Horse eye removal

McNally

McNally

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We have decided sadly and difficultly ( tho getting easier and more obvious) to have our ponies eye removed. I know this is not really the issue here so please don't jump on me! What would be the recovery time? My poor little girl broke him herself last year and has just had pc membership for her birthday. Friends have rallied round to provide transport help etc and they are doing so well, loads of little shows etc planned but all going to have to be canceled. She does understand why this has to happen but it's not helping she's devastated and we just want to be back to normal. They don't deserve this it's breaking my heart.
 
As with everything recovery time will vary from horse to horse.

I would have a chat with your vet. If I can ask, for what reason is the eye being removed? As the current 'state' of the eye may have a bearing on how much time it takes the horse to adjust to having only one eye. Sometimes the horse has had severely limited or no vision in the eye for a while, therefore they take much less time to adjust.

Janette on here has experience of this and I am sure she would be happy to discuss the recovery time etc with her.
 
Ok thankyou- I am going to speak to the vet again on Monday I just wondered if anyone had the answer now! He suffers with uveitis (sp) and has done for years. Usually I treat it and hes ok within days this bout is in it's third week. He's in pain and we are struggling to control it. Obviously can't be certain but we think he has lost the vision already.
 
I have a shetland who had an eye removed because of recurrent eye infections after an accident, she had it removed and for about a week after she was bumping into things but made a fantastic recovery ! she now "looks" at me from the side without the eye almost like she can still see me from that side. They are amazing at overcoming a disability that a human would struggle with.

Her quality of life improved greatly ! Good luck with your pony.
 
No idea of how long healing takes etc but have been almost in your shoes and the decision was taken to take out the eye if no improvement in a couple of weeks of having the tube put in.

Fairly certain you can get a false eye if its going to be a problem looks wise
 
No it's not a problem to us at all. He's beautiful and always will be, it's the vet actually who's advised holding off a bit due to cosmetic reasons not us.
 
Is the eye defo knackered??

If its not and you have not tried it yet - get the tube fitted. Mine had it for about a month before the tube was put in and then had the tube in for two months

Mine had not had it before so had not had the repeated attaks damaging the eye everytime though.

If it ever happened again the tube would be straight in - no messing about

Good luck what ever happens
 
Does the tube stay in? The damage was done previous to us having him sadly- yes the eye is knackered, it's cloudy and in our vets opinion if nothing at all can be seen looking into the eye then nothing can be seen looking out of it either.
 
I'm sorry to sound unsympathetic, but if the poor pony is already virtually blind in that eye and it's in pain, why are you all so 'devastated' and upset by this? It's for the pony's good. It's only an eye, you aren't chopping one of it's legs off, for goodness sake. I've known several one-eyed horses and they've all done absolutely fine and done exactly the same work as two-eyed horses.

Perhaps you need to get your own emotions back in hand instead of breaking your heart over nothing really much - the pony hasn't died, it can still work as normal, your daughter will be fine - and set a good example to your child instead of indulging her over-reaction, and then you'll all deal with it better.

I know sound awful. But no one likes to put an animal through an operation, but it's not a normal reaction to be devastated and breaking your heart over it, when it's going to improve the animal's life a zillion %, is low-risk, and has a quick recovery time.
 
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My daughter is 12 years old and yes she's very very upset. At the vets advice we have tried our best to treat him leaving removal as my last option. I purely posted on here as last night I could think of nothing else. The surgery was closed and I wondered if anyone had any experience. I find your comments incredibly unfair. I guess you probably wouldn't give a damn if your horse lost his eye? I'm not asking if he should have it removed am I? I asked about the recovery time that's all. What was I supposed to do, treat him for a day or so then whip it out against veterinary advice? Maybe best think before you speak, re read a post then if you can't be constructive don't bother to reply at all
 
Do you know what nona1 after reading thru my posts again and your reply, mine clearly state my child (yes she's a child, she loves her pony dearly and is gutted he's not well what an awful kid she must be!) I think your an absolute bitch and I seriously hope one day when you need someone you get a reply like that
 
McNally said:
Do you know what nona1 after reading thru my posts again and your reply, mine clearly state my child (yes she's a child, she loves her pony dearly and is gutted he's not well what an awful kid she must be!) I think your an absolute bitch and I seriously hope one day when you need someone you get a reply like that
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There are so many people around exactly like that and I thought her post was really quite rude... people can be gutted over anything if they have a passion for it.... it seems nona has never had a passion for anything. I don't think you, or your child, are over reacting at all, it's a very valid reason to be upset, and you weren't saying whether the pony's eye should be removed or not, so nona1's comment is invalid in my eyes :D
 
I had Star's eye removed exactly a year ago because of cancer. 7 weeks later she was placed at a local level dressage. We started showing again, later in the season, and were placed everytime out. Don't cancel everything. Give yourself something to aim for.


The immediate post-op period was dodgy, bumping into the side of her stable door but I padded it with foam and now she's fine.
 
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nona1 said:
I'm sorry to sound unsympathetic, but if the poor pony is already virtually blind in that eye and it's in pain, why are you all so 'devastated' and upset by this? It's for the pony's good. It's only an eye, you aren't chopping one of it's legs off, for goodness sake. I've known several one-eyed horses and they've all done absolutely fine and done exactly the same work as two-eyed horses.

Perhaps you need to get your own emotions back in hand instead of breaking your heart over nothing really much - the pony hasn't died, it can still work as normal, your daughter will be fine - and set a good example to your child instead of indulging her over-reaction, and then you'll all deal with it better.

I know sound awful. But no one likes to put an animal through an operation, but it's not a normal reaction to be devastated and breaking your heart over it, when it's going to improve the animal's life a zillion %, is low-risk, and has a quick recovery time.
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completely unecessary.
 
Firstly thankyou Amy567 I really appreciate your reply x. Janette! I was trying to pm you but only have my phone and can't work out how! How did it all work? Say from the day the operation was done til she came home, was allowed out (am assuming box rest) and started work again? Did she have her eye packed? I've been given the choice. Did you have to clean the socket? Sorry so many questions! Im itching for the vets to open! I'm sorry about your horse, that must have been hard going, at least I've always known we had a problem. I'm happy for you things are now going well x
 
I know this isn't very helpful as I don't know about caring for the eye afterwards etc but I have ridden two riding school ponies with only one eye (one before and after the operations) and they are both lovely ponies and have no trouble getting around and being ridden etc. :)
 
Faith restored in the forum! Thankyou so much for 2 lovely helpful messages. I'm trying to suss out this replying business but until then am very very grateful to you x
 
Is nona1 known as a MC? Totsly unnecessary reply, and I don't think anyone is breaking their heart except a small child who loves her pony and is finding it a big worry.

So grow up , and stop sniping
 
Hi sorry to hear about your situation, mine is not quite the same but thought it may help a little.

My 3 yr old tb went away for backing last year, before she was backed she had an explosion on the lunge and threw herself out of the arena and down a huge drop and smashed her eye. It was a mess, loads of treatment etc.
While she has kept her eye for cosmetic reasons like yours, she is blind in it as the optic nerve is no longer attached to her eye. So she doesnt even know she has it.

She has adapted very very well, had the odd scrape on her face but she's been blind 10 months now and I am riding her in walk and trot. She i not headshy in any way.

Just thought i'd post as if sadly your pony is blind he may adapt far better than you imagine as he already cant see.

My mare will lose her eye if she injures it too so it may save further issues later if he injures his he will def lose it?? So best all round.

My friend also had a pony have an eye removed 2 years ago and he is fine too no issues at all.

Good luck xxx
 
Thankyou! I'm much more hopeful now! Janette, I know in theory problem being my phone when I click reply it just flashes! My laptop is broken!
 
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