jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Can anyone offer their advice or experiences on this?
It was picked up on last year that my horse (who is a cremello so has distinctive eyes) has a noticeable distortion in both eyes, above the Iris. Almost like something was behind his eye and pushing outwards?
The vet took photographs, and after going away and consulting a specialist came back to me and said that it was likely that it could be the onset of cataracts and not to worry but to be aware of any changes.
At a Monty Roberts display a few weeks back I met a lady that practices Equine Iridiology (the study of the eye to analyse internal areas and problems), and after explaining about his eye she came out a week later to complete a session on him. It was extremely interesting and I found out so much about him that I didn't know, relating to many internal organs. She also took photographs of his eye and came back to me yesterday after consulting another specialist within her field. I have been told he has a low grade tumour almost between the eyes, and that it is highly unlikely to ever cause him problems but to be aware of any changes.
He is 27 years old and doing very well for his age, and the only thing I have noticed is excessive head rubbing whenever I see him. Sometimes he will make a point of finding me in the field just to rub his head? He is very well other than this, and I have noticed no other symptoms of significance.
I would be grateful of any feedback...
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JanetGeorge
Reged: 25/06/2001
Posts: 1121
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I think I'd rely on your vet in this case. There is SOME use in iridiology but there's an awful lot of B***S*** as well!! I remember a former employer of mine getting one in to look at a 4 year old with serious behavioral problems. After lots of gazing into his eyes she decided he had a problem with his near fore. When a huge splint (that you could see from across the field) was pointed out to her she concluded it was probably that she was seeing in his eyes!
She could find nothing else. Six months of dangerous behaviour and equally quacky alternative practitioners looking at the horse - he was put down. On PM, a large brain tumour was found! Sadly I'd left by then so didn't have the satisfaction of telling her I'd TOLD her that was the most likely cause a month before she started spending a small fortune on quacks!
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Cataracts are surely something growing ACROSS the eye though, as opposed to something pushing from the inside out?
I agree, you need to keep an open mind, however prior to her visit she had no information about my pony at all and the information she gave me was very accurate regarding the history about him that I was aware about.
I am going to refer back to my vet, but seeing as though he can see perfectly fine I'm reluctant to believe it is cataracts...
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Bossanova
Reged: 30/11/2004
Posts: 11334
Loc: South west
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Has it changed since vet took a look?
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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It doesn't appear to have gotten bigger to be honest, I think it's stayed about the same...
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Shiraz
Reged: 25/06/2004
Posts: 393
Loc: Scotland
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My arab mare started "head rubbing" excessively and it was the same thing, seeking me out in the field to rub against me.
I thought it might be a tumour and posted in here about it and got a lot of good replies. I got the vet out as soon as I noticed a change in her behaviour (she was the sweetest mare but started being aggressive towards other horses and her weaving got manic). The vet scoped her and found a cyst up her nasal passage. He reckoned it was slow growing but creating pressure and leading to her rubbing her head and causing headaches, which would account for her change in personality. In a young (insured) competition horse they would have tried to remove it but S was 21 and I didn't want her to suffer on so she was pts while she was still as happy as possible.
I think you would be best to involve your vet if you're concerned about your horse.
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Bubbles
Reged: 04/10/2002
Posts: 593
Loc: Cambs
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Hi Jenspice, the head rubbing would bother me, that could be a sign of discomfort: have a chat with your vet again.
All the best
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Shiraz - thank you, I appreciate your info and am sorry for your loss. Have booked my vet up this afternoon so fingers crossed...
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Shiraz
Reged: 25/06/2004
Posts: 393
Loc: Scotland
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Quote:
Shiraz - thank you, I appreciate your info and am sorry for your loss. Have booked my vet up this afternoon so fingers crossed...
Good Luck I hope it turns out to be something and nothing.
The vet thought Shiraz would be fine on a danolin a day and able to carry on as normal but she ended up on 2x a day and was still not herself. That is supposed to give you hope, that in a different horse it might not be an issue. The vet was very surprised that she didn't return to normal (or as normal as a stressy chestnut arab mare can be!) on 1x danolin.
<<<good vibes>>>
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Thank you, I really appreciate it. I will have to wait and see what the vet say's but I can't bear the thought of him being in pain, or on drugs for the rest of his life could be a miserable existence :-(
But thank you for sharing your experience it's reassuring to me and I will see the outcome from his visit...
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Llwyncwn
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 16/11/2006
Posts: 3126
Loc: Muckheap
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Jen, so sorry for your ned. I am hoping that Box_of_Frogs will respond to this as she is the forum expert on eyes. She doesnt frequent these parts until about midnight.
PM her and she will tell you who can help.
Lots of positive vibes on their way to your boy, and of course to you. x
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My horse is out-standing in her field.
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Thanks so much really appreciate it! Fingers crossed hopefully it's nothing...
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fatpiggy
member
Reged: 01/12/2006
Posts: 172
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First of all, brain tumours are incredibly rare things. Both my mare and her 43 year old buddy seek me out for vigorous headscratching - they are being bitten by midges all the time, so no wonder they are so itchy!
Given your pony's age, I would have him tested for Cushings. The tumour can press on the optic nerve and cause sight problems so this might conceivably cause bulging. I'd also consider a sinus cyst. My friend's pony had a HUGE one between his eyes, and it is gradually affecting his right eye.
Have you noticed any different behaviour in your horse? One of the main symptoms of a brain tumour is that they can turn nasty pretty quickly. My vet told me my mare could likely have one when she started having seizures - but that was 13 years ago and her nature hasn't changed one jot. She DOES have some brain damage though, and way back then a vet told me there was something odd about her left eye, it seemed to be a bit more bulgy than her other one and had some sort of structure at the back of it, and asked me if her sight was ok.I said yes at the time, but now I know that she has limited vision in that eye. Are the two related? I haven't a clue! Your pony is elderly so it is likely he will die of old age before anything else gets him.
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jenspice
stranger
Reged: 14/10/2008
Posts: 12
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Thank you for your info it's very interesting!! Got to be honest it's not something I had thought about much but when you read in to it in depth it's quite fascinating.
My pony has always enjoyed a good scratch but the last 6 - 8 months have been excessive and quite aggressive which I have not seen in him in the 8 years I have owned him so it is some cause for concern for me.
He has previously been checked for cushings and this is all ok... and I haven't noticed any other distinctive change in him at all so maybe I'm making something out of nothing. Always better to be cautious where these things are concerned though I suppose...
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