Conference misery::feline_v1

    
      I took a cat to Dr Bachrach about 4 years ago. She had a runny
      eye and what looked like damage inside the eye but turned out
      to be pigment spots. I liked Dr Bachrach very much and was pleased
      with everything. It was a bit expensive, but after that I didn't
      worry about her eye anymore so it was worth it. I haven't met
      his new associate.
    
      Kristen
    

    This is my first entry (reply?) to this file.  I've enjoyed reading
    the advice and wonderful stories all you fellow cat-lovers have
    offered.  Now it's my turn to make a contribution.
    
    I acquired a new kitty a few months ago.  I got "Rocky" (a very
    cute gray tiger) as a friend for my 6-year old Siamese.  Well, they
    did not get along so well at first.   (Turns out I had introduced
    them improperly, a fact I learned after reading several of the notes
    here).  Anyway, my older cat (Shami, a Tortoise point), got him
    in the right eye only a few days after Rocky arrived.  He was then
    only 7 weeks old.  As soon as I noticed his damaged eye (please
    bear with me if this bothers anyone - this story has a very happy
    ending!) I took him to the animal emergency hospital.  While they
    gave him antibiotics right away, they unfortunately did not have
    the facilities to treat Rocky's eye properly.  They too recommended
    we see Dr. Bachrach at Veterinary Opthalmology.
    
    We got to see Dr. B the next day.  He was great (as were his
    assistants, who were students at the vet college in Grafton - that
    was the only way I could see him so soon.  He spends one or two
    days a week teaching out there.)  He examined Rocky's eye and told
    me that at the time it did not look good.  There was a possibility
    he could lose it.  He also treated the eye and gave me some medicine
    to put in it.  We had to make several follow-up visits to the Lincoln
    office after that, and we saw Dr. Pentlarge each time.  She, too,
    was very helpful and very gentle with my "baby" (he was so little
    then!).  
    
    To make a long story short, the knowledge of the opthalmologists
    and the treatment they presribed was invaluable.  Rocky's eye is
    completely healed now.  It is a little smaller than the left one,
    and if you look at him closely it's a tad skewed, but it is intact
    and we had no bouts with infection.  If it hadn't been for the
    "specialists", I may have ended up with a one-eyed (but much-loved)
    kitty.  We're due to make a routine check-up visit in a couple of
    months, and I will gladly take Rocky back.  I would take my other
    kitty, too, if she developed eye problems. 
    
    I know Rocky's problem was more drastic than yours, but I thought
    you'd feel better knowing that these people do wonderful work.
    
    That's enough for now, I guess.  Let us know how your kitty makes
    out.  Oh, yes, now my two cats get along just fine.  Rocky still
    harasses Shami from time to time, but they only "wrassle" now. 
    If Shami gets fed up, she just walks away and doesn't try to smack
    the little guy any more.  (This could also be because he's as big
    as she is now, and he's ony 8 months old!)
    
    Anyway, good luck!
    
    Pat  
    

	One of  my  old  roomies  used  to  work  for "Dr. B.", so I had
    several  chances to meet him on a non-professional basis. I can only
    confirm  that  what .1 and .2 have said are true. If you do go, tell
    him  to  say  "hi" to Franny and Shadow (his dogs at the time I knew
    him) for me!!

    
			Kathy

    Thanks for all your input.  Chauncey has an appointment with Dr.
    Pentlarge on Dec 9.  I will pass on regards to Franny and Shadow!
    I just want to make sure his vision is OK and that it's not something
    serious.  Stay tuned!
    
    Thank again for your moral support...
    
    Mary

    And so the saga continues.  Chauncey and I saw Dr. Bachrach last
    Tuesday (Kathy, Dr. B. says hi and Shadow wagged his tail at
    you...Franny is no longer with us).  He gave Chaunc a very thorough
    exam and feels that he may have some kind of neurological problem.
    If his eye condition worsens, he wants me to take him to a neurologist
    at Tufts.  It also appears that his tear ducts are not functioning
    at full capacity.  Right now, he's getting eye drops to reduce the
    inflammation he's got, but if it comes back, he'll have to have
    surgery to "blow out" his tear ducts (UGH!!  Poor Chauncey!).  But
    there is good news...his vision seems to be fine, and his pretty
    blue eyes seem to be normal.
    
    He still is having a problem eating, but I'm continuing to give him 
    chuncks of food to eat (his chewing problem might be part of this
    suspected neurological problem).  He's made some progress, but still
    isn't eating the way he should be.
    
    Both Dr. Bachrach and Dr. Pentlarge were terrific.  It was a tad
    expensive (and it might get even more expensive!), but I felt that
    he was getting the best care available.  Everyone there from the
    vet assistants to the vet students were very gentle and caring to
    the both of us.  Chauncey even got Bonkers for being such a good
    boy (too bad he couldn't chew them!!).
    
    The saga continues...
    
    Mary

    After consulting with my vets, we've decided that the best thing
    is to have surgery done to open the blocked tear ducts in Chauncey's
    eyes.  This will, hopefully, allow the eyes to drain normally and
    will stop the constant irritation (and the infection) that's going
    on now.  It's rather delicate surgery, and I'm nervous about it,
    but it seems like the best thing to do.  The surgery is next Tuesday,
    the 30th of December, so if any of your kitties say their prayers
    before going to bed, ask them to say one for Chauncey, too!  He'll
    be neutered at the same time....poor Chauncey!!  It's a good thing
    he doesn't know what's going on...guess what he's be more worried
    about!!  Two of his all-time favorite parts--gone!!
    
    Mary

    
    All our prayers are with you and Chaucey
    
    				Dave
    			Rocky, Crunch, Basrah, Callista
    			Nikki, Lulu, and Doc.

    Mary,
    
    We wish you and Chauncey the best.  You are doing the right thing
    by having both procedures done at once.  Less stress for Chauncey
    in the long run.
    
    Love from JoAnn, Winston, Monroe, Jesse, and Jouissance