Chinchilla Eye

[sree933]

So last night when I went to feed my chins, I noticed that Zinc's eye was a bit watery and narrowed. I pulled him out and saw a red bump - like a stye - on his bottom eye lid. I decided I would take him to the vet today when I got off work. Before I left this morning, I checked on him and saw that his eye had narrowed more and had a white film on it. I got home and went to pick him up to take him to the vet and noticed his eye was almost shut and weepy. The vet cleaned off his eye and noted that he had scracthed his cornea - part of the eye appears to be protruding ( new development since last night). She thinks we may have to take the eye out. She gave me a salve to put on his eye 3 x a day and we go back Thursday to see if he can keep his eye. . It happened so quick. Last night his eye was clear and just his eyelid was red. Today we're talking about taking out an eye.

 

[tunes]

I'm sorry to hear that, but if it does happen, he will adjust. I have a couple chins here with one eye and one with no eyes at all. They really don't let it slow them down a whole lot, even though it's really sad to have to look at.

Good luck with your little one.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Good luck and I hope the meds work. Keep us posted, please.

 

[Chinniechantel]

Good luck, I hope the meds work for you. I also have a girl with only one eye from an injury, and she is just fine! She is still my big Black Mamma (black velvet..lol) and is as huge and cranky as ever! She is so large that her fur actually rubs off of her chest in the breast area from dragging on the ground!

 

[Sesame]

Wishing you the best with your chin! Might want to change out the bedding you have to perhaps paper towels for now to avoid dust from the bedding from getting into that eye.

Keep us updated!

 

[Parkerspetchins]

I hope it heals with the meds but if not and the eye has to be removed she will be OK...wishing her the best!

 

[Jenn]

I had a parakeet just recently who had something happen to her eye and within 3 days, her eye appeared as it would pop out of its socket. The vet had told me she may lose her sight in this eye. After 2 weeks and eye ointment, she is just fine. I'm hoping the same happens for you. Just follow the vet's instructions and hopefully the eye isn't as bad as it seems right now and will heal. I'm wishing you and her the best!

 

[sree933]

UPDATE:
Well I took Zinc to the vet on Thursday and she said it looked a little better. She said he's most likely already lost sight in the eye, but she wanted to try to save his eye. I'm supposed to continue putting his medicine on and we'll take him back on Friday for the final verdict. His eye does look better but part of it is still protruding. If it doesn't scar over completely, they'll have to take it out. Keep your fingers crossed. I really don't want the surgery. He already has turned into a grumpy chinchilla. Each time we go in the room, he knows what's comming and starts cacking at us. He's even bit us a few times. The poor thing just doesn't understand that we're trying to help him.

 

[Brandon]

If I am right, this bump is from a scratch right? Because once a scratch reaches into a certain level of the cornea, a bump starts forming.

 

[sree933]

Yeah. He scratched his cornea - I'm assuming because his eye irritated him. The vet says the bump is the inside of his eye comming out.

 

[Brandon]

Ah, I see. I hope his eye gets better!

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

I'm sorry hun, well wishes for your chinnie!

 

[ann1]

Just a piece of advise i had heard awhile back. They said blind and even one eyed chins do just fine but for you not to move their stuff around in there cage. They know exactly where it is and if you move it they can get hurt. Made sense so i thought i'd pass it along. Good luck

 

[sree933]

Unfortunately, he's going to have to get used to a new cage setup. We were told to separate him. So until he's better and we can re-intro - if we can - he's in a whole different cage with a whole different layout.

 

[ann1]

Couldn't you have moved the other one? Hopefully he can see enough to get situated at least then

 

[sree933]

We were told to minimize his ability to run around and play. It made the most sense to move him to a smaller cage than to keep him in the large cage alone.

 

[ann1]

Oh i see. Hopefully he is going to be ok. Good luck

 

[sree933]

Update:

His eye looks better. We went in for another check up and they said to continue the antibiotics and come back in another week.

 

[iluvmychins]

Wondering how the eye is doing?

 

[sree933]

UPDATE:
Well after over a month, the vet has finally determinede that Zinc can keep his eye. According to the last stain test, his eye is completely healed. However, he does have a small white scar.
The vet gave me neo poly dex solution eye drops to try to clear up the scar. She said that the steroid in it will sometimes help clear up scars in the eye. We go back in two weeks to assess whether it is helping his scar.

Anyone familar with the medicine?