Conjunctivitis still getting worse after two sets of antibiotics

[jsp]

Roc's eye is half open this morning. I gave it a good wash with salt water, and then a very very good wash to get the salt off again so he doesn't poison himself when he cleans his face (I'm sensitive to smells and to salt myself)

[Pebbles82]

Oh I see. I can understand you feeling awkward about that, but vets are used to people asking for referrals to specialists. And maybe you could just put it that you'd like some specialist advice about the ongoing eye issues from the exotic vet and thank them for everything they've done.

[jsp]

I will ring the exotic vet and ask how bad it has to be before they will see us. I would really like to go there, because I can get there on foot, whereas I can't get to the normal vet at all because of long covid symptoms. I doubt that counts on the referral form though.

Roc's eye did look a bit better today. At least he could see out of it anyway.

[Pebbles82]

Well put it like this - a “usual” vet put Pickle on oral antibiotics for 1 week. She then phoned and said the exotic vet had said it should be two weeks. It can take at least that to shift an eye infection and eyes are important things. In that case the eye was weeping a bit (dark circle underneath) and started to bulge. May have been more than infection though.

When you say it’s conjunctivitis - is it just the eyes are sticky/eyelids stuck - or is there any oozing as well or swelling or bulging?

I would absolutely ask to see the exotic vet and absolutely add that this is also more manageable for you due to long Covid. Your health is important too and it is still a condition.

[jsp]

The attached photos show what he looks like now. The eye doesn't look happy does it?

I washed his eye in salt water again and he didn't like it at all. He fought me and tried to bite the cotton wool, and he's been very obliging up to now.

[Pebbles82]

Sorry to hear that. I tend to use the corner of a soft microfibre cloth - not the hard edge but though. Rather than a cotton bud. And have it so it’s not really wet but just damp. Then you can dab and wipe gently.

The eye should unstick. At least his eye isn’t bulging but it does look a bit crusty and not just sticky.

Important not to get them wet while doing it too. They really don’t like that and not good for them. I’m sure you didn’t get him wet though.

I do it so the temperature is tepid- cold water isn’t so nice.

[jsp]

I got him quite wet because I was worrying about leaving his fur salty so he would lick it off and get too much salt inside him. Is that not a problem? Having too much salt disagrees with me and I don't like it at all so I was trying to wash the salt off.

It's quite tricky this, isn't it? I think I'll be glad to have more of the antibiotic goo tomorrow.

One time he hurt his leg and the vet just gave him an antibiotic injection and that was much easier. He only needed one and then the leg got better.

[Pebbles82]

Yes you’re right salt isn’t good for them. You just need to dip a tiny bit of the cloth or cotton bud and wring it so it’s only just damp. And then gently wipe a bit and repeat. Quite a slow process. That way it won’t be too wet, just damp around the eye area, and he’s not going to be able to lick his eye area.

[jsp]

I just checked and the vet school costs £250, so we're going back to the regular vet. She says now that the eye is a bit better she will be able to look under his eye lid to see if something is stuck there. She says he might need to be anaesthetised. I do not think that he will be thrilled about that.

I will tell you what happens later. Thanking my lucky stars now, that I don't own a horse.

[jsp]

Roc is back now. Apparently the eye drops have worked well to control the infection but his eyelids have swelled up and caused the hairs to roll round and scratch his eye, which is why it is shut. We have been given steroid eye drops and apparently it's going to be a two-person job to get them in, twice a day, for a week. Crikey.