely and kind final day for him. Take care.

 

[ycbm]

After a long discussion with the vet there is a lot going on with him as well as the eye which has definitely got worse and is now behind the eye as well as in the corner after the initial improvement
We have decided to call it a day.She has dosed him up with bute by injection so he is a lot more comfortable and will come out tomorrow afternoon to PTS.
I have sorted out disposal for tomorrow late afternoon/evening and we are going to walk him down to one of the fields which is full of grass so he can go stuffing his face with grass!
He deserves to have a dignified death with me by his side loved to the very end.
Not all horses get that.

Every horse deserves an owner like you.
.

 

[BMA2]

What a wonderful end...stuffing his face. Beautiful

Take care xx

 

[Fransurrey]

Really sorry to read this sad update. Hope it goes smoothly tomorrow. My old boy went stuffing his face, too. Not a bad way to go. Massive hugs. x

 

[Pinkvboots]

So sorry xx

 

[Fjord]

I'm so sorry it wasn't a happier outcome. You are a considerate owner, putting his needs first. Sending massive hugs xxx

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

So sorry. Doing the right thing comes sadness. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

 

[Reacher]

Sorry to hear your update, you have done the best for him . I hope he enjoys his grass. Thinking of you

 

[setterlover]

Sorry to hear your update, you have done the best for him . I hope he enjoys his grass. Thanking of you

He will , he has always been inclined to getting fat so on restricted grazing he will certainly think all his Christmas's have come at once!
Day 2 of horizontal horrendous rain could do without this to content with looks like I'm going to get very wet.
After the Bute injection he looks a lot brighter keep having to tell myself it's just the Bute .