Positive stories of one eyed dogs please....

[Panicmode1]

I'm devastated. My beautiful golden retriever who is only 3 has just been diagnosed with a mast cell tumour in her lower eyelid. The vet thinks that she will probably therefore lose her eye because the specialist will have to remove so much tissue.

If your dog has lost an eye, can you tell me how long it took them to adapt and were there any complications etc.

[Jadalisa]

I would also.like to know my boy is booked in tomorow. I'm.a nervous wreck bit I know he will finaly be pain free

[Zantura]

Panicmode1...I feel for you and your furbaby. I myself am very new to this experience...my little girl, a 5-Year-old Brussels, became "unkownlingly" injured in the backyard. (out of necessity, not choice, she and my baby boy Chi have has to spend their days and nights there. They never been in that position. About three hours later we went for a short walk, and I noticed that Chico was trying to lick Penney on the face, It wasn't until we got back to the house that under the porch light I noticed the injury she had received to her left eye. My poor baby!!! I took her to an emergency vet, they looked at her, "doctored" her up. I was told she'd need surgery. $2700!!! I took her to her regular vet the next morning, and he concluded the best course of action would be a removal of the eye. $700 instead. She's recovering and trying to adapt to her situation. Including going into a kennel, which she's never done before. Chico is beside himself...he hasn't seen Penney since Tuesday and they've always been with each other. I'm glad I came to this "forum", now I know what and what not to do with her. I know it will take patience and practice on my part. Her sutures come out in two weeks. I guess I feel "bad" for me. She has not uttered a whimper yet. By the time you read this your baby would've has her procedure done. I wish the best for both of you!!! Blessings.

[PetraStrorm]

I'm glad it's good news, OP. FWIW my parents had a very active Cairn Terrier who had to have both eyes removed, and she adapted so quickly you'd honestly never have know - I think they use their noses so much more than we realise.

[Thebluedog]

I had a Lurcher who had to have his eye removed, he was an absolute star throughout the op and afterwards. Recovered really quickly and tbh once his had healed you hardly noticed it.

Totally got used to it with no issues. His depth perception wasn’t great at times and he knocked me over once or twice but lived to a ripe old age. Running off the lead like a nut case, didn’t stop him catching the odd rabbit either

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

Oh am so pleased for you, but pleased don’t worry if doggy does need the surgery in future x

[Panicmode1]

SUCH a relief - I didn't realise how stressed I'd been about it and how long I'd been holding my breath for, until the vet phoned! I have to go back in 3 months time, but it's a reprieve for now.

[noitsnotteatimeyet]

Phew! That must be such a relief!

[Panicmode1]

Finally have the verdict - the tumour is so slow growing and it isn't causing her discomfort at the moment, so the vet thinks it's best to leave her eye alone at the moment, and monitor it. So it may be that in the future, she will have to have the surgery, but at the moment the benefit of doing it doesn't outweigh the risk of surgery. Am so happy that she doesn't have to have anything done for the time being.

Thank you SO much everyone for holding my hand and giving me positive stories - it may be that I will have to refer back to them further down the line, but for now, all is ok!

[Panicmode1]

Still waiting!! It is definitely a tumour, but the vet is on holiday until Monday so I am still waiting for a plan from them as to what they are going to do.

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

How did it go Op ? Hope doggy is doing well

[Panicmode1]

So lovely to hear all of these great stories, thank you. I will know sometime tomorrow what the results of the biopsy are and therefore what they are planning to do about her eye, but you've all cheered me up with these positive and happy examples of triumphing after adversity.

[FairfaxAikman]

I've just remembered a positive story.
I do a dog sport called flyball - four dogs, four jumps and a tennis ball.
I know of one team that was racing a (now retired) one-eyed Great Dane.

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

My childhood dog lost his eye as he was knocked over by a car! Was only about 2 at the time - he adjusted quickly, though it was heartbreaking when he bumped into things for the first short while.

I can honestly say though that when I think of him, I barely remember that he had one eye- it really wasn’t that big a deal - he was just a happy lovely little dog.

[CatkinToadflax]

That's great news Panic! Hope the biopsy news is as good as it can be.

My parents' Frenchie had one eye removed though I actually don't know why I was about 16 at the time and far too busy being a teenager to find out. He also had an ear removed - though on the other side - so he was a most fascinating looking individual! He didn't really seem to notice when he lost his eye - he certainly adapted extremely quickly. He gradually went blind in his remaining eye, but my parents didn't even realise until they moved their furniture round and he bumped into everything! Obviously no dog owner wants this for their dog, but he managed really well and was always a happy fellow.

[Hidingtonothing]

Brilliant news Panic, so relieved for you My fingers will still be crossed for Monday, hope the results are as good as they can be. Might join you in that G&T, be rude not to!

[Panicmode1]

YAY - her biopsy results from today (Liver, Spleen and Lymph nodes) are all clear. Just got to wait for the biopsy on her eye now - which is less likely to be clear but at least it hasn't spread and they have plans for different scenarios. Thank you to everyone and especially Hidingtonothing for all of your messages and handholding. Of to have a large celebratory G&T now!

[Hidingtonothing]

Oh they're never happy about the cone of shame Think the worst thing about them being ill is that you can't explain to them why you're letting the nasty vet do stuff to them, she will forgive you eventually Here anytime if the waiting gets to you and you need a shoulder, still got everything crossed for your beautiful girl

[RoseDog]

My dog had a tumour growing inside her eyeball and they had to whip out the eye, she's been fine since, it's been nearly 4 years now. She's a bit clumsier as she doesn't see what's going on on her right side so is always walking into things and missing steps but she's otherwise a normal dog!

I hope you get the results you want x

[hahahaIdontgetit]

Hope everything goes well xxx

[Panicmode1]

Hi Hiding

She's home, very grumpy with me, and cross she's wearing a cone, and has had a raft of tests. They were puzzled as there was no obvious lump where the mast cell tumour was deemed to be, so they have done a full biopsy. I will get some results tomorrow and some early next week and once all of that info is in, a plan can be made. So a stressful day, but no pirate dog yet!
Thank you for your support, it's meant a lot. X

[Hidingtonothing]

Hope she's home and all went well OP, it could be an anxious wait til Monday then, will keep everything crossed

[Panicmode1]

So I've left her with the specialist - he was brilliant and spent about 45 minutes explaining everything. They aren't going to do surgery on her eye today becasue he is worried that the location of the potential tumour and her age can mean that it's more complicated, and the cancer may have spread - so he doesn't want to do surgery until he knows what he's dealing with.

IF it hasn't spread, then it MAY be that they can cut out the tumour and create a new eyelid from part of her lip, which would mean that she keeps her eye - yay! But it may be also that the best course of action is for her to have a larger amount of tissue removed, which would include the eye.

IF if HAS spread, then there are different conversations to be had - today she's having a belly scan, biopsies of her lymph nodes, her eye again, her liver and her spleen. Fingers and toes crossed that it hasn't spread.

I have to wait until 5 to pick her up, find out a bit more (although the biopsy results won't be through til poss Monday) and go from there.

[Hidingtonothing]

Today is what my DM would call 'a day to be got through', it will be horrible no doubt but you're doing the right thing by your girl, try to hang on to that. A few hours from now it will all be over and you can focus on giving her all the love, care and comfort she deserves. Please let us know how she is when you can, will be 'virtually' holding your hand til then

[Panicmode1]

Thank you so much for thinking of her/me. Sitting in reception feeling sick and tearful..... But sure it will all be for the best.

[Hidingtonothing]

Thinking of you and your girl today OP