Blood blister on nictitating membrane?

[hazelrunpack]

I've been watching a spot on the inside corner of Cass's eye--looks like a blood blister on the third eyelid. It was looking an angrier red yesterday, but it's not looking enough better to me today to make me comfortable so she's got a vet appt on Monday... Unless someone has seen something like this and thinks I should get her in earlier? Lord knows that we spend enough time and money at the vet that they're willing to work us into their Saturday schedule if it's warranted...

Anyone want to venture an opinion?



Don't know what she did or how she got it. It doesn't seem to bother her--she's not pawing at it. Yesterday there was a pinkish-red thread leading downward under the top layer of the membrane that looked like it might be draining from the spot--that's gone today, but otherwise there's not much change from yesterday...

[Dr Lee]

From your description and the picture, I do not think this is an emergency however it does need to be looked at. How long has it been there?

My thoughts on what it could be include: bruising or blood clot, inflammatory tissue from either being abraded or having foreign material in it (like foxtail, sand, etc...) or a mass.

Depending upon the history and closer (in person ) evaluation, they may try topical and/or oral antibiotics. They may recommend eye tests. There may be blood tests if there is any concern on clot formation ability (however history and physical exam might rule this out). They may recommend surgical biopsy of the site.

I hope this helps. Please let us know what they say on Monday.

[hazelrunpack]

Thanks, Dr Lee!

I'm pretty sure it wasn't there Wednesday afternoon when I groomed them--but was there Thursday afternoon. So whatever it is, it appeared pretty suddenly.

I'm hoping she just got poked with a claw during a Silly Session with Grace Thursday morning. I did trim their nails on Wednesday, so all the nails in the Pack would have been rougher than usual during playtime on Thursday.

So now I'll relax and be patient till Monday and update when she gets back.

[hazelrunpack]

Just another observation--she was just outside...it's been maybe 30 minutes. She hasn't been playing, but she did trot around the yard for a few minutes, then lay down on the deck to do her morning baking in the sun.

Although her activity has been minimal, it radically changed the appearance of the lesion. Now it looks more like it did yesterday (sorry the shots are blurrier...she's no longer cooperating with the pupperazzi... )

[allfurlove]

Personally I wouldn't wait till Monday if you can get in tomorrow, but eyeball problems make me paranoid . I would think if it is a scratch or something it could get irritated and become alot worse by Monday. Then again it could be just a blood vessel or something

[Frenchy]

Hazel , how is the eye tonight ?

Looks like she got hit while playing .... IMO , you could wait until Monday.

[hazelrunpack]

It's back to the way it looked this morning Seems like when she moves around (trotting or playing) or gets hot (sitting in the sun), it gets pinker. So it's evidently a vascular sort of thing?

I hear ya, allfurlove--I'm paranoid about eyes, too. But it doesn't seem to be any worse, and maybe even a bit better than this morning. We're going to try to keep her quiet tomorrow and see if that makes a difference...and go from there...