Enucleation in Dogs & Cats
Learning that your pet needs an eye removed can invoke many emotions, including sadness, shock, alarm, and of course, worry for your pet's health during surgery and as they recover.
The procedure to surgically remove a pet's eye is referred to as enucleation, and is typically performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist or ocular specialist as a last resort if other treatment options would not sufficiently address the issue. Your vet may recommend this permanent and irreversible solution if:
- Your pet's eye pain has become unmanageable
- Your pet's eye is badly or irreparably damaged
- Your pet has an untreatable eye tumor or other condition
The two types of enucleation surgery are transconjunctival and transpalpebral. The transconjunctival approach to enucleation reduces loss of orbital tissue and subsequent orbital sinking. The procedure can generally be done faster and there is less risk of hemorrhaging.
Your vet or veterinary specialist may opt for the transpalpebral approach if the eye is damaged beyond repair. The entire eye globe, including the elements contained by the conjunctival sac (eyelids, conjunctiva, and nictating membrane) is removed during this surgery.
In some cases, the vet may be able to replace the inner contents of the eye with a prosthesis to create a more natural-looking eye. However, this is not appropriate for eyes with tumors or infections.
Pet Eye Removal Surgery: Procedure & Cost
Our veterinarians follow stringent surgical protocols for every procedure we perform, including eye removal surgery. Hospital staff will check your pet's vital signs before administering pre-anesthetic drugs. After your pet has been sedated, general anesthesia will be administered. Staff will then shave the fur surrounding the affected eye and trim the upper eyelashes using fine scissors before using tape to remove fine hair from the skin.
A vet or veterinary specialist will perform the surgery based on the surgical approach you've agreed on according to your pet's eye condition and needs. Your cat or dog's eyeball and eyelids will be carefully removed before the wound is stitched.
Stitches are used to close wounds. Some stitches are made of absorbable, invisible material. They will gradually resolve and not need to be removed. More often, stitches are non-absorbable and are visible on the skin's surface. Your veterinary specialist can tell you which kind of stitches were used and provide instructions on when to return to have them removed, if necessary.
Once the surgery is complete, skin will cover the empty eye socket. The eye may remain swollen for a week or so, but the scar should barely be visible once the fur grows back.
The cost of your pet's enucleation surgery will be determined by many factors, including their pre-operative and post-operative care requirements. Ask your veterinary specialist for a specific, detailed cost estimate of your pet's procedure.
Pet Eye Enucleation: Potential Complications
If an infection occurs, the eye area will be swollen for an extended period of time (longer than the week or so it would normally take to heal). You may see pus draining from the incision. In this case, you would need to bring your pet back to the hospital to have the infection drained and antibiotics will be required.
If you notice these symptoms and suspect your cat or dog may have a post-surgical infection, contact your veterinary specialist as soon as possible.
When a pet's eyes are removed due to severe, irreparable damage, vets may have difficulty removing the eye in one piece. A small portion of the rear eye membranes may remain. If enough of this tissue is left behind, fluid may continue to ooze from the incision. If this is excessive, your vet may need to perform a second surgery to completely clean your cat or dog's eye socket.
Recovery After Eye Removal Surgery
This procedure is a permanent solution for eye conditions that have not or will not respond to treatment. Completely removing an eye that's been damaged by injury, infection, or disease will ideally eliminate the issue and prevent the condition from spreading.
Here's what you can expect and some actions to take to ensure your pet's recovery from surgery goes as smoothly as possible:
Bruising - There may be some mild bruising and swelling soon after your pet's surgery. It's normal for this to worsen in the first 24 hours, then ease gradually over the first week of recovery.
Weeping - You may see a small amount of blood-stained fluid come from your pet's wound or, occasionally, from the nose. This is because the tear ducts are connected to the inner nostrils. Contact your vet for further instruction and care if there are more than a few drips. Blood dripping from the nose should diminish about two to four days after the operation.
Pain - Your cat or dog is likely to feel a small amount of pain and discomfort post-surgery. Most of this can be managed with medication. Make sure to administer all medicines correctly once your cat or dog has returned home. Contact your vet if your cat or dog still seems to be in severe pain. Once healing is complete, the surgical area should be pain-free and comfortable.
Protect the Wound - You'll need to prevent your cat or dog from pawing at or damaging the surgical site to avoid infection or reopening the wound, especially in the first 3-5 days post-surgery. Your pet should wear their e-collar (Elizabethan collar, also referred to as a head cone) the incision has healed and your vet says it can be removed (usually within 10-14 days). Your pet should be able to eat and drink with the collar in place, but if you have concerns, check with your vet about removing the collar at meal times. Make sure your pet is well-supervised if you do remove the e-collar. If you have other pets living in your home, you'll also need to stop them from licking your pet's wound and sutures by separating them from your pet during your pet's recovery.
Keep Your Cat or Dog Indoors - If your pet normally ventures outside, it's important to keep them indoors as they recover. This decreases the risk of injury or infection.
Administer Medication as Directed - Your vet will prescribe pain medication to be administered while your [et recovers, likely for a week or so after surgery. Make sure to provide this as instructed.
Make Sure Your Pet Gets Lots of Rest & TLC - Arrange a warm, comfortable, quiet place for your pet to rest and recover after the surgery.
Provide Soft Food - If your pet is experiencing pain or a loss of appetite, soft food may help. Try warming their normal food slightly or giving them something with a strong scent, such as tuna.
Return to Your Vet for Stitch Removal - Stitches typically need to be removed within about 7 to 14 days after the operation.
Monitor Whisker Regrowth for Cats - After enucleation surgery, whiskers won't typically grow back for six to eight weeks. Since cats use their whiskers to sense their surrounding environment, they should be monitored and protected during this timeframe as cats without whiskers are prone to becoming imbalanced.
Life After Eye Removal Surgery
Many pet parents wonder, "What happens when my pet loses an eye?". Some worry for their pet's safety and ability to enjoy a good quality of life.
Owning a one-eyed pet will come with its challenges, but shouldn't be particularly different from having a fully sighted pet, as they tend to adapt well. You can help them by:
- Moving any objects that are the same height as your pet's head and may cause harm or injury (since your pet will not be able to see from the side where they've had the eye removed).
- Take other preventive measures as directed by your vet if your pet has a condition that may threaten the remaining eye.
- Speak to them when approaching on their blind side to avoid startling them. Tell guests to do the same and take extra care when bringing small children and other animals around your pet.
Most pets respond well to partial blindness and resume regular activities quickly.
Enucleation Prevention in Pets
Pet eye removal surgery is often recommended for eye conditions are caused by unknown factors. As such, prevention is not always possible. However, our Renton vets recommend taking steps to prevent eye injuries or trauma from occurring by checking your dog's surroundings for any objects that could cause injury before allowing them to play and keeping your dog from interacting aggressively or fighting with other animals. Additionally, it is important to seek veterinary ophthalmological treatment right away if you detect a problem.
Note: Northwest Animal Eye Specialists specializes in treating eye conditions and illnesses. The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or behavioral advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.