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Original poster

Kitten corneal injury after castration :(

32 replies

Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 20:40

I posted on here last week about getting my 4 month old male kitten neutered (along with his mum and sister to follow). All good, he was booked into today.

Vet rang me this afternoon and said surgery went well but they injured his cornea. I didn't quite catch the details and I was a bit shocked and upset to ask. When I picked him up again the vet just said sometimes it happens despite their best efforts. Again I was a bit too shocked to ask...I know I am a chicken.

They have given antibiotics and another eye drops (complimentary - I should think so!). Post op check up in 3 days time.

I feel so horrible and sorry for my kitten and his eye does look awful. I've lost faith in this vet now and very reluctant to take my two girls there for their neutering. Is this the right decision? Problem is I've bloody signed up for the healthcare plan for all three through the vets but I feel like complaining and asking them to cancel the policy and find another vet. It's disappointing as they have a lot of 5 five reviews and have been good so far. But I have lost all faith and certainly don't want to run the risk with the other cats.

Has anyone had experience of this corneal injury? I've had lots of cats before and never even knew this was a thing.

Do you think I will be able to cancel the healthcare plan?

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 09/01/2025 21:58

It's unfortunate it's happened, but it is a risk. Was it due to tape on his eyes or his eyes drying out? I'd want a full explanation. But it wouldn't put me off the vet practice, if I was otherwise happy with the care.

misunderstoodmetoo · 09/01/2025 22:05

Oh poor little lamb. It is relatively common after sedation I think - their eyes can dry out under anaesthesia (for humans they tape your eyes shut but it's harder in animals because of their fur I believe). The same thing happened to my baby after an operation. His eyes looked so awful and the eye drops make them look even worse. But it cleared up very quickly and he was right as rain within a few days.

Definitely ask for a full explanation - you need to have faith in the vets as providers.

thorneyislanddoris · 09/01/2025 22:06

Ive worked at a vets for 20 years. Seen hundreds of surgeries. Never has a cornea been damaged during neutering. Negligence has gone on here. I'd be asking more questions.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 09/01/2025 22:07

I think you need to ask what happened to understand if it’s a common risk or if an accident happened before you can decide anything else

Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:33

thorneyislanddoris · 09/01/2025 22:06

Ive worked at a vets for 20 years. Seen hundreds of surgeries. Never has a cornea been damaged during neutering. Negligence has gone on here. I'd be asking more questions.

Thanks, I am an experienced cat owner since I was young, all been neutered, including using the free programme available by RSCPA when I was much younger (not that I expect standards to be any less). I've never heard this happening before at all.

I am so angry I don't know where to begin to ask for an explanation.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:34

ToKittyornottoKitty · 09/01/2025 22:07

I think you need to ask what happened to understand if it’s a common risk or if an accident happened before you can decide anything else

From reading so far, and what I can find it seems like a very rare occurrence.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:36

misunderstoodmetoo · 09/01/2025 22:05

Oh poor little lamb. It is relatively common after sedation I think - their eyes can dry out under anaesthesia (for humans they tape your eyes shut but it's harder in animals because of their fur I believe). The same thing happened to my baby after an operation. His eyes looked so awful and the eye drops make them look even worse. But it cleared up very quickly and he was right as rain within a few days.

Definitely ask for a full explanation - you need to have faith in the vets as providers.

He definitely said something like they taped the eyes, but was then quick to say they tried their best to avoid this but it happened. Vague at best really but I admit I was too shocked and queasy to question more.

I will ask again at the post op check up.

OP posts:
Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:38

thorneyislanddoris · 09/01/2025 22:06

Ive worked at a vets for 20 years. Seen hundreds of surgeries. Never has a cornea been damaged during neutering. Negligence has gone on here. I'd be asking more questions.

Not necessarily. The cornea can dry out under anesthesia. I always used lubricant to reduce the risk of ulceration, but it doesn't stop it completely. And it doesn't mean there is negligence. Please don't make accusations like that.

Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:39

Thanks for responses. I am worried sick about this kitten's eye and feel quite angry this has happened.

Kitten is doing well though apart of his gammy eye and wanting to kick the collar off. He's asleep for now. Fun of administering eye drops when he wakes...

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:43

Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:38

Not necessarily. The cornea can dry out under anesthesia. I always used lubricant to reduce the risk of ulceration, but it doesn't stop it completely. And it doesn't mean there is negligence. Please don't make accusations like that.

Show quote history

Ahh I'm so squeamish about eyes I can barely read your comment!

The vet was flatly apologetic but I feel it's a risk to take my other cats back there now to run the risk of this or anything else going wrong. As I said I've literally never heard of this happening before, I've owned a lot of cats before (at one point with 6 in total) and plenty of friends and family with cats.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 09/01/2025 22:47

It would put me off this vet practice. I'd go with another one and ask them to cancel the pet plan because you lost confidence in the vet. Isn't 4 months a bit young to castrate, I thought it was 5 months?

Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:47

Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:43

Ahh I'm so squeamish about eyes I can barely read your comment!

The vet was flatly apologetic but I feel it's a risk to take my other cats back there now to run the risk of this or anything else going wrong. As I said I've literally never heard of this happening before, I've owned a lot of cats before (at one point with 6 in total) and plenty of friends and family with cats.

Show quote history

It is not uncommon, but I am sure they will be doubly careful with the others. It is definitely not a reason to leave them intact. Going to a different vet won't remove this risk.

Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:50

caringcarer · 09/01/2025 22:47

It would put me off this vet practice. I'd go with another one and ask them to cancel the pet plan because you lost confidence in the vet. Isn't 4 months a bit young to castrate, I thought it was 5 months?

4 months is pretty standard these days. And corneal abrasion post anaesthesia is not a sign of a bad practice. You can reduce the risk, but not eliminate it.

Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:53

Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:50

4 months is pretty standard these days. And corneal abrasion post anaesthesia is not a sign of a bad practice. You can reduce the risk, but not eliminate it.

Show quote history

What are the things that reduce the risk though? Is it a matter of "being doubly careful" or something else?

Before I go back to the vet I would like to arm myself with the facts.

Ultimately now given it has happened and the response I feel was a but sub standard (the vet was non plussed), I really don't think I can justifiably take the others back there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:54

The poor boy is awake now and rolling around. Which may further damage his eye 😥

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:55

He's one of the sweetest kittens I've known. Very soppy and loves his hugs.

OP posts:
Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:57

Catmummyagain · 09/01/2025 22:53

What are the things that reduce the risk though? Is it a matter of "being doubly careful" or something else?

Before I go back to the vet I would like to arm myself with the facts.

Ultimately now given it has happened and the response I feel was a but sub standard (the vet was non plussed), I really don't think I can justifiably take the others back there.

Show quote history

As in making sure they use enough lubricant while the cat is asleep. Animal's eyes don't usually get taped.
Having had one cat from the household with an issue, they will be more likely to keep a closer eye (sorry!) on the others. Changing to a different practice won't change the overall risk that it could happen.

Overtheatlantic · 10/01/2025 18:39

How is he doing today, OP?

middleeasternpromise · 10/01/2025 18:55

Same thing happened to my kitten - they didn't spot the injury I noticed it at handover, vet staff denied it was them and said maybe I brought the cat in like that! When I challenged them they accused me of making false allegations against them as they were all animal lovers. Then asked for £70 extra to treat the injury. It was quite something. From the advice I got it is not that rare - my vets handled the whole episode very badly, Kitty was fine after a day or two. At least yours didnt try to charge more and spin the event to make you responsible

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5011545-took-cat-aged-1-to-vets-for-neutering-and-he-comes-back-with-an-eye-injury

Took cat aged 1 to vets for neutering and he comes back with an eye injury | Mumsnet

Apparently these things can happen, although not in their huge detailed terms and conditions - and now I need to pay a further £80 for eye drops. Is i...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5011545-took-cat-aged-1-to-vets-for-neutering-and-he-comes-back-with-an-eye-injury

Floralnomad · 10/01/2025 19:04

It looks like the vet is handling it well and it wouldn’t make me change vets unless I’d had previous issues . Hope he gets well soon .

Original poster
Catmummyagain · 10/01/2025 21:19

Basketballhoop · 09/01/2025 22:57

As in making sure they use enough lubricant while the cat is asleep. Animal's eyes don't usually get taped.
Having had one cat from the household with an issue, they will be more likely to keep a closer eye (sorry!) on the others. Changing to a different practice won't change the overall risk that it could happen.

Show quote history

Thanks for your reply. So if I understand it, is likely to be avoided if they used more lubricant? I'm not understanding how the injury happens?

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 10/01/2025 21:23

middleeasternpromise · 10/01/2025 18:55

Same thing happened to my kitten - they didn't spot the injury I noticed it at handover, vet staff denied it was them and said maybe I brought the cat in like that! When I challenged them they accused me of making false allegations against them as they were all animal lovers. Then asked for £70 extra to treat the injury. It was quite something. From the advice I got it is not that rare - my vets handled the whole episode very badly, Kitty was fine after a day or two. At least yours didnt try to charge more and spin the event to make you responsible

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5011545-took-cat-aged-1-to-vets-for-neutering-and-he-comes-back-with-an-eye-injury

Oh I'm sorry this happened to you and shocking response from your vet! What happened in the end? Did your kitten make a good recovery? And I assume you didn't pay and you moved vets?

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 10/01/2025 21:27

Floralnomad · 10/01/2025 19:04

It looks like the vet is handling it well and it wouldn’t make me change vets unless I’d had previous issues . Hope he gets well soon .

Well it's a major issue for me now as I have 2 more cats to neuter and I really do not feel confident in continuing to use them now.

Post op appointment tomorrow and I'll be asking them more questions about how this happened. He's doing OK after the surgery but is clearly not in a good way and closing his eye. The bottom of the eye is swollen. It also doesn't help as his mum and sister are hissing at him. I suspect it's the smell of the vets and his collar they are scared of😥

OP posts:
Original poster
Catmummyagain · 10/01/2025 21:30

Overtheatlantic · 10/01/2025 18:39

How is he doing today, OP?

Thanks. He's such a calm kitten that he's taken it all very well and love his hugs.

No hugs from his mum and sister though! Any tips from anyone on what I can do to reintroduce him? I will give him a sponge bath as he probably smells of the vets.

OP posts:
Basketballhoop · 10/01/2025 21:34

Catmummyagain · 10/01/2025 21:19

Thanks for your reply. So if I understand it, is likely to be avoided if they used more lubricant? I'm not understanding how the injury happens?

Show quote history

Cats (and dogs) do not close their eyes under anaesthetic. Because they are anaesthetised, they do not blink. The surface of the eye dries out and can get abraded. It isn't because someone has done something, it just happens. Applying lubricants reduces the likelihood of damage, but it will still occasionally happen, however hard anyone tries to prevent it.