Hi all! I was a vet tech for ten years and had seen many enucleations in my time but when it was going to happen to my dog I finally understood it from the owners perspective.
My dog Zeke is a 10 year old diabetic American staffordshire with a zest for life. His diabetes has been maintained however like most dogs with diabetes, he developed cataracts and glaucoma. He was going for regular vet visits and getting medications to help his eyes but unfortunately he still lost his eyesight.
Over the course of a month, Zeke developed an ulcer in his left eye and uveitis in his right eye. We continued treatment but it was too aggressive and kept getting worse. On Thursday December 28th, we decided to schedule Zeke’s surgery to remove his left eye for the following Thursday January 4th but he didn’t make it that long. That evening his left eye ruptured and we had to have emergency surgery.
My very good friend and vet informed me that whatever was happening in his left eye was starting to happen in his right eye as well and we would be best to remove both. My heart sunk. I know he couldn’t see anyway but I felt sad regardless.
Zeke has been home now since Friday night and is adjusting well considering how medicated he was and he is slowly getting back to being pain free. He is giving kisses, eating and drinking and playing and being my happy puppy like dog again. It’s scary at first to see your pet that way but once you see them pain free, you’ll know you did the right thing ❤️
“It’s scary at first to see your pet that way but once you see them pain free, you’ll know you did the right thing”
Totally agree, and really it doesn’t take long to get used them not having their eyes. They still have their personality and they still play and have fun.