Looking for some advice, incredibly upset about this :(

Ginger_ninja

Ginger_ninja

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Today my vet told me that the blood vessels in my horses optic disc are dying in his eyes. In his left he is almost completely blind and in the right he has about 70% vision.
I'm completely heartbroken about this and wondered if anyone else has anything similar happen to their horses and the prognosis they recieved.

Thankyou :)
 
Sorry to hear this. Not got much advice to offer as not had any experience, but didn't want to read and run.

I know plenty of horses that cope with one eye, but losing the sight in the other eye is more drastic.

Can the vet tell you why this has happened? If you know why, it might be possible to halt the problem so he has at least some sight.

How old is he?
 
How incredibly upsetting for you - I really feel for the unjustness of it all on you behalf. Like the earlier poster, don't want to read and not comment, but have no real advice, except to say that you will know when the time is right to do the best thing for your horse, if no chance of recovery, and you will need to be brave. I am so sorry.
 
Oh - that's awful. Poor you and poor horse. Is he coping at the moment?

My friend's pony lost the sight in one eye years ago (previous mean owners sold him quick to a dealer, who didn't point out the blind eye and flogged him cheap to her). He manages just fine, but in recent years the sight is going in the other eye (cataracts in his case). He is quite happy pottering around the field but he is fairly old so he is just a field ornament.

Is your horse coping? My OH knows a bit about eyes, but if your vet says there is no treatment then I guess there's no point me asking him.
 
Thanks guys, he seems perfectly happy at present and is still quite happy to tootle about the school and the field without much trouble.
He has a check up in 6 months to see how much it has progressed but my vet is hoping it will take a good few years to get to the point where I'll have to make a hard decision :(

I'm gutted I really don't know what I'm going to do, he's my best friend and I can't even think about the option of having him pts without breaking down and crying.
 
Try sending a pm to babymare on here, she went through similar with her mare and may be able to offer advice and support you with her experience, I know she has recently had her pts but think she was blind for some time.
 
There is a video on YouTube somewhere, of an American woman with a totally blind horse competing western riding.. flat out galloping round obstacles. And cantering and galloping through woods where she lives. It even shows her going over rough terrain and over ditches. I can't remember what it's called. Try searching blind horse, . It was very moving. Her. Vet told her to have him pts. But she wouldn't and said it was all about trust.. I am not sure I could do it, but it just shows it can be done. Hope you. An find the clip. I'll try to find it and post a link. Good luck with your horse.
 
Just had a quick look on you tube, the are lots on riding a blind horse, one I was thinking is ...Beka and stormy... But there is british stuff of totally blind horses...even jumping 3ft jumps. Like I said before it may not be for you, but it just shows you it can be done. I have a dog who is blind and has been for years. I know it's not the same thing, but it doesn't have to be the end of the world .
 
Oh dear so sorry. I have no experience of this but what i do know is vets arent always right neither are doctors! The worst may NEVER happen and even if it does never underestimate your horses ability to cope in difficult situatiobs given tge right environment and support! Horses rely on other senses far mire than we do and if its a gradual thing will have time to adapt. You kniw your horse he knows you! This could be an amazing opportunity to bond mire than most partnrrships. I completely understand your feelings if despair but in perspective, none if ys know what tomorrow brings. Live in the moment dint let anyone map the future. Animals and people live years longer tgan medics predict all the time. Look everywhere and anywhere for advice and help. Knowledge is power! Above all else dont give up hope. If hes still happylet him teach you. You cant go far wrong that way. Hugs an very best of luck for you both. Xxx
 
A friend has a lovely cob broodmare that this has happened to gradually over a couple of years and unfortunately, at weaning she will be put down because of the limitations on her ability to co-habit with other mares and foals due to the danger of other mares attacking her for just being in their way. This summer she has had to be in a paddock totally on her own with her foal which means he's lost out a lot on learning to be a horse among others which is a severe disadvantage to him. If she can't have a quality life led naturally with other horses it seems unfair to keep her going.

I'm sorry, it's hard but think honestly about how not only your horse would cope but other people and horses who perhaps do not know of the disability which could lead to actions that make him panic or be dangerous to others, intentionally or not. Be fair to him even though it's not easy on yourself.
 
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Thanks so much for the support guys, your kind words have really made me feel a little better.

He is a naturally flighty horse anyway, so I think if it gets to the point where he is seriously struggling to cope then I know I'll have to let him go. I'm just hoping and praying that this will be many years in the future before it deteriorates to that level.

I suppose I'll never know how bad it is until his check up, so fingers crossed the vet will tell me there's no change in his eyes, and that it's a very slow deterioration.
 
I don't know where you are but there is an equine ophthalmologist near Leominster - if you can get him there as a referral from your vet it is well worth doing. I had a mare that failed a vetting due to "cataracts" diagnosed by a vet, as a young mare I couldn't believe it so got a referral. They said you cannot examine an eye properly without a properly dark environment (we blocked off the windows in my trailer) and discovered she just had prominent "onion rings" which form part of the structure of the eye. Cost about £120 around 10 years ago, for me it was money well spent because the sale then went ahead. Something to consider.
 
JillA said:
I don't know where you are but there is an equine ophthalmologist near Leominster - if you can get him there as a referral from your vet it is well worth doing. I had a mare that failed a vetting due to "cataracts" diagnosed by a vet, as a young mare I couldn't believe it so got a referral. They said you cannot examine an eye properly without a properly dark environment (we blocked off the windows in my trailer) and discovered she just had prominent "onion rings" which form part of the structure of the eye. Cost about £120 around 10 years ago, for me it was money well spent because the sale then went ahead. Something to consider.
Click to expand...

My vet told me that onion rings are a sign that the horse has had EHV.
 
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