Protrusion from under top eyelid

[jujoos]

I wonder if anyone has encountered anything like this. Our cat seemed to develop some sort of protrusion on her upper eyelid on the way to the vet a couple of weeks ago. We hadn't seen it all previously and I've sure one of us would and certainly it wasn't there the day before. Anyway, after thrashing around and madly trying to escape the carrier, when we got her out there it was suddenly visible. We'd taken her for ear drops so in treating her ear she's had anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory shots but as the vet had never seen anything like her eye before he just gave us ointment for conjunctivitis. The swelling isn't as red as it was but hasn't gone and the only thing he can offer now is a biopsy. Obviously, we'd do anything for her and if that's the road we have to go down so be it but would prefer to spend the money on curing if someone could identify it. He knows all the things it isn't, like cherry eye, and said he doesn't think it's a tumour or anything like that, he just doesn't know what it is! It doesn't seem to be bothering her. Now her ear has cleared up, which was making her a bit miserable, she's back to normal and she's feeding well. The closest we've found in description is a woman on the internet who said her cat developed a protrusion from under her upper eyelid after having cat flu and sneezing. The pressure of sneezing caused it to 'pop out' That would kind of fit in too with the stress of thrashing round in her cat carrier! This lady said the vet gave her two different ointments and in the end it went although it did happen again and in the end they decided to remove it.

If anyone has any experience of anything like this we'd love to hear from them.

Thank you.

[Lilith]

Hi there, what you can see is an inner bit of the eyelid known as the nictitating membrane, or haw. It's absolutely nothing sinister; it's often described as a 'third eyelid' and it can sometimes appear across the open eye when a cat's feeling off-colour, more usually in the inner corner of the eye.

I've only ever seen the haw look like this once, when a cat got a bit of grass stuck under her eyelid and the haw receded in time, but whatever the cause, rest assured that it is a normal part of the eye - and at least your vet has seen it. I've just had a quick google and read that in cats and dogs the haw doesn't have much muscle tone, which could be why it's looking a bit baggy at the moment - but I'm no vet of course.

There will be people on here with more experience than me, but hope this helps for now - glad she's in no discomfort, give her a fuss from me

[jujoos]

Thank you so much for your reply. You've really put our minds at rest with your post, it was so worrying that the vet said he had never seen anything like it and so encouraging you've seen similar before. So, I guess the answer monitor it, lots of TLC and give nature a bit more time to take its course?

[Lilith]

You're welcome - only too glad to help and perhaps others can give more help too.

Yes, I feel the same as you - the thing ought to go back into its normal position by itself, and the vet is always there of course if you've any worries. All the best

[bobbys girl]

I have no experience of this problem. But it seems like it is putting some pressure on the eye. I'd take her back to the vet. The 'Third Eyelid' is usually flatter than that. I wonder if it could be prolapsed (if that's even possible). Perhaps it needs a little help to get it back in shape. I don't think it is anything to worry about. I think you are right about the thrashing around in the carrier.

Keep in touch and let us know how she goes on.

[jujoos]

Thank you for the reply. I must admit when we got back from the vet the first time when it had just happened and had a Google we leaned towards it being some sort of a prolapse as the description of 'cherry eye' seemed to fit the bill, with some pet owners, not necessarily cats, saying theirs had been caused by a similar stressful situation to the cat carrier. The thing that puzzled us is that the vet has since said it's definitely not cherry eye due to the location. As a lay person though you would think if it could prolapse lower down it could prolapse in this position too.

Will keep you posted!

[Catfan5]

When I saw the photo it reminded me of when a human upper eyelid is turned inside out, it looks similar to that. So I wonder, like bobbys girl, whether the eyelid could have prolapsed. Never heard of it but maybe try another vet in the practice because it really shouldn't be like that. Good luck.

[Lilith]

If you haven't seen this before - might be of some help -

http://pets.thenest.com/protrusion-nict ... -9682.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's interesting that it says that a protruding nictitating membrane can be the feline equivalent of the human 'shiner' - fits in exactly with the cat crashing about in the carrier.

When a cat's eye closes, the nictitating membrane is a smooth protective skin over the eyeball, although at the moment your kitty's is a bit crumpled up when retracted.

Good luck and hope there's no more trouble - but at least the vet has seen it and will be there to monitor it if needs be. All the very best

[jujoos]

Thank you all for the replies. No improvement yet on the eye but we did go to a lovely new vet to get a second opinion. He still doesn't know what it is but offered a lot more information about the possibilities. Milly was so much happier there and more comfortable with him and we felt so much more confident about the whole thing. She's having a biopsy later in the week but if it's something he can sort there and then once he gets a proper look at it he will. Not that the cost was ever an issue, you'd do anything to get them right wouldn't you, but the surgery is half the cost of the other practice too! Will keep you posted on the outcome.

[jujoos]

Just an update in case any of it is of any use or reassurance to anyone else in the future.

Milly had a biopsy and was given painkillers and ate well immediately after. She wouldn't eat or drink at all the rest of the day, or the following day, which meant we couldn't give her the painkiller she'd been prescribed. We took her to the vet just in case she was in pain or dehydrated and they gave her painkillers (injection) and appetite stimulant orally. She still wouldn't eat or drink and by around 8 pm she clearly wasn't well, drooling and weak. We rushed her to vet hospital but she wasn't seen until 10 pm by which time she couldn't stand and was rushed to an oxygen tank. To cut a long story short she was very poorly through the night and they suspected neurological problems/liver shunt. She perked up a little when we visited the following evening to try and feed her and miraculously by the following day she was "like a different cat" and we were able to bring her home. We suspect it was the appetite stimulant that caused the problems as she is now fully recovered and full of beans.

With regard to the original problem of the eye we are still none the wiser. We've been waiting all this time for results of blood tests and cultures and all have come back negative. A course of antibiotics and drops have shrunk the protrusion. It's still there but very hard to see now and seems to be continuing to decrease in size now the medication has stopped. The vet is confident that if it starts to come back a final course of antibiotics will see it off but neither he, the labs or any of the ophthalmic vet specialists he has consulted know what it is!

[bobbys girl]

but neither he, the labs or any of the ophthalmic vet specialists he has consulted know what it is!

That's weird, and a little worrying?

I'm sorry Milly has been so unwell and hope she is feeling better now. Fusses to her.

[jujoos]

It's very weird isn't it bobby's girl, but we're looking at it positively. The eye problem is nearly gone and she's back to normal and full of energy. Milly's looking at it positively too because she's being spoilt rotten

[AmyHobson]

Thanks for all of this information, it was really helpful. This happens periodically with my cat. The first time we took her to the vet, and she did have a corneal abrasion. We were given antibiotic drops and a cone, and it sort of remedied itself (visually) within the day. It happens about twice a year now, and lasts for about half of a day, and remedies itself. I wonder if she just has a genetic variant or an eyelid injury? It's scary when it happens though. Our Millie was fine this morning, but then after breakfast one of her eyes has this protrusion. It's bugging her more than it usually does, and she clearly doesn't feel well (she won't let me pet her). I'm going to cone her up so she quits messing with it, and see how she does.