Lambies for Joy please.

HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Candy said:
The more I think about it, the less sense it makes. She obviously still has some residual vision, in that she's more likely to bump into things in the dark than in the light. I leave lights on in the house more now than I used to, as she has twice missed the bottom stair coming down in the dark and she now won't go out in the garden after dark without the outside light on. To take her eyes out gives her no chance with the little residual vision she still has and if there's a way we can prevent any discomfort from her eyes without removing them, that's the way we'll go. I keep thinking that probably hoomans don't have their eyes removed for similar problems, but maybe I'm wrong. My neighbours were horrified when I told them, and agree that she can still tell light from shade. Will be ringing the specialist vets tomorrow.
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Just a side point, my sister bought some motion sensor lights to put at the top of my mum’s stairs and in the corridor by the bathroom to help nighttime trips. I thought they’d be a gimmick but actually they’re really useful, and very good for the price - they come on when they sense movement and go off again after a few minutes. They might be worth exploring for Joy going down stairs in low light conditions?
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
We have an appointment with the specialist vet at 11am on Sunday.
I'm about to start compiling a list of questions to take with me. I'd be grateful for some ideas, if anyone has any. What immediately springs to mind for me is:
Doesn't the fact that Joy's reluctant to go into a dark room until I've put the light on suggest that she still has some residual vision?
Could we try removing the cateracts and see if this eases the pressure?
There are eye drops available for dogs with Glaucoma, could we try these?
She's shown no signs of pain in her eyes since 23rd of January, isn't it a bit soon for something as irreversible as eye removal?
She noticeably picked up further the day after her Librella injection and has been her normal self since. Doesn't this suggest that some of her discomfort was due to Arthritis?

Any further suggestions gratefully received!
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Candy said:
We have an appointment with the specialist vet at 11am on Sunday.
I'm about to start compiling a list of questions to take with me. I'd be grateful for some ideas, if anyone has any. What immediately springs to mind for me is:
Doesn't the fact that Joy's reluctant to go into a dark room until I've put the light on suggest that she still has some residual vision?
Could we try removing the cateracts and see if this eases the pressure?
There are eye drops available for dogs with Glaucoma, could we try these?
She's shown no signs of pain in her eyes since 23rd of January, isn't it a bit soon for something as irreversible as eye removal?
She noticeably picked up further the day after her Librella injection and has been her normal self since. Doesn't this suggest that some of her discomfort was due to Arthritis?

Any further suggestions gratefully received!
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I think these are all great questions Candy, you know what you’re looking for. If you would like other suggestions, I’d maybe want to know what in their clinical judgment would be the trigger point (or combination of triggers) for deciding to remove eyes rather than anything else? What experience do they have of this situation in previous patients, and what was the outcome? And speaking of outcomes, what is the prognosis for this procedure if done for this reason? Quite often I find questions of prognosis (ie what’s the predicted set of outcomes for this condition/treatment) show up where there is a lack of actual knowledge vs judgement. Not trying to catch anyone out, but as an owner I find it helpful to understand ‘known knowns’ vs unknown unknowns etc.

In summary, it sounds like you’d very sensibly prefer a conservative approach that can escalate if needed, so trying the least invasive treatment (eg glaucoma drops) before stepping up to more invasive/irreversible options. I hope they’ll listen to this and work with you and Joy to meet her needs.
 
Cath

Cath

MLF Sales Coordinator
HAH said:
if needed, so trying the least invasive treatment (eg glaucoma drops) before stepping up to more invasive/irreversible options
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Yes I would ask this too @Candy. My Grandfather had glaucoma and he had drops for it.
I wouldn't let anyone rush you into making a decision, take your time to think about all the information given to you.
Good luck for tomorrow :hug:

Can you take someone with you?
 
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Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
Candy said:
We have an appointment with the specialist vet at 11am on Sunday.
I'm about to start compiling a list of questions to take with me. I'd be grateful for some ideas, if anyone has any. What immediately springs to mind for me is:
Doesn't the fact that Joy's reluctant to go into a dark room until I've put the light on suggest that she still has some residual vision?
Could we try removing the cateracts and see if this eases the pressure?
There are eye drops available for dogs with Glaucoma, could we try these?
She's shown no signs of pain in her eyes since 23rd of January, isn't it a bit soon for something as irreversible as eye removal?
She noticeably picked up further the day after her Librella injection and has been her normal self since. Doesn't this suggest that some of her discomfort was due to Arthritis?

Any further suggestions gratefully received!
Click to expand...
I'd also ask (although you might already know the answer!) whether there is anything that can trigger an episode of eye swelling. And also if there's anything that might reduce the risk of it happening again. X
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Your questions along with @HAH ’s are really good.

It may not be the time for digging into the details of an eye removal surgery and/or this may already be covered by Harriet’s mention of outcomes and prognosis, but if this were Carbón I’d also like to know more about the surgery itself.

For example length of surgery/time under GA, post-surgical care (ie amount of time for zero activity, amount of time until full activity can be resumed), wound care, medications to be given post-surgery, other knock on effects of overall health (I wouldn’t expect any), etc.

Wishing you and Joy a really good and informative appointment today. 🤞😊
 
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