General Question Possible entropion surgery

Jungerland

New member
Jul 31, 2011
33
2
Hi everyone,

At Winston's last vet visit the vet brought up that she is pretty certain that he will need entropic surgery, possibly in both eyes. He has an ulcer issue with one of his eyes before but after a few weeks of eye drops and antibiotics the ulcer went away. Now he has an ulcer in both eyes, poor guy he is the sweetest thing ever and i feel awful for him.

I have recently noticed that his eyes were extra watery with discharge and he was squinting and at some times not even opening one more than the other. So my immediate thoughts were how much is this going to cost at the vet. Regardless how painful its going to hurt to bust out potentially hundreds and maybe even in the thousands I just want Winston to feel better, so my main goal is to have him healthy. Side note, I am really kicking myself for not getting pet insurance when he was a puppy before all pre-existing conditions (he is 1yr 10months).

My vet is recommending me to a specialist which I would rather have top care for him rather than a botched up procedure. Luckily I am close to a Cornell University which for those who do not know is one of the top veterinary schools in the nation, but this is a catch 22, great care and veterinaries for Winston, but a pricey tab. I have done my research on here visiting prior posts about other members experiences with the surgery with costs, which range from what i saw to be about $400-$2000.

- For those who have gone through the surgery please share any words of advice as in what choices you made that you liked, and maybe choices that you would do differently.
- A rough estimate of the cost, both if your primary vet did the surgery or if it was done by a specialist.
- Recovery: how long it took, and how effective it was.

Also Pet insurance - naturally I looked into purchasing pet insurance again. I am very aware that this surgery or any cost related will not be covered, but I would like to hear some thoughts on insurance. Or maybe I am jumping the gun on the insurance because I know I will be paying out of pocket for Winston's possible surgery.

Sorry for the lengthy post, enjoy some pics of my handsome boy.


http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/winston1p.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/winston2.jpg/
 

Vikinggirl

Norwegian Rose
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Oct 8, 2012
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Burlington, ON Canada
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Bulldozer and Blossom
Oh my gosh he's so cute. I'm not familiar with entropian surgery, my Blossom had cherry eye. The first eye to come out was the right one at 5 months old. At first I was able to massage it back in, but then it just kept coming out. When she was 7 months old, I had her spayed , and I fixed her eye at the same time. The spay and eye surgery cost $850 , $400 for spay, $250 for her eye, and the rest was anesthetic , IV fluids, medications, etc. A week after her surgery , the left eye developed cherry eye. I had it fixed 2 weeks ago, and that surgery was $950. The reason it was more for just the one eye is because when she was spayed, she was already under anesthetic, and IV, and medications, so the second surgery was added at the same time. The second surgery was more expensive because she had to be put under again, and have IV fluids, and medications again. I thought she was free and clear for the other eye, as it was 3 months later, but unfortunately , the other eye came out. If I had waited one more week, I could have done the spay and both eyes, and not have had to put her under anesthetic twice. Luckily I purchased insurance when I bought the pups, so everything was covered 80%, which really helps, especially when you have two. I put them on the puppy wellness program, which covered all their vaccinations, revolution for 6 months, spay/ neuter, unlimited coverage for accidents, and unlimited or illness. I'm leaving them on this level until they are a year old, then will drop down to level 2 or 3, because they will have had all their surgeries, and vaccinations, and won't need all the puppy stuff. The other 2 levels are around $45 and $55 a month, and cover $5000 a year for accidents, and $5000 for illness, as well as $450 year for dental, and alternative treatments , and behavioural therapies.

Here are some pics of my two guys Blossom and Bulldozer
 

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RiiSi

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Sep 30, 2011
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Sorry, no experience on this, but what a hunk he is!
 
OP
Jungerland

Jungerland

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Jul 31, 2011
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[MENTION=6311]Vikinggirl[/MENTION] Thank you for your reply with your experience with your dogs eye, I hope they are doing well. It seems crazy that the second surgery cost so much just because of anesthesia and meds. I believe I am going to do Winston's both eyes as well as get him neutered (I never got it done :ashamed:) so hopefully that will save a little. Luckily for you it sounds like most of the cost was absorbed by your pet insurance policy. -- Thank you for sharing your pictures, I like the pic with Santa :D

[MENTION=3354]RiiSi[/MENTION] thank you for the compliment on Winston -
 

kazzy220

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Jul 31, 2010
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Grafton, OHIO
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Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
Winston is such a gorgeous boy!!!! :luv: I have no experience of entropian surgery but many others on here have had it done. I'm sure they will be here soon to give you some advice!!
 

BabyDuke

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Mar 25, 2011
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Duke
Hello there.
Yes Duke had the Entropian surgery , he had an ulcer in one eye and was beginning a second in the other. We had ours done a a vet opthomologist and the entire thing.. surgery, follow up visits etc was close to $3000.00.
His recovery was 6 weeks.. he had over 118 stitches but he never ever had a problem with his eyes again. he had to wear the cone for 4 weeks after surgery.

We did have pet insurance so they reimbursed us 80 %
my only recommendation is to have it done with someone who has experience in the eyes..

Good Luck to you !! :pray:
feel free to PM with any questions..

he is adorable!!!!
 
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Jungerland

Jungerland

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Hi I just wanted to updated everyone and say that Winston had his entropian surgery. While he was under they also neutered him as well as trimming his soft pallet to help him breath a little better. I must say the Veterinarians and Staff at the Cornell Animal Hospital outdid themselves. They were great every step of the way and would recommend it to anyone in the upstate New York area. They were even a lot less expensive than I imagined. All 3 procedures was a little over $1,200. Which is a deal if you ask me.
 

bullmama

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Hi I just wanted to updated everyone and say that Winston had his entropian surgery. While he was under they also neutered him as well as trimming his soft pallet to help him breath a little better. I must say the Veterinarians and Staff at the Cornell Animal Hospital outdid themselves. They were great every step of the way and would recommend it to anyone in the upstate New York area. They were even a lot less expensive than I imagined. All 3 procedures was a little over $1,200. Which is a deal if you ask me.

Very glad to hear all went so well! I bet Winston feels great now!
 

Vikinggirl

Norwegian Rose
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Oct 8, 2012
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Burlington, ON Canada
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That's an excellent deal, I'm glad everything worked out and that Winston is on the mend, it's much better to do more than one surgery at a time as the cost is less, when they are already under the anesthesia , and it's easier on them as they only have to be put under once, so the risks are less, than putting them too sleep again, as well I think when you do more procedures at once , you get it over with and they only have to re cooperate and heal once, and medications are only used once as well. Are you going to get insurance for future?
 
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Jungerland

Jungerland

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Jul 31, 2011
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I am still up in the air for the insurance. I am most likely leaning towards no with Winston just bc all of his known problem areas wont be covered because of per-existing conditions :(. When the time comes to get a second one or years down the road when I get another one I definitely would greatly consider it.
 
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Jungerland

Jungerland

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Jul 31, 2011
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I forgot to mention in my previous post - Tomorrow we take Winston back to the vet for his 2 week check up. He seams to be healing up very well, although he has most definitely lost weight. I am putting this due to the fact he has a cone on his head and is eating/drinking a little less. We also were feeding him canned food per the vets recommendation for the soft texture on his corrections in his pallet. He was having troubles keeping that down - kept purging it back up. So we switched him to beef and rice that we cooked for him that day, which he loved. But to my point before he has lost weight, so hopefully when he goes back onto his kibble he gain it back which im sure of.

While we are up there we also made him a dermatologist appointment as they recommended it to us bc he keeps getting ear infections most likely due to his food. Most likely a food allergy as from what I have been reading up on. So hopefully they can pin point what he is allergic too and recommend some a food that will help him out.

-- I am currently feeding him Taste of the Wild - the Bison.
 

kazzy220

..........
Jul 31, 2010
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Grafton, OHIO
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England
Bulldog(s) Names
Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
While we are up there we also made him a dermatologist appointment as they recommended it to us bc he keeps getting ear infections most likely due to his food. Most likely a food allergy as from what I have been reading up on. So hopefully they can pin point what he is allergic too and recommend some a food that will help him out.

-- I am currently feeding him Taste of the Wild - the Bison.

Not particularly knowledgeable of the TotW range ........ is that a grain free food?
 

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