Cataract on one eye

[KarrieRee]

So I had Blaze into the vet today and we have discovered he has a cataract on his right eye and dark spots and the left eye w/ abnormal iris - the lens is normal she said- she is going to contact a ophthalmologist in the cities that looks at rabbits- they took pics of the eyes and are sending them to him she does not know if he will see reptiles - he is being treated for pin worms again pancur once a day for 10 days- We have developed a health plan for now of syringe feeding Herbivore every other day to make sure he does not loose any more weight he was of good weight 556 grams - but he is not eating much - he has had a hard time catching his food -- I have suspected for awhile something was going on w/ his eye sight but was not for sure - I am hoping that w/ the pin worms being treated his appetite comes back but between the bad eyes and worms I dont know if both are effecting it or the worms itself - I am to start offering his food on a salad plate instead of the white ceramic bowl - and I need to place the food plate in the same spot at every feeding - he gets around his tank fine and is able to climb on his basking decor - I do not know how this has occurred since he has always had good UVB and correct basking bulbs -- I am thinking its maybe genetic- she did mention cancer or Melanoma on the one eye -- his health other than the eye issue is good -

 

[xp29]

I was going to suggest maybe it was gentic. Most all of us are aware of the baddies like mbd, adv, ect. But i suspect they are like us and can suffer from a whole range of stuff that never occurs to us till it happens. I'm sending your boy well wishes, hopefully everything works out well for him.

 

[CooperDragon]

This is likely a genetic problem. Darwin has the same issue and I go through the same questions in my mind about lighting and diet etc. Certainly worth having a specialist check it out and keep tabs on it. I would just keep watching how he moves around and tracks food. Offer food toward the good eye when you can and see if he responds normally. I've also changed the food bowl to a heavy low/flat dish that offers better visibility. Routine visits to the doctor will help monitor for progression. I'm not really sure what can be done to treat this, but I'd imagine a lot of it may be experimental and risky so I consider treatment to be a last resort.

 

[KarrieRee]

This is likely a genetic problem. Darwin has the same issue and I go through the same questions in my mind about lighting and diet etc. Certainly worth having a specialist check it out and keep tabs on it. I would just keep watching how he moves around and tracks food. Offer food toward the good eye when you can and see if he responds normally. I've also changed the food bowl to a heavy low/flat dish that offers better visibility. Routine visits to the doctor will help monitor for progression. I'm not really sure what can be done to treat this, but I'd imagine a lot of it may be experimental and risky so I consider treatment to be a last resort.

I am not exactly sure which eye is the good one -- he was switched to a salad plate for food now and moves around his tank fine- climbs on his basking decor fine as well - today I found him sitting in the salad plate- I dont think he ate anything but offered water on his head and it dripped onto the plate and he licked it off the plate - Dr Nancy wants me to force feed Herbivore every other day and feed salads too - we dont want him getting used to be force fed - I dont know if the pinworms are effecting the appetite at this point - will see after the 10 days is up w/ the meds - I am stumped w/ this issue now w/ the eyes - hes always had good lighting so the only thing that comes to mind is the genetics - I can get a hold of Kaylee who I got him from and see if she has had anyone else contact her about Blazes clutch mates

 

[xp29]

My boy Zen swims in his salad if i put it on a flat dish. It's comical as can be but after a couple times picking up the mess the salad goes back into a bowl lol.

 

[Claudiusx]

I can get a hold of Kaylee who I got him from and see if she has had anyone else contact her about Blazes clutch mates

That would be a good idea, and if you get that information, please share it. It would definitely lend credence to the genetic issue.

Realistically, in humans, there are a few major known causes of cataracts. It would be a semi-safe assumption to believe that those reasons in humans can also be contributing factors for dragons as well.

The main being:

1. Smoking
2. diabetes
3. Too much time in sunlight...
4. Certain medications (to lump a few)

Risk factors include age, altitude, and people who spend too much time in the sun.

Karrie, if I remember right, you live somewhere at a decently high elevation? Could be a factor.

As much as we think we know about lighting and what are dragons require, we really don't. It's why I've always preached over the years the potential dangers of too strong of UVB in the enclosure, the importance of areas of no UVB in the enclosure, and the slightly laissez faire attitude when it comes to distances and whether the bulb is mounted in or outside of the tank. It's because we just don't know for sure. Dr. Francis recommends a UVI of 3.0 at the basking site. Most people here have a UVI way above that based on bulb/distance recommendations. UV is damaging; necessary, but damaging. The goal should be the lowest effective dose. We unfortunately just don't KNOW what that is.

Once again, not saying any of the above is the reason for the cataract, but it's more so to open a discussion on it, if anyone is willing to.

Blaze is relatively young, and I'm sure Hiccup has about the same lighting setup as Blaze right? All the more reason to believe that genetics does play a larger role in it.

-Brandon

 

[KarrieRee]

That would be a good idea, and if you get that information, please share it. It would definitely lend credence to the genetic issue.

Realistically, in humans, there are a few major known causes of cataracts. It would be a semi-safe assumption to believe that those reasons in humans can also be contributing factors for dragons as well.

The main being:

1. Smoking
2. diabetes
3. Too much time in sunlight...
4. Certain medications (to lump a few)

Risk factors include age, altitude, and people who spend too much time in the sun.

Karrie, if I remember right, you live somewhere at a decently high elevation? Could be a factor.

As much as we think we know about lighting and what are dragons require, we really don't. It's why I've always preached over the years the potential dangers of too strong of UVB in the enclosure, the importance of areas of no UVB in the enclosure, and the slightly laissez faire attitude when it comes to distances and whether the bulb is mounted in or outside of the tank. It's because we just don't know for sure. Dr. Francis recommends a UVI of 3.0 at the basking site. Most people here have a UVI way above that based on bulb/distance recommendations. UV is damaging; necessary, but damaging. The goal should be the lowest effective dose. We unfortunately just don't KNOW what that is.

Once again, not saying any of the above is the reason for the cataract, but it's more so to open a discussion on it, if anyone is willing to.

Blaze is relatively young, and I'm sure Hiccup has about the same lighting setup as Blaze right? All the more reason to believe that genetics does play a larger role in it.

-Brandon

No my altitude is low -- I live in MN -- but his UVB has always been at a distance of around 12 inches -- he does sit on the floor by the basking decor piece at times and that is around 18 inches- so I dont know - he can get out of the UVB he is not always exposed to it -- I will contact Kaylee and see if she has had anyone contact her about his clutch mates -- I know he was the runt of the clutch - getting picked on etc - so I took him - his eyes have just started to give him issues w/ in the past year - and yes Hiccup has the same light set up and hes doing fine- I dont know if his morph has anything to do w/ it he is a red transluscent / wiblet - father was the red mother was the wiblet -- hes got her head and dads coloring-- I contacted Kaylee and she has not heard from any one regarding eye issues - Blaze will be 4 in July

 

[CooperDragon]

What I've been able to do with Darwin is observe to see which side he watches movement from. I've also been able to move something toward his eyes (finger, worm etc) and on the side with the worst cataracts, he doesn't track the movement at all. His pupil doesn't adjust or move. On the "good" side, his pupil will adjust to focus on the movement and he is able to track the object.

 

[KarrieRee]

What I've been able to do with Darwin is observe to see which side he watches movement from. I've also been able to move something toward his eyes (finger, worm etc) and on the side with the worst cataracts, he doesn't track the movement at all. His pupil doesn't adjust or move. On the "good" side, his pupil will adjust to focus on the movement and he is able to track the object.

Dr Nancy took a cotton ball and rubberband in the exam room on Wed and dropped them in front of him and he never followed at all w/ his eyes or head - she did it twice - so observing him in his tank he will sit in front of his door w/ his left eye looking out and will follow me so I am thinking he can see something w/ the left eye but not so much w/ his right being that is the one w/ the cataract -- the left eye w/ the abnormal lens