Eye ulcer, advice.

My friend has a little Terrier called Toto who has an eye ulcer. The antibiotics didn't work and the eye is getting worse. The vet is going to slice the ulcer off and stitch the eye closed until it's better. And the dog is having a hernia fixed at the same time. Only problems is it's the friend I'm going on holiday with. The operation is Tuesday and we are going on Saturday.

Her brother will be looking after her but we are all worried. Any advice with this would be appreciated. Thank you.

Here's a picture of Toto

My sister's dog, Maggie, had a corneal ulcer, and her vet learned how to do the procedure from an ophthalmologist and purchased the specialized surgical instruments required to do it. She didn't stitch the eye closed, she put a patch over it, and Maggie had to wear a cone collar. Maggie had to return several times for re-checks, and to have to procedure repeated until the cornea healed correctly. Her eye has completely healed now.

I'm wondering why the eyelid will be stitched closed. From what I've seen, it seems to take more than one procedure to get it healed without scarring. We have a vet in the group practice who specializes in ophthalmology although she may not be board certified.

This is very much the same thing my mother had done years ago after an eye injury. Her eye is fine today.

Thanks Cathy, my breeder says they do sew it up sometimes when it is very bad. I wish she would go to a specialist though.

my last cavalier had an eye ulcer too, probably got poked in the eye from a branch in the garden. It was sucessfully operated on and my dog had no problems since!

It was worrying at the time as he only had 1 eye, so they didn't stich it.

Good luck!

Hi Pauline!

I do not have any advice as have never had to deal with this particular problem personnally (touch wood quick!) I am sure that everything will be just fine however, and would venture to suggest they are stitching the eye closed to rule out the possibility of any "foreign" bodies entering the eye and sparking off an infection possibly?

Good Luck to your friend and speedy get well wishes in advance to little Toto!!

Thank you, I'll show my friend your comments. I'm off to see her tomorrow

Bradley had exactly this op in January.

They 'scraped' the ulcer off and stitched his third eyelid shut, to help the healing process. He was so much more comfortable after the op, even when the stitches were still in.

He didn't have to wear his E-collar at all, as he just didn't bother the eye, although we kept it on for a day or 2 just in case.

It's a routine procedure and there should be no problem.

x

Pauline, back in "the day" when I worked it wasn't an unusual practice to stitch the eye closed to prevent further damage while the cornea healed. At one time I remember the vet using a soft contact lens (human-type!) in the dog's eye to perform the same service. I don't think I'd like to fool with putting a contact lens in any of my girls' eyes!!

All should be well, as long as the dog sitter is keeping up the re-checks and any required meds.

Thank you, I was at her house today. Dylan loves Toto! I feel a bit more reassured but as you can imagine my friend feel very worried.

It's the big day tomorrow, Toto's operation, I hope she and her mummy are OK

We'll be thinking of them!!