[Jenna AK]

Thank you all for your insights. I'm sorry it's been so long since I last updated this thread.
Sadly, Jenna's ulceration in her left eye has never properly healed. It took months for me to convince my vet that oral antibiotics were necessary and for awhile these seemed to help, but on her coming home day anniversary at the end of April, she blundered into a drawer handle in the kitchen when I had my back turned for a few seconds. My lack of attention has cost her in that the eye was compressed and for a few days looked like it would not expand again. It has since recovered it's normal shape, but has begun to degrade. Enucleation is now the only option.
After this incident her ophthalmologist was contacted by my vet (via Zoom, I'm guessing) and was shown either images of her eyes or was allowed to view her in the exam room by webcam. Apparently she was able to distinguish that Jenna has phthisis bulbi in each eye. Both she and my vet agree that a bilateral procedure would be best and she is scheduled for June 3.


This has been problematic because despite continued medication she is still uncomfortable when she is eating. It's a waiting game at present. I am assured by my vets that once she has had the surgery and time to heal afterwards she will be feeling immeasurably better. There has been no talk of her age being a factor, but since being on the gabapentin since the end of January she has had one seizure. It was a sizable one and very scary but since lowering her dosage she has not had a repeat episode. It may also be causing some issues with her kidneys, her BUN/creatinine has shot up into the low 50's as of her last blood test around the beginning of May.


This continues to be a very frustrating and worrying time. I look forward to getting this over and done and her being able to drop a significant amount of daily medication. I still don't know how she's going to deal with being eyeless, but the absence of pain is a gift that I will pay any price for.


A good friend has offered to fund the surgery. I will be taking at least a week off from work to help her through the early recovery. Does anyone have any tips on how to make this as comfortable an experience as possible for her? Especially in the area of a cone? She was given a plastic collar for me to try her out with, but it really doesn't seem to be a good fit and she definitely won't be able to sleep with it on, but I know her...she'll try to mess with the surgical sites. Can anyone recommend a cloth e-collar that is good for tiny dogs?


Thanks for reading and wish us luck. It is a long row to hoe at this point and now that we've come to the last chance saloon, it really is a roller coaster of emotions that I'm on. I waver back and forth every day. I only know for certain that she seems to want to keep going, despite the difficulties. I can't give up on her now.