surgery or no surgery? Read post before voting

Busterzkool · 06-26-2006, 02:13 PM

My horse has uveitis and I want to send him to a vet in Westchester to get a surgery that costs $300 and the surgery stops it from ever reoccuring. First I have to send him there for like $50 to find out if his kind of uveitis is treatable. If its not then there's nothing I can do about it. But this is a lot of money and I would have to save up all my money that I make over summer vacation. But I also need to pay board and buy hay. So do you think I should save up the money and go for it? (I want to do it before winter b/c the snow is what causes him to have episodes).

KASHA'S MOM · 06-26-2006, 02:43 PM

May I just say, instead of voting I am going to offer my two cents worth in words... $350 isn't a lot of money for a vet bill IF it's going to work - do you know the success rate for sure? How old is your horse? How hard is it going to be to raise the cash for the surgery? It's one of those difficult situations - I think I would probably have it done, as long as the horse was good and healthy to begin with. IF there are other issues, I might not... Does this help at all?

Busterzkool · 06-26-2006, 02:48 PM

I only know of one other horse that had it. The horse was perfect afterwards. Never had an episode since and he doesn't have to wear a mask anymore to protect from the sun. My horse is 11 or 12. I can save up the money by the end of the summer but i intended on this job generating money for expenses i already have like board and hay.

momof5 · 06-26-2006, 02:48 PM

I think you should find out if he is treatable and if he is.you should defiantly do the surgery.If he is not treatable than you are only out $50 so not to bad and if he is treatable $350 is a cgeap vet bill in my area.Good luck

Sue B · 06-26-2006, 02:51 PM

Ditto....
The real questions will come after you pay the $50 to see if it is treatable. If the treatment is to relieve the pressure by making a hole in the eye, then it may not be worth the money to have it done. Last I knew (and I am not too up to date on this subject), that surgery didn't work well on horses. While it does seem to work well on humans, horses seem to heal too quickly and the eye seals over before the hole can heal as a hole. But, this is something you need to discuss with your vet and get the "real" story on. You should find out exactly what the surgery is and what the success rate is.

tightpaycheck · 06-26-2006, 02:53 PM

I wish I could fix my horse up for $350! If it is fixable I say do it, but I have never heard of a surgery for this. Do you have any more info on what they actually do?

momof5 · 06-26-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue B

Ditto....
The real questions will come after you pay the $50 to see if it is treatable. If the treatment is to relieve the pressure by making a hole in the eye, then it may not be worth the money to have it done. Last I knew (and I am not too up to date on this subject), that surgery didn't work well on horses. While it does seem to work well on humans, horses seem to heal too quickly and the eye seals over before the hole can heal as a hole. But, this is something you need to discuss with your vet and get the "real" story on. You should find out exactly what the surgery is and what the success rate is.

I totaly agree.
Is there anyway your parents will help you out?

stina3246 · 06-26-2006, 03:12 PM

I'm with everyone else...I can't vote 'cause it really depends on a lot of factors. If it were my horse and I KNEW the surgery had a high rate of success then I'd probably do it but I'd want to know all the facts first. How badly is it effecting him and will it get worse? (I know NOTHING about this condition) I definitely think it's worth the $50 to find out if it can be done.

Busterzkool · 06-26-2006, 03:16 PM

I have been researching a lot about uveitis and yes it can lead to severe problems in the end. Eventually the horse will lose its vision in one or both eyes. I just can't seem to find specific information about the surgery online. If anyone can, please send it or post it on here. But I think maybe I remember my boss saying it was an injection behind the eye. And my parents will probably pay for the board and stuff becasue they have been but i got the job to help them out but if its treatable I am definately doing it. I just don't want to find out it is treatable and then not have the money to treat it.

Buckshot · 06-26-2006, 03:18 PM

I think you need to find out which type it is first and if it is treatable. Try to find out the success rate too. Then make your decision.

View Poll Results: Do you think I should get him the surgery? (read post b4 voting)
Yes	9	100.00%
No	0	0%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

06-26-2006, 02:13 PM	#1
Busterzkool Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ny Posts: 820 Images: 28	surgery or no surgery? Read post before voting My horse has uveitis and I want to send him to a vet in Westchester to get a surgery that costs $300 and the surgery stops it from ever reoccuring. First I have to send him there for like $50 to find out if his kind of uveitis is treatable. If its not then there's nothing I can do about it. But this is a lot of money and I would have to save up all my money that I make over summer vacation. But I also need to pay board and buy hay. So do you think I should save up the money and go for it? (I want to do it before winter b/c the snow is what causes him to have episodes). __________________ When riding my horse I no longer have my heart in my chest, but between my knees. There is no secret so close as that between a rider and her horse.

06-26-2006, 02:48 PM	#3
Busterzkool Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ny Posts: 820 Images: 28	I only know of one other horse that had it. The horse was perfect afterwards. Never had an episode since and he doesn't have to wear a mask anymore to protect from the sun. My horse is 11 or 12. I can save up the money by the end of the summer but i intended on this job generating money for expenses i already have like board and hay. __________________ When riding my horse I no longer have my heart in my chest, but between my knees. There is no secret so close as that between a rider and her horse.

06-26-2006, 03:16 PM	#9
Busterzkool Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ny Posts: 820 Images: 28	I have been researching a lot about uveitis and yes it can lead to severe problems in the end. Eventually the horse will lose its vision in one or both eyes. I just can't seem to find specific information about the surgery online. If anyone can, please send it or post it on here. But I think maybe I remember my boss saying it was an injection behind the eye. And my parents will probably pay for the board and stuff becasue they have been but i got the job to help them out but if its treatable I am definately doing it. I just don't want to find out it is treatable and then not have the money to treat it. __________________ When riding my horse I no longer have my heart in my chest, but between my knees. There is no secret so close as that between a rider and her horse.

06-26-2006, 03:18 PM	#10
Buckshot Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michiana Posts: 5,446 Images: 26 Blog Entries: 19	I think you need to find out which type it is first and if it is treatable. Try to find out the success rate too. Then make your decision. __________________ HGS's official Birdbrain I've been Snowballed! X5

06-26-2006, 02:43 PM	#2
KASHA'S MOM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 108 Images: 5	May I just say, instead of voting I am going to offer my two cents worth in words... $350 isn't a lot of money for a vet bill IF it's going to work - do you know the success rate for sure? How old is your horse? How hard is it going to be to raise the cash for the surgery? It's one of those difficult situations - I think I would probably have it done, as long as the horse was good and healthy to begin with. IF there are other issues, I might not... Does this help at all?

06-26-2006, 02:51 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Ditto.... The real questions will come after you pay the $50 to see if it is treatable. If the treatment is to relieve the pressure by making a hole in the eye, then it may not be worth the money to have it done. Last I knew (and I am not too up to date on this subject), that surgery didn't work well on horses. While it does seem to work well on humans, horses seem to heal too quickly and the eye seals over before the hole can heal as a hole. But, this is something you need to discuss with your vet and get the "real" story on. You should find out exactly what the surgery is and what the success rate is.

06-26-2006, 02:53 PM	#6
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	I wish I could fix my horse up for $350! If it is fixable I say do it, but I have never heard of a surgery for this. Do you have any more info on what they actually do?

06-26-2006, 03:12 PM	#8
stina3246 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 949 Images: 238	I'm with everyone else...I can't vote 'cause it really depends on a lot of factors. If it were my horse and I KNEW the surgery had a high rate of success then I'd probably do it but I'd want to know all the facts first. How badly is it effecting him and will it get worse? (I know NOTHING about this condition) I definitely think it's worth the $50 to find out if it can be done.

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surgery or no surgery? *Read post before voting*

surgery or no surgery? Read post before voting