Cataracts

[katiep]

Just wondering.. our Tiger, who is 2, has juvenile cataracts, and now Scruffy who is 1.5yrs old looks like he is getting them - is this common? Could anything we've done have caused it? Just seems strange that 2 out of our 5 have them.. Tiger and Scruffy are not from the same place or anything, they are not related.

 

[rw3399]

Sorry I can't help - I've no experience with this but there is info on www.guinealynx.com about eye problems.

 

[katiep]

We took Scruffy back to the vets - he has said that he has cataracts and they seem to be advancing rapidly. This is not what we wanted to hear, Scruffy is a lovely little fella. I also think its strange and very unlucky that we have 2 fairly young pigs now with cataracts. The vet said he would contact an eye specialist and that I am to go back on Monday to see what he thought.

 

[Juniper]

Sorry to hear that Katie. No, cataracts are not that common and 2 out of 5 seems rather unlucky.
I did a search to find pics of Tiger & Scruffy as I was convinced that they would both be Abyssinians; they aren’t! Abyssinians are slightly more prone to getting cataracts than most other breeds (I don’t think the percentage is quite as bad as it used to be 30+ years ago though).
‘Sugar cataracts’ can occur in diabetes - has your vet has already tested for this?
I don’t think that anything you have done could have caused it unless you are feeding tons of sugar beet and fruit. Dairy products can cause sugar cataracts as pigs over weaning age do not tolerate lactose very well (if at all) but I doubt you are feeding anything odd to your pigs.

 

[MemberX]

Hope they are coping ok with it Katie. Very interesting to read what Juniper put about Aby's being prone. Give them a kiss from me. x

 

[stargrrlclaire]

Sorry to hear that Katie. No, cataracts are not that common and 2 out of 5 seems rather unlucky.
I did a search to find pics of Tiger & Scruffy as I was convinced that they would both be Abyssinians; they aren’t! Abyssinians are slightly more prone to getting cataracts than most other breeds (I don’t think the percentage is quite as bad as it used to be 30+ years ago though).
‘Sugar cataracts’ can occur in diabetes - has your vet has already tested for this?
I don’t think that anything you have done could have caused it unless you are feeding tons of sugar beet and fruit. Dairy products can cause sugar cataracts as pigs over weaning age do not tolerate lactose very well (if at all) but I doubt you are feeding anything odd to your pigs.

that's what i thought straight away, "poor little abbys". x

 

[katiep]

Thanks guys. The vet also asked if Tiger was an abby, and mentioned diabetes. The eye specialist said one thing it could be is a parasite, so the whole lot of them are on a course of medecine (and the bunnies too) to make sure that none of the others get it, apparently it can move easily from pig to rabbit.
Tiger drinks loads - I wonder now if he has diabetes? he has a chunk of apple every other day or so, but we don't give them tons of fruit, more veg, and never give them dairy stuff...

Poor little Scruffy.

 

[rw3399]

Fingers crossed that Scruffy hasn't got diabetes. Hope he's feeling better soon

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I'm sorry to hear you have two young piggies with cataracts. I also thought "I wonder if they are Aby's.." as I too have heard that they are more prone.

Signs of diabetes are ongoing weight loss, excessive drinking and urinating, and a high glucose reading on urine tests. However, since diet influences the urine so much, certain dry feeds and fruits can be to blame for high glucose readings. You have to get the diagnosis properly, with no dietary influences, before treatment begins. Diabetes is usually far easier to treat than to diagnose!

 

[katiep]

They've all had the anti-parasite meds for a week now.. none of the others are showing signs of problems with their eyes thank god, but no improvement in little Scruffy. he seems much quieter and sadder than before. Any ideas how to cheer him up? He has loads of cuddles which he loves, his favourite place is lying across my chest and licking my fingers! Sometimes we find him just staring into space and he looks so sad, he cheers up when he hears the timothy bag rustling but I want him to be happier.

 

[MemberY]

Poor Scruffy

Lennie was an oldish aby x and had the start of cataracts about 6 months before he died but the vet thought old age was the factor there.

I hope you find out the cause x

 

[rw3399]

I think he just needs some extra cuddles from mum

 

[katiep]

The lovely little man had a big cuddle last night... he hardly has any sight left.

 

[katiep]

An update on Scruffy - his eyes have been reacting to light, and he is a lot chirpier. We think he has adapted to his sight-loss, however although most of his eye is cloudy, he seems to navigate round the conservatory well, and has no problems in his cage.
Tiger's eyes seem to have improved! I know this is not possible with cataracts so wondering if it was a parasite and the medecine we gave them all has halted it...