Sydney's eye troubles..

On Wednesday I noticed that the pupil in Sydney's left eye was enlarged and reflecting some red. I called the vet, who suspected retinal detachment, and took him in yesterday. There is a lot of blood in the front compartment of the eye, and we were referred to the veterinary ophthalmologist, in Williamston, MI, some 60 miles away, whom we visited next.

The ophthalmologist diagnosed hyphema (blood in the front chamber) in the left eye and multiple retinal hemorrhages with small areas of retinal detachment in the right eye.. due to an exudative retinal detachment secondary to systemic hypertension (high blood pressure, common with kidney disease).

He got sent home with amlodipine to lower the blood pressure, prednisolone to help reduce inflammation, and atropine to help stop the bleeding and dilate the pupil.

Hopefully this will result in at least some of his normal vision returning. The tech said he's in effect blind what with the retinal detachment, but he's getting around okay at home. Maybe he just knows where everything is and navigates by smell and whiskers when needed.

Please say a few prayers and send some good wishes for my sweet boy! Thank you from both of us.

Sydney and Pat :love::love:

Poor Sydney. Hopefully the meds will bring the pressure and inflamation down. Even if he is mostly blind, he should still be able to get around just fine, since he already knows where everything is. One of my RB Lhasas was blind for her last 2 years with me, from very difficult to regulate diabetes, but she did fine. She hardly ever bumped into anything, and could still do steps - with me watching very closely of course. It was me that had to be careful and watch where I was walking, in case she wandered into my path - which she did and I wasn't looking and I ended up with broken ribs! :eek: I never rearranged any furniture either. :D

Prayers for Sydney, and of course you too, Pat.

I have 3 guys that were born completely blind and you would never guess it if you were to look at them. (It always freaks people out)

Sydney will be just fine and hopefully the meds will work the way they are supposed to and this will not be a problem at all.

Prayers going out to Sydney. Glad you got to a specialist so quickly and he figured things out right away.

With the right meds, I hope Sydney feels better and regains a little vision. :love::)

Thank you, friends. The tech said Sydney is in effect blind because both retinas are detached, but he's getting around just fine. He knows where everything is, and he has his whiskers and his other senses to help him navigate if needed.

He even was up on the bed poking me awake at 6am to serve up the cat food!

:love::love:

As long as you don't move water or food bowls, or litter box, Sydney will be fine, lol. Move any of thoe 3 at your own risk ha haaa!!

Chin rubs, Sydney, prednisolone is great that should help lots. Good job Pat, getting him in to the vet and the specialist.

Poor Sydney. I hope the meds help her.

Bartie, my soon to be 17 year old has hypertension and is on Altenol. Seems to be working.

Hugs to you and Syd.

Pat, I'm so sorry Sydney's having such trouble. I hope the meds get the health issues under control; it's so tough to know our babies are in distress. I, too, have a bit of experience with the blindness though. My RB kitty Jamara was blind, or mostly blind, for some time. When we moved into this house she was essentially deaf and blind, but that didn't stop her! She got the lay of the land real quick. Cats are amazing that way; Sydney will be just fine with little or no sight.

{{{hugs}}}

Thank you, Sandie and Donna and Maggie. Sydney is resting now. He got his evening dose of prednisolone. We're taking things a step at a time.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: from all of us

I hope the prednisolone helps! More hugs and chin scritches from Cassie and me :love:

Poor boy.:( I sure hope that the meds will help him. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

Thank you, Elyse and Tracey. All hugs and chin scratches and lovies are passed on.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

Now Sydney's right pupil is enlarged. I hope he's not getting worse. :love::love:

oh poor Sydney, i am so sorry to read this, i hope the meds are working and he is feeling much better now, i am thinking of you and fingers and all paws crossed that Sydney recovers well, HUGS..and lots of special pats for Sydney from across the miles.:love:

Thank you, Carole. Hugs and pats delivered!

Love from Sydney and Pat and the rest of the gang :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

Sorry to hear about Sydney's vision. Prayers on the way for his vision and for his quick adaption to this new circumstance. Prayers for you, too.

Thank you, Anne.

:love::love:

how is Sydney doing now Pat??:love:

Thanks for asking, Carole. He is doing okay.. he's getting all his meds, he likes to eat and eats small amounts several times a day, and he likes to cuddle with me.

Yesterday evening I noticed his right front leg was swollen.. a little sensitive to the touch but he didn't react as if it was painful. I have no idea what that could be from. I thought I'd need to call the vet to see if I could get him in today because they'll be closed for the holiday tomorrow.. but now the swelling is gone, and I guess I should just watch him and see. I just called the vet to ask what it might be, but he's in surgery now so he'll have to call me back later.

Please keep the prayers and good wishes coming, friends!

Love from Sydney and Pat :love::love:

glad to hear he is doing better, wonder why is foot was swollen,poor wee guy, hope it is nothing to worry about,let us know what the vet thinks, be thinking of you both, hugs.

Thanks, Carole, the hugs are appreciated by both of us!

The vet called back. I told him about Sydney's swollen leg and then the swelling was gone this morning. I'd given Sydney his afternoon Sub-Q fluids two or three hours earlier, and I wondered if that could possibly have gone down his leg. .. though I've been giving Sydney, and other cats, sub-Q fluids for a long time and hadn't seen this before.

The vet thought that was very likely what had happened.. He said he'd seen this occasionally before. It happens when, when the needle is inserted it winds up in one of the lymphatic canals.. and so the liquid just flows wherever the canal leads. And it all gets absorbed over time.

So, as long as it was no longer a problem, we'll just watch out for anything else out of the ordinary.

What a relief not to have to bring him in again for an emergency vet appointment!!!

Sydney is doing fine under the circumstances. He gets his meds, and his fluids, and he eats when he wants.

Thanks, Carole, and everyone, and God bless.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: