Suspected uveitis and growing vet bill!

[Thedryjanuarydiaries]

I wondered if anyone has been through similar and has either found a solution or anything that helps.

Will try and keep this short.

Back in November our pony’s right eye became quite swollen and watery and apon inspection was very red. Between now and then we have had 8+ vet visits with the issue being that when it is sore and swollen it presents as uveitis, with a twisted iris and grey film but once we start back on the drops (tried 2 kinds) and bute it clears up within 24 hours to the point that the vet cannot find anything abnormal at all. 

This has involved numerous full sedations, two vets, lots of in depth observations of the back of her eye, blood vessels, retina dyes run through to check for damage in her cornea and we are still not any further forward. 

Throughout the process we did locate a blocked tear duct which was quite high up and did need to be cleared, however our vet seems to think this is another symptom of what’s going on rather than a cause.

Since then she has been on oral steroids as well as steroid drops, with us weaning her off the the former last week with thankfully no change, the bute is to stop on Sunday with the drops following at end of next week and I’m starting to get the fear that we will be back to square 1. 

Our vet is lovely but has suggested that despite doubting uveitis over the last few mother and it might be low grade version and if it’s to keep on happening we might need to call in a specialist which sounds like it could be costly so I wondered if anyone has every heard of anything similar or might be able to offer suggestion of anything we could try. 

I also thought I’d sound out here (don’t want come across as stupid to the vet) the question of her staying on the drops long term. Pony is fighting fit otherwise and cracking, very forward going jumping pony but she is 19 and for us wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world if she needs daily drops.

[DistressSignal]

I know nothing really about Uveitis or what drops are used, but I do know that there are many, many horses that have had an eye removed due to it that have gone on to lead happy, useful, ridden lives. If it was my horse and it was an ongoing issue that didn't look like it was going to be sorted (and sorry, that was also going to cost me an absolute fortune) I'd be asking about this as an option, horrible as it may sound . A one eyed horse went round Badminton in the last few years I do believe!

[FestiveAuntFanny]

@DistressSignal

I know nothing really about Uveitis or what drops are used, but I do know that there are many, many horses that have had an eye removed due to it that have gone on to lead happy, useful, ridden lives. If it was my horse and it was an ongoing issue that didn't look like it was going to be sorted (and sorry, that was also going to cost me an absolute fortune) I'd be asking about this as an option, horrible as it may sound . A one eyed horse went round Badminton in the last few years I do believe!

Yes, there's one at our stables, big chap who is apparently lovely to ride. It's his left eye too but as long as he's seen you come round you still get on on the usual side.

Hope it doesn't come to that though OP, I have had uveitis myself and it is bloody painful so hopefully will be sorted.

[notquiteruralbliss]

One of ours had recurrent keratitis (in the end we opted for an implant to treat it). The implant was expensive (but effective - completely cured the keratitis with no need for a repeat implant) and I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of checkups with an opthalmologist at our local vet teaching hospital.

[Thedryjanuarydiaries]

@notquiteruralbliss vet has suggested implants but he has said will cost quite a bit of money and I’m not sure we are in position to pay for that at the moment.

I think my worry about taking her eye out when it is such low grade Uveitis is we won’t have a back up if it starts in rhe other eye which I understand is quite common.

[feelingalittlehorse]

It may actually be more cost effective in the long run to get a medicine diplomat, or someone who specialises just in veterinary ophthalmology to have a look at the pony. If you can get a clear cut answer from them, you can then decide on the best course of action/ options and then weigh up pros and cons (and finances!!!) of those. It can’t harm to ask how much a referral is- it may save any further to-ing and fro-ing.

[Balloonhearts]

It's worth asking the vet if daily drops are an option. If it does come to removal of the eye, they do adapt quickly. There's a pony at my school with one eye. Ex showjumper, doesn't compete seriously anymore but is more than capable of taking the kids who learn on him for shows and often wins. He's still very much in the game.

[TidalShore]

It's worth an ask, but I know the drops my pony had could only be given for a limited time (couple of weeks?) each time.

He did have his eye out eventually. I wish I'd had it done sooner in hindsight. It just never seemed bad enough for surgery at the time. But he's much happier without it causing issues and pain. We suspect he had limited vision in it though anyway.