Devastated! Vet wants to remove Bucky’s eye.
 

Sorry this is so long, but please read! I NEED ADVICE!

Back in July, I let Bucky out in our fenced backyard and he got bit by a Bulldog that got in. :2omg: He had a gash on his head and there was a “blood bubble” where his right eye should have been. :cry: :angry: I totally freaked out when this happened. :cry: I rushed him to our vet. The vet said that he had an ocular hemorrhage and gave me some antibiotics to prevent infection and an ointment to keep the eye area moist. He sent us home assuring me that Bucky would heal up fine and he would NOT be blind in that eye.

As the weeks passed his personality was the same, my playful little guy. I noticed that his eye was clouding over. My husband and I have some experience “doctoring animals” as our business is farming and ranching. We doctor our own cattle yearly, but I am not comfortable trying to diagnose my baby because he is so small and I am not a vet. Anyway, I knew that the cloudiness in his eye meant that he was blind, but he had no sign of infection and he was acting perfectly normal.

It did not look very “cute”, but he is my baby no matter what imperfection he has. So I thought “Ok, so he is blind in one eye, but he is still the same old Bucky personality wise. I just have to keep watch over him because if he gets too excited he runs into stuff on that side.”

Well, the first of last week I noticed this membrane looking thing in the inside, bottom corner of his eye (I later found out that dogs have a third eyelid, but I will get to that in a minute). As the days progressed it started to cover his eye more and more. Now you cannot see his cloudy little eyeball at all, just the membrane. He is still acting fine and it is not bothering him at all and there are NO signs of infection.

So, yesterday I took him to a vet that specializes in small animals. The vet said that the eye has been damaged so badly that it is dead. The eyeball is shrinking and will continue to and the third eyelid is what I am seeing that is covering it. He said that I have two options:

Option one is to leave it like it is and keep an eye on him to make sure that is does not get infected. Any dirt blowing in the air or hair or particles of anything can get in there. If it does than they will have to remove the eye when his immune system is poor because of the infection. And sew it closed when it is removed.

Option two is to remove it now and saw it shut. My fear with this is that they have to put him under. What if he doesn’t wake up?? He is scheduled to go in on Tuesday to have it done. That way I can keep an eye on him while I am home for the holiday.

:cry:Please help!! What would you do?:cry:

Oh goodness.
The third eyelid doing that can't be comfortable even if he isn't showing it unless everything is totally numb.

If you trust this vet, I would go with his advice and have it removed.
If you have any doubts, get a second opinion.
If it happened to Ellie and infection set in from dirt, I'd feel like it was my fault for not taking care of it early.

There is always risk with anesthesia but it shouldn't be any different than spay/neuter. Sometimes we just can't avoid it.:(

I would have the eye removed, personally. Better to go under anesthesia in a healthy state than to be weakened by infection, especially for breeds that are already prone to anesthesia issues.

Honey I am so sorry that this happened and now you are under pressure...

Do you trust this Vet? If so, please try to have faith that it will all be ok...We will be praying for you and your little man...

I have to admit, that if this were me, I probably would want to remove it now and close it up, as I am so fearful of infections and compromised immune systems.

Not sure if that helped, but know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I completely agree. :thumbup: The only thing I would add is to suggest you pay a little extra to have all of the presurgical blood work done. That should pick up any issues before he is put under (if he has any).

Hugs to you and your little one. I'm so sorry!

I am sorry to hear about little Bucky. I will keep him in my prayers. Please let us know how he is doing after surgery

This has got to be a very hard thing for you to deal with. I would have to agree with the others. Have his eye taken out while it's not infected. If he truely can't see out of it,he is already used to that loss of vision,and you say he's doing well. Although anytime we have to put our babies under anesthesia,it's nerve wracking,but if you trust your vet,go with your gut. Only you can make this decission. We are all here for you,and will be through whatever lies ahead. Hugs and Kisses from Aiden and I. Please keep us updated. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

Call me crazy, but I'd get a second opinion.

Oh this must be just so difficult for you. I agree with the others. I would have it done now. It sounds like either way it will have to happen at some point and you don't want him getting an infection. He will bounce back no problem and will always be winking at you ;) Please keep us posted. I'll be praying for Bucky!!!

I agree with the other posters....best to take care of it now. But if you are hesitate I would get that second opinion soon and not wait. I'll be praying for your Bucky.:(

Oh the poor baby. I wish him luck with whatever decision you make.

My friends yorkie Mr. Benson had the very same thing happen to him. The eye was removed and he has no problems at all. You can only tell that the eye is missing if you look close. He is a sweet and happy dog.

Betty

My husband's rat terrier was attacked by something a year ago... came home with his face all cut up... it was 6 months later when his eye became infected (vet said it was from the original injury 6 months before). They tried to save his eye... for a few months we put drops in his eye... he was on antibiotic pills... etc. He was blind in the eye.

Long story short... his eye became real infected about 2 1/2 months later and they took the eye out... He was fine after the surgery and has been great ever since. Hopefully he will stay out of trouble and keep his other eye!! ;)

Good luck with whatever you decide to do... I am sure everything will work out fine if you go ahead with the surgery.

i am so sorry :( if you trust vet i would get it done he will be fine as i baby sat a little yorkie girl who had one eye as her and another yorkie girl got into a fight and eye had to be removed -- i am going to post a pic --she did just fine. I know i am super paranoid but i would get a second opinion from an opthamologist but i really do not have a vet i fully trust yet :( and tend to go to specialists for everything. Here is a pic of madeline

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the picture!! It looks much better than his right now. It makes me feel better!

ohh Tasha, I'm so sorry about this. Poor Bucky!
Well, I agree with the others about getting a second opinion unless you really trust this vet. But if you trust him, just go with the option he suggests.
I know it's hard to make this decision. But if the eye is dead, then keeping it will be just an estethical matter, which may bring problems later, so I think health should have more priority that looks.
Also get the bloodwork done before to make sure your baby will be safe under the anesthesia.

Thank you all so much for your support!! I guess that I was not clear in my post but the vet I went to yesterday was a second opinion. Like I said he is scheduled for the surgery on Tuesday so I guess that is what we are going to do. I will keep you all posted.

so glad it helped as it will be much healthier for him and he will do just fine :) keep us posted on the little guy

I am so terribly sorry. My first impulse, if you are near Alameda East, I would have another opinion. I personally think that they are among the best in the country. God bless you and I will be praying for little Bucky.

I love that place I watch them on emergency vets on animal planet :) My dex was at a place like that here in california and i felt so safe.

My mil had a shihuz...who injured one eye and had to have it removed. Baby got along just fine.

A side note...a few weeks later my MIL had her cornea replaced...her eye was glued shut until it healed. One day I casually mentioned....gee, ever hear how people and pets start to look alike? ;)

One of my cats injured their eye and it was removed. There are animal opthamologists who can make an artificial eye replacement. I didn't do that...but the option is there.

Oh! I am so sorry you are having to deal with this! Poor Bucky (love the name, BTW). I agree with everyone else, about going ahead with the operation. It seems like a much better option to go ahead and do it now, then having to make the decision during an emergency, such as severe infection.

You could have an artificial eye implanted. They do it quite frequently with horses. I personally wouldn't, but think it's a great option.

Give Bucky hugs and kisses from me and my boys!!

I had a miniature horse that had to have an eye removed. He got along just fine. As a matter of fact because of his coloring, people wouldnt even notice that his eye was sewn shut until I pointed it out. It didnt seen to affect him one bit. I think Bucky will be fine with the eye gone. Good luck.

Good luck and Im praying for Bucky

My aunt has a little mutt who had his eye kicked out by a deer! She let's his hair be long over the one eye & Cujo couldn't care less. He is a sweetheart & can out pace his little 'siste' Maddy, anyday!
Be strong Bucky & take care of Mommy...she's gonna be a wreck!:p

You are totally right! He bounces back pretty easily and not much keeps him from having fun, but I am going to worry like crazy until all of this is over. Thanks!

PS Maybe we should get some shades like yours! :)

Bless your heart. If it were me, being I too only have one eye, I'd get it taken out now while he is healthy.

/hugs how scarey for you.

Well you certainly don't need my advice since you've gotten alot already and you've made your decision to have the surgery done. So let me just say, I do think that you made the right decision in having the eye removed......for all of the reasons given by previous posters. What is the point of keeping a dead eye when keeping it could cause more concerns down the road.

I will keep you and Bucky in my thoughts and prayers and will be waiting to hear that the surgery is behind you and that Bucky is on the mend.
Hugs to both of you.