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Jenna AK · 07-16-2020, 03:40 PM

Just wanted to post an update on Jenna, my 12 yo baby. As of the 8th of July, her vet left our practice and moved out of state. She was supposed to enucleate Jenna on that day, but I couldn't gather the funds for the surgery in time. The opinion of her vet and her ophthalmologist is that at least he left eye should be enucleated because the pressure in it is up in the high 20's to 30 and that is painful. My vet wanted to remove both eyes to spare us extra expense and additional surgery, but the ophthalmologist wasn't on board that both needed to go. She may still have light reaction in the right eye, but the cornea is showing some vascular involvement and now has a 'shadow' in the same area that we're going to have another vet see her for on the 27th.

We're not sure how much Jenna hears, but in the hopes that her right eye may yet be saved I'm not fully behind removing both her eyes unless it's absolutely necessary, as in the case of unresolved infection or cancer. What do you think? Would you bilaterally enucleate a 12 yo Yorkie or would you just enjoy your time with her until the pain cannot be controlled and then let her go? Personally I can't see ending her life over this if eye removal could improve her QOL, but has anyone here ever dealt with an eyeless dog? She has terrible anxiety when I'm not around her and while she might be able to scent me out better without daily eyedrops (they really seem to impact her olfactory senses) would she be even more anxious without at least a little light getting through the remaining eye if I only have one removed?

Jenna has struggled with hypermature cataracts in both eyes for almost 2 years now and the prognosis is that this condition is starting to fail to respond to topical treatment.

My primary concern is that she not be in pain and that her health not be compromised, physical and mental. Any thoughts on this dilemma? It's had me horribly conflicted for a long time now and I'm still trying to raise enough money to at least pay for the sacrifice of the most painful eye.

Thanks to all in advance.

07-16-2020, 03:40 PM	#1
Jenna AK YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southwest Oregon, heart left in Alaska Posts: 371 Blog Entries: 1	Enucleation - when it's absolutely necessary Just wanted to post an update on Jenna, my 12 yo baby. As of the 8th of July, her vet left our practice and moved out of state. She was supposed to enucleate Jenna on that day, but I couldn't gather the funds for the surgery in time. The opinion of her vet and her ophthalmologist is that at least he left eye should be enucleated because the pressure in it is up in the high 20's to 30 and that is painful. My vet wanted to remove both eyes to spare us extra expense and additional surgery, but the ophthalmologist wasn't on board that both needed to go. She may still have light reaction in the right eye, but the cornea is showing some vascular involvement and now has a 'shadow' in the same area that we're going to have another vet see her for on the 27th. We're not sure how much Jenna hears, but in the hopes that her right eye may yet be saved I'm not fully behind removing both her eyes unless it's absolutely necessary, as in the case of unresolved infection or cancer. What do you think? Would you bilaterally enucleate a 12 yo Yorkie or would you just enjoy your time with her until the pain cannot be controlled and then let her go? Personally I can't see ending her life over this if eye removal could improve her QOL, but has anyone here ever dealt with an eyeless dog? She has terrible anxiety when I'm not around her and while she might be able to scent me out better without daily eyedrops (they really seem to impact her olfactory senses) would she be even more anxious without at least a little light getting through the remaining eye if I only have one removed? Jenna has struggled with hypermature cataracts in both eyes for almost 2 years now and the prognosis is that this condition is starting to fail to respond to topical treatment. My primary concern is that she not be in pain and that her health not be compromised, physical and mental. Any thoughts on this dilemma? It's had me horribly conflicted for a long time now and I'm still trying to raise enough money to at least pay for the sacrifice of the most painful eye. Thanks to all in advance. __________________ Jenna Bean ~ ~ An angel on four legs Sometimes I wonder who rescued who?