Hello Everyone,
I’m looking for opinions on yearlings with a cataract in one eye. I was interested in one and the vet found a cataract in the left eye, which he said which is most likely congenital and that it’s very rare for yearlings to have them. I havent seen a post post regarding yearlings with cataracts when I searched. Any information would be helpful, preferably from someone who has dealt without or owned a horse with cataracts.
Thank You!
No specific experience, but it might be worth sending the vet findings to an equine ophthalmologist for an expert opinion on how this yearling’s cataract may progress (or not) and the options that might be available for treatment.
You need a consult with a specialist. Equine Opthamolgy is a rapidly growing field and it would be most unusual for your GP farm vet to be experienced with the latest research in dx and treatment.
Usually don’t need to haul in for an initial consult and second opinion, which is good as there aren’t that many specialists. They can offer an opinion based on info your vet can provide to them. Ask your vet for the referral and to forward their findings.
NO WAY would I buy this yearling without that second opinion and prognosis from that specialist. Why does the attending vet here think it’s congenital?
Agree to check with a specialist. They can be congenital, one eye or both eyes depending on the cause. If congenital (and both eyes) and thick enough, the horse will virtually be blind.
You do want to make sure the cataract isn’t the result of inflammation such as uveitis. If it is, I would pass on that foal because you’ll be dealing with it their whole life.
I did quite a bit of reading on a young dog that got cataracts seemingly overnight after being prescribed what I later found out was a massive overdose of a drug for infection. There was some evidence through studies that I believe it
was Vit. B2 could improve the condition. I tried it, did nothing that I could see. In dogs, they can remove the cataract
and even sometimes implant an artificial lense.
Years after my dog’s diagnosis I met a woman who went through the same situation- massive overdose of same drug.
Quickly got cataracts. You might want to see if this youngster was prescribed something for infection and what drug
and dosage was.
My understanding from taking my dog to U of Fl. for care and treatment, that surgical removal was only option.
There’s also condition of ‘juvenile cataracts’ which they suspect is genetic.
I would also worry that on a horse it could later become bi-lateral which could mean a blind or partially blind horse.
Articles;
https://thehorse.com/118530/advances…ophthalmology/
and
https://thehorse.com/154829/lens-implants-in-horses-advocated-following-cataract-surgery/
One of the teenagers at our barn has a 4 y.o. Appy mare who had her 1st physical by the vet on Barn Day a couple of weeks ago. He diagnosed juvenile cataracts and said they are congenital but shouldn’t cause problems because they are so tiny. Clearly the owner will have to make sure the mare is examined regularly. Vet is retiring in a couple of months which is causing huge angst among the owner population. He has been practicing almost 50 years. We figure he’s seen just about everything. We’ve done the math and reluctantly acknowledge maybe it is time to let him retire.
OP, if you are skirting around asking if you should buy this colt? No. Taking on one that might or might not develop problems requiring very expensive solutions and negatively impacting resale value is generally a big fat, mistake. Unless you are positive can cover the vet bills for treatment and keep it forever and ever with you.
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