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Post by prettywhitedogsmom on Jan 6, 2009 7:36:33 GMT -5
ok, so I posted before about how my Christmas present was a vet bill, but yesterday the sutures came out and I'm still not happy with how the eye looks. Long story short Leta cut her upper left eyelid pretty bad. It was full thickness and except for a spot in the center would have taken off the whole lower part of the top eyelid (the part that actually covers the eye where the lashes are located). It has been swollen and has definately gotten better but still seems very irritated and swollen for how long its been. The vet stained it yesterday and while she couldn't be sure, does not think there is an ulcer. But, Leta can't really open the lid all the way anymore and its still puffy on the outer aspect and down where the lashes are. Anyone here have a similar injury in the past? I know that I should be patient and hope that it goes down more and will get better, but I'm panicking that she has nerve damage and won't be able to open the lid. The vet seemed VERY perplexed at why it did that. There doesn't seem to be tear duct damage (stain dripped out her nose) and her vision is fine. She does not seem in pain at all either and will let you mess with her no problem. I have a neomycin ointment that I think also has a steroid in it (I think its Neo-poly Dex? I'm very tired and these 12 hour nights at the hospital are killing me!) Anyway, I WANT one of you to tell me it will get better, but I'm also being realistic that she is a trail horse that was free and I just want to putz around on her and have her to not hurt and not be visually impaired. Suggestions or warm fuzzy stories appreciated! Thanks!
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Jan 6, 2009 10:15:39 GMT -5
I would want a specialist to take a look at that eye. TONS of tiny nerves and muscles involved. If she can't open it normally, there may be hidden damage. Are you near a large clinic or hospital?
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Post by animaldoc on Jan 6, 2009 15:51:48 GMT -5
I agree with Teach - you need an ophthalmologist to take a look. Lid lacerations are tricky if they're not put back together juuuuust right.
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Post by Pam on Jan 9, 2009 12:52:18 GMT -5
I won't post the pic before suturing here because it's pretty graphic, but here is the link for those who want to look. You can see that ALL of his eyelashes were torn off before they repaired it. i29.tinypic.com/2qukz91.jpgThis was after suturing...  This was his protection while it healed...  Under the mask is one of those 50¢ plastic containers that you buy at the grocery store. It kept the mask from collapsing on his eye. The mask itself is a Kensington Bug Eye and I already had it. I put it on before the vet got there so he wouldn't rub it and make it worse. The vet loved it (lol, he called me McGyver when he saw what I did ;D) and told me to leave it on. If you order one, they actually come with little plastic inserts which I will keep next time I order another one. Did yours look anything like this? My vet explained to me that the nerve that controls opening and closing the eyelid is near the back corner of the eye. Joey missed cutting it by a few mm according to the vet. He had 17 internal absorbable stitches and 7 or 8 external ones that were removed after two weeks. The swelling took FOREVER (months, not weeks) to come down after the stitches were remved and it was quite awhile before he seemed to regain complete control over the movement of the eyelid. It teared a lot for at least a couple of months. Long story short though, today, unless you really look for it, you would never know anything had ever happened. If you are really worried, it might set your mind at ease if you had another opinion, but just from my experience it takes a lot of time. My vet told me that he sees lots of injuries of this type and Joey's was one of the worst he'd seen in awhile, but to be patient and just baby him for a bit. He said it would take a long time, but that Joey would be fine. He was right on the money with that prediction.  |
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Post by prettywhitedogsmom on Jan 11, 2009 12:05:44 GMT -5
Holy cow Pam!!! His was actually a bit worse than Leta's, she missed completely ripping the eyelid off by just a little bit. Hers was more on the outer part of the lid, but its very similar. I have to say that within 48 hours of the sutures being removed that the swelling had gone down a lot and the eye was already opening better. It must have been the sutures irritating it that was making it worse. Its down a lot more now too. It gets better everyday so I think she will be completely fine. Its not even watering at all now. Our babies got lucky it wasn't an more horrific than it was. Thanks so much!
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Post by tbjumper514 on Jan 27, 2009 0:00:00 GMT -5
A few years ago, my mare had almost the same thing happen to her. She tore almost the entire eyelid off. The vet sutured it back on, and it was swollen for a while but it did heal up perfectly. I don't know the exact time frame since this was a few years ago, but I would imagine an area like that would have some swelling for a while. Also saw a young racehorse do a similar thing and his healed up fine. I'm sure your horse will heal up just fine with time!
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Post by diane on Jan 30, 2009 18:32:05 GMT -5
I was wondering how she was coming along?
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