I opted for surgery, do you think I'm doing the right thing?

[giasmom]

Well, here's my two cents.... My Gia, was 6 months old, and her left eye started being very watery around Christmas, and she was squinting. Took her to reg vet within a few days, who referred me to a dog opthalmologist the next day. Her bottom lid was turning in just enough to where those eyelashes were causing an ulcer, (which had to hurt! Just think of what it feels like when you have an eyelash in your eye!!)

So, we tried drops and ointments first, but fairly quickly discovered that wasn't helping. So we scheduled and did the entropian surgery. As she was recovering from that eye, not even a week had passed before the OTHER eye started having eye boogers and she was squinting in it too. Long story short, had to have the surgery in that eye as well. So she had both done within a month. The opthalmologist stressed that it was NOT something you would want to overly delay because of the damage it can do to the cornea. And she was just miserable, you could just tell that it was hurting.

We are now about 2 weeks post-op from the 2nd surgery.....Her little eyes look wonderful!!! She has those beautiful little brown adoring eyes that she did as a baby.

So, while I wouldn't want to delay this any longer than necessary, if I were you, I would maybe get a second opinion, either by another bulldog vet, or better yet a dog opthalmologist if you have one in your area. I think if you're well armed with lots of info from the medical professionals, then you can make a better informed decision. Good luck!!!

 

[giasmom]

I should also add -- I thought of allergies too ! So I immediately switched from the Fromm surf and turf to one of their other lines (I forget now...) but a food that did not have any chicken in it, and I added Benedryl to her daily diet. But unfortunately, it did not help with her eye condition and the surgery was inevitable. But, every dog is different, and that's maybe an option for you. :D

 

[Gertie's Mom]

Hmmmm.... now I'm more confused than ever. Let me add this-- she doesn't appear to have watering eyes, NO eye bugers, no anything that makes me think she has allergies. But that said, maybe I don't know what I'm looking for. In order to have such BAD tear staining, her eyes MUST be watering, right? But she doesn't paw or scratch at them, doesn't rub her face on the carpets, nothing of this sort. Dr. Anderson ask me all that. So since he didn't suggest an allergy shot, I'm thinking he doesn't think it's allergy related. I have an appt. on Fri. for Arrow, to be checked out pre-surg., get a booster shot, etc. I think I'll take Ida along and have him look her eyes over again, explain to him the allergy shot/food switch idea and see what he says. He may say, no problem, let's give her a shot, change her food and let's see what happens. But he is a really good Bully vet and he's not one to suggest some treatment just to "up" your bill. So I feel that if he's suggesting surgery, he must think that's the best remedy.

 

[LisaMarie]

Do it now, before it gets worse. Think about it, it bothers us so much when we get one eyelash in our eyes!! Poor baby! You are doing the right thing!

 

[Chunksmama]

[MENTION=881]Gertie's Mom[/MENTION] ... Chunk just had entropion surgery on Friday ... however, he had the same problem's as Gia did - boogery eyes, watering eyes (which caused infected wrinkles). The way it was explained to me by all 3 vets I saw (first is our regular, second was a "bulldog specialist", third was the eye dr who did the surgery) - was that it isn't NECESSARY but certainly a good preventative. Chunk sees perfectly and had no damage to his eye whatsoever - however, over the years it COULD eventually cause blindness. And like you said, imagine having something touching your eye ALL THE TIME! None of the three drs said anything about tear stains ... but Chunk doesn't have them so idk on that one. Good luck!!!

 

[kazzy220]

I would wait until you've talked it over again on Friday ... I'm sure if the vet knows you are unsure then he may say go ahead and try the change of food. I don't have any experience of this but maybe a slight swelling of the eyelid from allergies itself could irritate the eye enough to cause excess watering. A change of food would only mean putting off the potential surgery by 4-6 weeks. From the vets "leave it up to you" comment, I'm thinking that a slight delay of that time period is not going to make much difference at all.

 

[Gertie's Mom]

You have to understand my vet's personality. He's sometimes kind of "hard to read". He's a GREAT vet, but there are times I do wish he would be more specific. I don't think he ever did actually say to me "Its up to you". Of course with all that we do with our dogs, it is always up to us what we choose to do. I just got the impression from him that it's not an emergency, you know? And I've been thinking about this, constantly. I think it would be a mistake to do both allergy shot AND a food change all at once. If I do that, how do I know which one worked? So I think I'll do the food change first, then we can move on to a shot. But then my daughter (Millie's Mommy, she's LittleMissMillie on here) has a friend at work with two Bullies. One of them has these issues and her vet showed her how to pluck the turned under lashes. Has anyone else ever heard of this approach? (Of course Ida hates getting her wrinkles washed, I can just imagine trying to get her to LET me pluck her eyelashes!!) Of course I'll talk to Dr. Anderson on Fri. and pin him down better and that should make all this easier to decide.

 

[KMARINO]

[MENTION=881]Gertie's Mom[/MENTION], we did the food change first that made a huge difference, but still needed a little more, then we started the shots, living in Fl. half my back yard is sand along with flowering fruit trees, It is a never ending battle with his alleriges.

 

[dozersmama]

[MENTION=881]Gertie's Mom[/MENTION] Talk with your vet , but then go with your gut. Everyone here is very helpful and they all have lots of great advice BUT in the end you know your pup better than anyone. If you believe that the surgery should be done and is in her best interest, do it. If you want to try changing food ect great, but don't feel obligated or as if you are wrong for just doing the surgery if that's what you feel is best for her. Your her Mom , you love her , and you know whats best. Trust yourself.

 

[cali~jenn]

Good advice [MENTION=1665]dozersmama[/MENTION]