Conference misery::feline_v1

    Im not sure where it is but what about Tuft's University.
    
    Sandi
    
    

    Unfortunately, Dr. Bachrach also services Angel Memorial and Tufts.
    
    You might try calling Tufts, they were able to offer me an appointment
    that was a little sooner....You may also want to try to have your
    vet set up the appointment.  She may have better luck getting an
    emergency appointment.
    
    I don't know of any other eye specialists in the area. 
    
    Good Luck
    cin
    

    
    
    I know some people don't like this vet, but I trust them 100%
    
    McGees Veternarian, route 20, Marlboro.
    
    Call them, they only receive phone calls until about 12:00.
    
    They are not extremely personable people, but excellent vets!
    
    From my personal experiences.  They are a married couple.
    
    The woman is the type that if you bring in a cat with a broken bone,
    she'll yell at you "what have you been doing to your cat!!"
    
    Also, I believe they aren't "after your money".  They don't keep
    pets in longer than they have too.  They are reasonably priced,
    also.
    
    F.

    Francis had little bumps under his lower eyelid for a while and
    I remember treating it with something - but unfortunately I cannot
    remember what it was,- I think it was Durafilm which has cortesone
    in it. It occurred last year. 
    
    My vet is Dr. Terri Nord at the Framingham Animal Hospital. She
    was worked with Francis - and my other 5 cats - for a few years
    now and I think she is terrific. So do alot of other people so her
    schedule is rather full but if you decide to call, tell the
    receptionist your delemma and frustration and perhaps they can get
    up in. She is off on Wednesdays. There are other vets at the FAH
    as well but I haven't used them yet except for Dr. Rabout (pronounced
    Ra-bough) who is excellent (and is also the owner). If you go to
    FAH get either Rabout or Nord.  877-0900  
     
                                            

    I also want to recomend the McGees!  After getting to know them
    (We are talking about them going out of buisness because my animals
    are well....) I find they are very personable and helpful.
    
    Most people don't like them because of the "awful bedside manor",
    however my animals health is more important that how the vet talks
    to me. 
    
    I do want to add to .2 reply that it is important to ask questions,
    and make sure you understand what he/she says, otherwise they might
    think you already know what their talking about.  And although they
    are gruff, they are always happy to answer the nervous mom type
    questions.  
    
    I'd be more than happy to talk more off line if you want
    
    Michele
    234-4678
    
    p.s. 
    
    Mc Gees # is 485-1570
    

    
    
    Yeaaaaa!!
    
    Yes, they will answer any questions.  Don't be afraid to approach
    them with even something stupid.  They *are* gruff, but they are
    happy to know if you care..  etc. etc.
    
    Feel free to send me mail also.
    
    F.

    Barney had eye surgery last year at Slade Vet Hospital (Rt. 126,
    Framingham).  At that time, Dr. Migday had an eye specialist come
    in once a week, I believe on Thursdays.  You can give them a call...
    875-7086.  
    
    Good luck.
    Mary

I would like to thank everyone for their suggestions and referrals.

I called Tufts and got an appointment for tomorrow.  Does anyone know
how to get there?  They told me to take 495 to Rt. 9w to Rt. 30.
If I left from work that would be great, cuz I work at the Hudson
(on the Hill) facility which is right by the 290/495 exit.

I will be coming from my house in Marlboro and I know Rt. 30 pretty
good until I reach Westboro Main Street (by the rotary, et al).
Where do I go from there?  Straight thru the rotary or should I take
a right towards Bradlee's??

Thanx,

/Karen

    Karen, also might want to check out the note about Chlamydia.
    
    One of the clinical signs of Chlamydia are small white "pimples"
    on the underside of the cats third eyelid (called follicles by the
    opthamologist).  Not being able to see your cat, there is no way
    for me to know if that is what you are describing.
    
    The treatment consists of Terramycin ointment applied generously
    to each eye three times a day (religously) for a peroid of 3 weeks.
    Chlamydia is treatable, but often the medication is not given often
    enough, or long enough.  Ten days (the most often prescribed amount
    of time for medicating), is not long enough.
    
    I would go ahead and make the appointment for May, and in the meantime,
    begin medicating with Terramycin for the recommended period.  That
    way, the eye problem will not have a chance to get any worse in
    the interim.  You may also be able to take care of it before the
    appointment.
    
    Also, I understand that DR. Bachrach is very good, and that may
    be why the wait is so long.  You might also tell them that you will
    take a cancellation appointment (short notice, but sometimes worth
    it).
    
    Jo

    Did you get an appointment with Dr. Bachrach at Tufts???  
    
    Anyway, the only way I've gone to Tufts is rt 140 to Route 30.
    
    It's right on Route 30, can't miss it.  
    
    Give me a call if you'ld like.
    
    cin
    DTN: 273-5187
    

Jo, that sounds like what Smokie has (small white pimples) - I don't 
know about the 'third eyelid' thing.  The doctor pulled Smokie's lower 
lid down to show them to me.

That's also the name of the 'goop' I was referring to that I was (and 
am) giving Smokie - Terramycin.  The first time I was instructed to 
give it to him 3x a day for 10 days.......approximately 2-3 weeks 
later it returned.

His eye was also filled with fluid on top of the pimples.  I didn't 
even notice the pimples - just that his eye was full of fluid.  It 
doesn't seem to bother him, except when I give him the medication.
He HATES that, but he's getting used to it and so am I.

Anyways, I made that appointment for Tufts which is tomorrow - think I 
should cancel it and wait 2 weeks to see if it works this time??

/Karen

    In answer to your question on directions to Tufts.
    
    At the rotary, go straight -- do not turn as if you're going toward
    Bradlees.
    
    Follow Route 30 until you see the sign "Entering N. Grafton."  Tufts
    is right beyond that sign on the left.  You can't miss it.  It's
    straight all the way.
    
    
    /Roberta
    

    Did they give you an appointment with Dr. Bachrach, or just "any
    old vet"???  
    
    If I remember correctly, Dr. Bachrach is at Tufts on Thursdays!!
    
    purrs
    cin
    

I didn't ask for an appointment with Dr. Bachrach, so I'm not sure who 
the appointment is with!

Yeah, it's better to be safe than sorry.  I'll let ya know how it 
goes!

Thanx,

/Karen

    If you have the appointment, please go to it!  My suggestions were
    for what to do in the meantime.  When Kalliste had this, the
    opthamologist told me to consider how long he had had the problem
    and then not get discouraged that it wasn't going away in a week.
    
    When giving the ointment, be sure to not touch the tip of the
    applicator to any of the eye tissues.  If you do, you will have
    contaminated the tube of ointment and can actually give the illness
    back to the cat.  Pull he lower lid down and run a thick line of
    medication from one corner to the other.  Then manually open and
    close the lids a few times to help distribute the medication all
    over the eye and eyelids.  I would always distract Kalliste after
    putting the medicine in because he would start either pawing at
    his eyes, or rubbing his face against different objects.  Doing
    these things can be dangerous, since the cat could scratch up his 
    corneas.
    
    I am really glad that your vet refered you to a specialist rather
    than taking a trial and error approach to finding the cause.  That
    method can be quite costly and depressing.
    
    jo

    I have used the following technique to avoid contamination of the
    tube containing eye medication:
    
    Apply the desired amount of ointment to a clean Q-tip.  The Q-tip
    will not jerk or squirm (mine don't, anyway ;-) so it is easy to
    avoid touching the tube.  Then apply the ointment to the cat's eye
    from the Q-tip.  The worst that would happen is that the Q-tip
    gets contaminated by touching the eye, but the Q-tip gets thrown
    away anyhow.

    A trick that I use is to squirt out the desired amount of ointment
    first (it is thick and gooey and just hangs there from the tip of
    the tube), then open the cat's eye and drape the string of ointment
    across the eyeball.
    
    Jo

First, I want to thank everyone for their help and suggestions!!!

I brought Smokie to Tufts and Dr. March looked at him.  They took
a couple tests (checking for Ulcers & Tear drops) - those were
negative.  They kept him overnight and did some more lab testing,
plus they wanted Dr. Bachrach to look at him (he only comes in
on Fridays).

The diagnosis was Eosinophilic Keratitis.......whatever that is?
They don't know what the cause is (could be a chronic allergic
reaction?).

They gave Smokie a long-acting injection, plus some medication
(Neobacimyx....sp??).  The injection is the main treatment.

I asked about using a q-tip with the medication and Dr. March
said that wasn't a good idea because of bacteria problems.  He
said the best way was what Jo had mentioned - squeeze the tube
until you get a little stream of the medication and hold his
lid open and apply it across his eye.  He also said there was no
need to rub his eye as the medication would spread on it's on
from Smokie blinking.

I noticed this morning a BIG improvement already!  Smokie's eye
is almost all the way clear.....amazing!!  We have to go back in
two weeks to have his eye rechecked.

I am so grateful to you folks for your help and suggestions!

Thanx again!!!

/Karen & Smokie   8-)