Corneal ulcer

I bought paired cats from a local cat santuary a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, one of them had been diagnosed as having a corneal
ulcer, so the staff at the sanctuary will not let the cats be homed
until they are both at full fitness.

After two weeks of topical antibiotics there's talk of possible
surgery. My concern is that at no time has a painkiller been provided.
I haven't been able to speak directly to the vet treating the cat but
from what I've read online this condition can be very painful,
especially if it is serious enough to warrant surgery. The cat is
squinting and washing his eye and looks quite miserable when we
visit.The surrounding eye tissue (conjunctiva?) looks inflamed.

I've been told by the staff at the sanctuary that he isn't in pain,
but I have doubts about this.

Is use of a painkiller advisable while he waits for surgery or
continues with eye drops?

I'm no vet, not by a long shot, but I am wondering why the cat doesn't at
least have an "elizabethan collar" to prevent his worrying at the eye. I
also wonder why the shelter won't at least release the healthy cat to its
new home.

I guess in your place (and if I could afford it!) I would offer to adopt
both cats now, with the contingency that I assume the care of the injured
cat. I would then get the cat to an eye specialist.

No need to reply, unless you want. I am just wondering aloud, as it were.
I hope the cat recovers soon.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

I'm no vet, not by a long shot, but I am wondering why the cat doesn't at
least have an "elizabethan collar" to prevent his worrying at the eye. I
also wonder why the shelter won't at least release the healthy cat to its
new home.

I guess in your place (and if I could afford it!) I would offer to adopt
both cats now, with the contingency that I assume the care of the injured
cat. I would then get the cat to an eye specialist.

No need to reply, unless you want. I am just wondering aloud, as it were.
I hope the cat recovers soon.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

I bought paired cats from a local cat
santuary a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, one of them had been
diagnosed as having a corneal ulcer, so
the staff at the sanctuary will not let
the cats be homed until they are both at
full fitness.
After two weeks of topical antibiotics
there's talk of possible surgery. My
concern is that at no time has a
painkiller been provided. I haven't been
able to speak directly to the vet
treating the cat

Why not? Do they even have a regular vet?

but from what I've read
online this condition can be very
painful, especially if it is serious
enough to warrant surgery. The cat is
squinting and washing his eye and looks
quite miserable when we visit.The
surrounding eye tissue (conjunctiva?)
looks inflamed.

IMO the sanctuary and the vet are really failing this cat. If
antibiotics were going to work, there should have been some visible
imrovement in a few days. They have allowed this to go on way too long
and have obviously not investigated a viral issue as the cause, which it
probably is. This cat needs to be seen by a veterinary opthamologist
ASAP. If there is any way you can arrange to get this cat to one, I
would suggest you do it immediately and get the poor thing proper
treatment before the cat loses his eye.

I've been told by the staff at the
sanctuary that he isn't in pain, but I
have doubts about this.

As you should. They are seriously deluded if they think this cat isn't
in pain.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

I bought paired cats from a local cat
santuary a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, one of them had been
diagnosed as having a corneal ulcer, so
the staff at the sanctuary will not let
the cats be homed until they are both at
full fitness.
After two weeks of topical antibiotics
there's talk of possible surgery. My
concern is that at no time has a
painkiller been provided. I haven't been
able to speak directly to the vet
treating the cat

Why not? Do they even have a regular vet?

but from what I've read
online this condition can be very
painful, especially if it is serious
enough to warrant surgery. The cat is
squinting and washing his eye and looks
quite miserable when we visit.The
surrounding eye tissue (conjunctiva?)
looks inflamed.

IMO the sanctuary and the vet are really failing this cat. If
antibiotics were going to work, there should have been some visible
imrovement in a few days. They have allowed this to go on way too long
and have obviously not investigated a viral issue as the cause, which it
probably is. This cat needs to be seen by a veterinary opthamologist
ASAP. If there is any way you can arrange to get this cat to one, I
would suggest you do it immediately and get the poor thing proper
treatment before the cat loses his eye.

I've been told by the staff at the
sanctuary that he isn't in pain, but I
have doubts about this.

As you should. They are seriously deluded if they think this cat isn't
in pain.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

"Denise" wrote in message
om...
I bought paired cats from a local cat santuary a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, one of them had been diagnosed as having a corneal
ulcer, so the staff at the sanctuary will not let the cats be homed
until they are both at full fitness.

After two weeks of topical antibiotics there's talk of possible
surgery. My concern is that at no time has a painkiller been provided.
I haven't been able to speak directly to the vet treating the cat but
from what I've read online this condition can be very painful,
especially if it is serious enough to warrant surgery. The cat is
squinting and washing his eye and looks quite miserable when we
visit.The surrounding eye tissue (conjunctiva?) looks inflamed.

I've been told by the staff at the sanctuary that he isn't in pain,
but I have doubts about this.

Corneal ulcers are extremely painful! Cats with corneal ulcers keep the eye
partially or completely shut because its very painful. A corneal ulcer
can erode clear through the cornea and cause the eye to rupture!

Please get the cat to another vet *immediately* - she probably needs surgery
by now to save the eye - and a pain killer. Make sure the sanctuary isn't
using topical steroids or any medication that contains a steroid. Steroids
exacerbate the problem and inhibit healing.

Tell the sanctuary you'll take the cat "as is" and won't hold them
responsible for vet costs. Just *please* get this cat to another vet!
*Immediately*.

Good luck.

Phil

"Denise" wrote in message
om...
I bought paired cats from a local cat santuary a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, one of them had been diagnosed as having a corneal
ulcer, so the staff at the sanctuary will not let the cats be homed
until they are both at full fitness.

After two weeks of topical antibiotics there's talk of possible
surgery. My concern is that at no time has a painkiller been provided.
I haven't been able to speak directly to the vet treating the cat but
from what I've read online this condition can be very painful,
especially if it is serious enough to warrant surgery. The cat is
squinting and washing his eye and looks quite miserable when we
visit.The surrounding eye tissue (conjunctiva?) looks inflamed.

I've been told by the staff at the sanctuary that he isn't in pain,
but I have doubts about this.

Corneal ulcers are extremely painful! Cats with corneal ulcers keep the eye
partially or completely shut because its very painful. A corneal ulcer
can erode clear through the cornea and cause the eye to rupture!

Please get the cat to another vet *immediately* - she probably needs surgery
by now to save the eye - and a pain killer. Make sure the sanctuary isn't
using topical steroids or any medication that contains a steroid. Steroids
exacerbate the problem and inhibit healing.

Tell the sanctuary you'll take the cat "as is" and won't hold them
responsible for vet costs. Just *please* get this cat to another vet!
*Immediately*.

Good luck.

Phil

"Phil P." wrote in message
...

Corneal ulcers are extremely painful! Cats with corneal ulcers keep
the eye
partially or completely shut because its very painful. A corneal
ulcer
can erode clear through the cornea and cause the eye to rupture!

Please get the cat to another vet *immediately*

See now, here is the sort of post where I think Phil can actually be
helpful. Way to go, Phil.

"Phil P." wrote in message
...

Corneal ulcers are extremely painful! Cats with corneal ulcers keep
the eye
partially or completely shut because its very painful. A corneal
ulcer
can erode clear through the cornea and cause the eye to rupture!

Please get the cat to another vet *immediately*

See now, here is the sort of post where I think Phil can actually be
helpful. Way to go, Phil.

To throw in another perspective. The shelter where the cats are I'm
sure are on limited funds. From that prospective they are doing their
job and what they can for this cat. You sound to me like someone who
would care for these cats and make sure they get the care they need.
However not ever person adopting a cat would be willing to take it to an
eye specialist it can be very costly. So I'm sure they are just making
sure that it does get treated properly before letting the cat be homed.
If they were to allow you to adopt the cat now and then something else
happened say the eye needs to be removed and you now have a $400.00 bill
some people may go back to this shelter and expect them to pay the
cost where if they'd had their vet do the procedure it would have cost
them much less and it could all get very messy with people argueing over
who should pay for what. They are probably just trying to insure the cat
gets the care it needs. For what its worth I've never heard of a cat
being put on pain killers for an eye ulcer, normally just topical eye
medicine.

If I were you what I'd do is speak to the shelter and ask them if they
would allow you to take the cat to an eye specialist at your own cost
offer them the option to come with you as well and bring the cat back to
them after the visit. This might keep you both quite happy and you'd be
proving to them that you will give the cat the care it needs. They may
even let you adopt him sooner if they see this.