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Old 03-10-2021, 04:18 AM   #1
Petite
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Default Eyes....

Watching my ham, Freya, last night, I noticed one of her eyes didn't seem quite right. I couldn't get a close look (she's never let me hold her) so it could just be a bit sticky, but it also looks slightly swollen.

I'm panicking a bit as this happened to our last ham just over a year ago and eventually led to the trauma of her eye rupturing and her having to be put down at 8 months.

We'll see what it looks like tonight, but if it's the same would you recommend a vet visit?
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Old 03-10-2021, 10:04 AM   #2
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Default Re: Eyes....

Eye infections are quite common in Russian hams but usually resolve with antibiotics so try not to worry too much, I would contact your vet if continues to look like that.
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Old 03-11-2021, 06:12 AM   #3
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Default Re: Eyes....

Thanks, Cypher, for your response. Freya seems very sleepy and not altogether herself, although the eye looks about the same. I'm watching her closely for now and will see how things go, but I think a vet visit is likely to be on the agenda.
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Old 03-11-2021, 06:29 AM   #4
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Default Re: Eyes....

If she is also acting out of sorts then I'd deff do a vet visit sooner than later. Hope all goes well
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Old 03-12-2021, 09:10 AM   #5
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Default Re: Eyes....

I took Freya to the vet this afternoon. They can't rule out what I fear - glaucoma - but think it is more likely to be conjunctivitis. She has a course of antibiotic / steroid eye drops twice a day for 5 days (Maxitrol). But here's the thing: she has never allowed me or anyone else to actually hold her, and she's fast, so I'm not sure what the best method is for administering the drops. We had to do it for a former ham once, and it made us and ham miserable. The vet suggested swaddling her in a towel to hold her still - if we can catch her! Any ideas please?
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Old 03-12-2021, 09:36 AM   #6
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Default Re: Eyes....

Swaddling in a towel was the only way to clean Ozzy's scent gland and trim Edwina's nails. Both wriggly dwarfs.

I tempted Ozzy into his mug with a treat to get him out of his cage but had to dig him out a little first. Something i'd only do for medical or healthcare reasons.
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Old 03-13-2021, 04:22 AM   #7
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Default Re: Eyes....

Yes, I had to dig Freya out too - like you, something I would only do for health or meds. First dose administered - we think. OH swaddled her in a face-cloth while I put in the drops, and we made a fuss of her afterwards. I'm sure she will learn to associate the face-cloth and the drops very quickly, and will make a quick get away, so we will have to become more adept.

How on earth do you trim a dwarf's nails? Freya's are so tiny I cannot actually see them!
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Old 03-13-2021, 04:56 AM   #8
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Default Re: Eyes....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Petite View Post

How on earth do you trim a dwarf's nails? Freya's are so tiny I cannot actually see them!
Edwina's have become very long since she's become inactive compared to what she used to be like.

I only trim very little of really long nails and one nail at a time, if i can manage at all and use small nail clippers like the ones used for babies.

Our other dwarfs wear them down themselves so they don't normally need trimming.

I'm glad you manage to administer the eye drops and Freya will soon forget about the evil face cloth.
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Old 03-15-2021, 04:24 AM   #9
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Default Re: Eyes....

Well, amazingly we seem to be getting on okay with the eye drops, one of us swaddling Freya while the other aims the drops. What alarmed us at first is how red her eyes got pretty much as soon as the drops were in, and it's not helping that she is obviously bothered by them and is rubbing her eyes quite a lot. Is this normal with Maxitrol? It's hard to tell whether it's actually helping yet.
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Old 03-15-2021, 06:02 AM   #10
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Default Re: Eyes....

I can’t remember the name of the drops I’ve had in the past so not sure if it would be the same thing or not but I’ve never seen any redness after putting the drops in & once they get over actually putting them in it doesn’t seem to bother them, it can take a while to see any improvement in my experience but if you’re worried that the drops may be making her worse or aggravating her eyes I’d speak to your vet.
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