Onyx is blind ??

[skneisel74]

I have always heard you feel love through you heart and by touch not by sight. Yes I too am very sad for Onyx, But she will adjust and be a great blind kitty. She does not need to see your love she can feel it. Best wishes at the Eye Doc.......

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

OMG! I would be sooo upset, but I imagine you are! Could it be that she has a strong reaction to any antibiotic? Just curious because it seems odd that she can't tolerate Amoxicillin and then this happens with Baytril.

The good news is she can still see shapes, so she's not totally blind, and she may just surprise everyone and get at least partial vision back. Although, like others have mentioned, there are many similarly "handicapped" pets out there that function just fine, and I'm sure she'll adapt and be just fine herself.

It is too bad though, and I would definitely let everyone involved (vet, Bayer, etc) know exactly how I felt about the situation.

I remember Tubby was given Baytril - and possibly Peanut too - when they had UTIs, and never once did the vet mention there was a chance of blindness! With humans, you always get the instructions from the pharmacy with the list of possible side effects - we don't get that from the vet. It's like we're at their mercy to tell us everything unless we do our own research online - and who's going to do that when your baby is in pain and can't pee? It's just a sad sad situation.

[momcat]

What devastating news! Your love will get sweet Onyx through what may be ahead. Have you considered writing to your state's veterinary board about this? The vet should have told you about possible side effects before administering the medication. From what other PTers have posted, this seems to be the norm! Vets need to understand the importance of pets in the lives of those of us who love them!
Prayers continue to be prayed for Onyx, and plenty of lovebug being sent.....

[rosethecopycat]

This is deeply upsetting. I am happy that Onyx has a loving family.

My Malfi had Baytril last Thanksgiving.

Cuddles for Onyx.

[NKBurlington]

I am crying while reading that her blindness will most likely be permanent.

What a sad and preventable incident to have happened to your lovely Onyx.

I am thinking of you. . .

[AlleyCat]

Thank you all so much for your posts and comments. I thought I'd post a couple of new pixs of Onyx:

[furrykidsmother]

What a beautiful girl she is. Please let us know how she is adjusting. I hope that she has enough of her vision left to make it easy for her.

[emily_the_spoiled]

One of my guys (Ptolemy) is blind in one eye and has 70% vision in the other. To look at him you would never know that he has problems seeing. The other cats "help" him out sometimes

But he is the most out going friendly guy you would ever meet. I know that Onyx will be just fine. It is likely more difficult for you to see her lose her eyesight than it is for her.

[AlleyCat]

Onyx has been adjusting pretty well. I am so grateful we moved here a month ago as she already knew her surroundings, so that has helped heaps. She's bumped into a few things including the 20-pounder Millie, but other than that she's coped well. I think I was far more upset about this than she is. I don't think it'll be long at all before everything seems normal again, we'll just make sure she continues to eat and use the litterbox with our help if needed. I love it that she's being far more social now - I find that interesting - maybe she wants to be around where she can HEAR things rather than hide and look from a distance. I'm sure all of you with blind or partially-blind kitties can relate. All the feedback and prayers you've written have been great -- Thank You !!

[NKBurlington]

I'm glad to hear that you are both adjusting.

[Randi]

Onyx is such a beautiful girl - I hope she won't suffer, but adjust and get even more spoiled.

Kisses and scritchies from me, and headbumpies from Fister.

[jenluckenbach]

I am VERY VERY sorry to read about Onyx's sudden blindness. But if the article (the link Debbie posted) is correct, it states...

Bayer Animal Health estimates that the incidence of vision related reports over the past decade in the U.S. is 0.0008%, or 1 report per 122,414 feline patients treated

That is a MIGHTY slim chance! I have used baytril when it has been prescribed for my cats with no ill effects and I would do so again.
I would not go so far as to bash the vet for not telling you about this possible side effect. If they warned you of every side effect that happened less than 1% of the time in tests, your typical office visit might take 3 days.

Best wishes for Onyx to adjust to her new life. She will do fine!

[sandragonfly]

how so disappointing! I would have told you. all of this just simply relived my bad day with one-eared cats last week! one of those "thevetdidnottellus" day...now we have a lesson to remember!

very devastating and sad this has to happen to your (our) dear onyx. yet, really glad she's adjusting okay. (is she still?) I know this isn't easy to hear. . . but a goodness to stick around with, you know? I'm so sorry!

how's she today? onyx's very beautiful. is her eyes completely cloudy?

many headrubs from my furfriends!

[AlleyCat]

Thanks, Gina and everyone else!

Yes, her eyes are still cloudy. But we have seen some pupil retraction every now and then so it would appear as if her eyes are adjusting to light and dark - the opthamalogist said he thought possibly a little bit of eyesight would return, but not all. It's been over a week now and she has adjusted really well -- she's bumped into a few things here and there in the evenings, but other than that it's been pretty normal. She did have 2 urine accidents the other day and I don't know if that's a sign of her bladder infection coming back AGAIN or just stress or something .. It was 2 days ago and none since, so ...

[DJFyrewolf36]

Awwwwww no! I just saw this! Poor Onyx

I didn't realize you had an Onyx kitty (I'm not very observant). I just got a kitty named Onyx (my roomate named her) and she is such a love. I'm praying that your Onyx will be well soon!

*hugs*

Fyrewolf, Remus, Spook and Onyx