When to call it a day with Uvietis

[poiuytrewq]

Pony has uveitis- vets have diagnosed it as something slightly different and apparently less painful but symptoms are the same. Less weeping but definite flare ups. They only occasionally occur and are over quickly when I apply drops and give bute.
Sadly the pony will be pts due to this as he lost his other eye last year and has limited sight remaining in the "good" eye.
We had planned to keep him as a field pet (although he's treated the same as ever, fed rugged comes in at night etc) until he showed signs of being unhappy or not coping with his sight problem.
Today's flare up, the first in a long time he held his eye shut slightly which is a sign of pain and alters the whole situation.
How do I or would you define when enough is enough?
He's perfectly happy but like i say this is the first day it's looked painful. It will be better by this evening with treatment and of course I'll chat with my vet but wondered on opinions.
We don't want him to suffer. I don't think the odd day here and there is too much but I'm not sure what or when is.

 

[PuzzlePiece]

I used to look after an old pony with uveitis, we found wearing a uv mask when out helped along with eye drops. In summer only put him out on overcast days and in a large barn with another elderly pony the rest of the time. (I know many people don't have this)
It's difficult but i think you'll know when the time is right and his quality of life isn't good.
You said he's in at night, would you be able to have him out at night and in during day?
I feel for you as I know it can be difficult to manage. You'll make the right decision.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have done the deed after grappling with this awful disease , I did not wait for it to get to the other eye ( which the vets told me there was every chance it would )faced with an unhappy in pain horse and a big bill to remove the affected eye I PTS .
I simply could not have faced dealing with him blinded by it he was very difficult handle during a flare up with one good eye .
I am very sorry you are in this situation and I hope that neither of us see this disease again.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have a friend who suffers from uveitis. Unless he acts very quickly when he has the first inkling of symptoms, he is soon in agony. I bet my friend knows his symptoms are starting before you can tell that the pony's symptoms are beginning. If the pony only has the one dodgy eye, I think I'd be looking at pts sooner rather than later.

 

[cava14una]

I have AutoImmune Uvietis myself and can sympathise with the pain and light sensitivity. I have been lucky and it's under control at the moment but could flare up again. At least I understand what's going on for a horse it must be scary as well as painful.

 

[MCTM]

A friend's horse has this and he wears a mask all of the time - even in the stable at night so he has protection as soon as the sun rises. He even has dispensation to compete BD with It on if the test is outside I believe. He does have an occasional flare up but it's quite rare now and his owner recognises the first signs so the vet is quickly called. I don't think he has had a problem for more than 6 months which is good.

 

[diamonddogs]

Mine has recurrent conjunctivitis query uveitis and my decision's already made.

IF she has uveitis I'll have the eye removed, BUT if it flares up in the other eye I will PTS. My husband lost his eye with a form of uveitis and I've seen first hand how bad it can be.

I know loads of people whose horses have successfully coped with one eye (I've seen two local horses jump a course of 3ft with one eye) and I'm pretty sure mine would, but if she were to lose her sight that would be it. My yard isn't geared up for disabled horses and she's happy and settled and I feel it'd be cruel to move her to a strange place when she couldn't see properly.

 

[Supertrooper]

I think you already know B's story with him but he was PTS as he was so painful xx

 

[poiuytrewq]

I need to speak to my vet again I think. He's been diagnosed with degenative keratopothy which causes slow sight loss but isn't painful. However after this morning I'm pretty certain it is actually uveitis.
He's retired as he is pretty unsafe ridden but we have our own rented field and stables which is all safe for him and he knows, so we had really hoped to keep him.
I hadn't asked how long he had before being totally blind as I didn't want to feel like he had a time limit hanging over his head.
We had agreed he'd be pts if it was uveitis a few months ago when he was being investigated by the vets and were so happy and relieved to be told it wasn't.