Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Glaucoma In Cats

I've been around cats all my life. I know their diseases run parallel with ours: diabetes, upper respiratory, cancer, cataracts, etc. but I didn't realize they could get glaucoma.  When I took Faux in to get her eyes checked, I was expecting something more along the lines of cataracts or possibly a tumor, but she was diagnosed with glaucoma. She's now on eye drops to bring down the pressure. If left untreated the eye could rupture.

The disease is a result of fluid pressure building in the eyeball.  To diagnose glaucoma, like humans, the pressure must be measured.  Topical and or oral drugs are used to reduce the pressure. If the drugs don't work, surgery is sometimes required. The surgery can be to remove the pressure or the eye.

Fingers crossed that the drops will do the trick.

29 comments:

The Happy Whisk said...

Fingers crossed, for sure. And toes.

DEZMOND said...

Poor Faux! Hope she doesn't get to wear glasses :(
I've had cats all my life too and I can confirm that similar with people if you don't overfeed them and keep them relatively thin they will live much longer, more than 10 or 15 years

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Poor kitty. Prayers that drops work and that's all that is needed.

anne marie in philly said...

MEOW MRUP to faux (a secret message only faux will understand).

Janie Junebug said...

I hope your kitty will be okay. The Hurricane told me that cats are very close to humans genetically. I guess that's why I dig in the sand after I pee.

Love,
Janie

CJ Kennedy said...

Sending well wishes to Faux Paws

Pat Hatt said...

I knew that as one of our past cats was though to have it. Hopefully the drops work well.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Sandra, I hope the drops work! I didn't realize cats could get glaucoma. Take care.

Stephanie Faris said...

My terrier had a problem with eye pressure. We had to take him to a dog ophthalmologist. When I told someone at work I had to leave early to take my dog to the eye doctor, he said, "Be sure you get him contacts instead of glasses. You don't want all the other dogs making fun of him on the playground!"

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Ivy. Your good thoughts are much appreciated.

Sandra Cox said...

Agreed. Faux will be 14 on her next bday. I need to get some weight off her. I only give them a handful of dry and about a tablespoon of wet twice a day and she's still a butter ball. Captain Stubby could eat all day and never gain a pound. Again, just like people.

Misha Gerrick said...

I didn't know cats could get glaucoma. I hope the drops work!

Sandra Cox said...

I gave it to her. She said Meow Twar to you. I have no idea what it means;)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Alex. Much appreciated.

Sandra Cox said...

Hmm, now which beach do you go too? Grin.

Adam said...

I hope the eye problems get better

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, CJ. Appreciate it.

Sandra Cox said...

I trust so. How old was your kitty?

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Elizabeth. I hope it works too.

Sandra Cox said...

Too funny:)
How did they treat the eye pressure?

Chrys Fey said...

Poor Faux! I hope her eye heals. I have four kitties and I know how worried I'd be if one of them was sick. They are sending Faux kitty hugs. :)

Sandra Cox said...

I didn't know either, Misha. It was a bit of an eye opener, no pun intended:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Adam. I trust it will.

Sandra Cox said...

I didn't realize you had four kitties, Chrys. Right now I'm at 3. Lowest number in years:) Faux is very appreciative of the hugs.

Janie Junebug said...

I am not telling.

Birgit said...

I missed this from yesterday. Your poor pussy cat and you! You must be worried. I shall keep my fingers crossed and do a little prayer. I am looking at the eye and it reminds me a little of our one cat, Lucy. We don't see any bumps but we see the brown spots

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Birgit. Much appreciated. You might want to keep an eye on the pupil. If it starts dilating more than the other eye probably should get it checked out.

The Happy Whisk said...

How is the patient feeling today?

Unknown said...

Oh Sandra! :( So sorry to hear about Faux. It's good you brought her in to get checked. Because our little fur-babies can't speak, it's hard to know when they're not feeling up to snuff.