12/09/2024
Hooray!! Our long anticipated final portion of our Enucleation (or Eye Removal) Education series has arrived at last!!
Part 3 in the series is presented by Merlyn, an 8 year old Domestic Short Hair and focuses on post-operative care and recovery.
HOW LONG DOES MY PET HAVE TO STAY AT THE HOSPITAL?
At Eye Care For Animals, enucleation surgery is generally an outpatient procedure. This means that once patients have recovered from anesthesia, we anticipate their release from the hospital that same afternoon. This allows your pet to continue to recover in the comfort of their own home. Remember though, medical care is personalized for each patient, so sometimes, overnight monitoring/hospitalization is recommended to ensure the safest possible recovery.
WHAT WILL MY PET LOOK LIKE AFTER SURGERY?
The first step in the surgical process involves clipping/shaving the area surrounding the affected eye. The skin is then scrubbed to effectively minimize the presence of bacteria. This process is necessary to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery. Don't worry! Your little one’s hair will grow back!
After the eye is removed, stitches are placed to permanently sew the eyelids closed and your pet will wear a protective cone until these stiches are removed. Some swelling and bruising is expected after surgery. Occasionally, families will even see tear drops of pink/clear serous discharge or blood from the incision and/or corresponding nostril. This can be normal but should resolve within 24 to 72 hours after surgery.
WHAT KIND OF CARE DOES MY PET NEED WHEN WE GET HOME?
When your pet arrives home from surgery, they will likely wish to rest. Sometimes it can be helpful to prepare a quiet, peaceful area, so your little one can enjoy some privacy in the comfort of their own home. Any prescribed medications will be reviewed at the time of discharge. A printed discharge summary will be provided and will include detailed medication instructions.
Some discomfort after surgery can be expected and any swelling should improve gradually over the next few days. Pain medications will help your little one rest and management discomfort as your pet continues to heal.
We recommend offering a small amount of food and water at your pet’s normal mealtime (about ½ normal portion size). It is best to refrain from offering any new foods or treats since doing so can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, and/or nausea. Keep in mind, it is not uncommon for some pets to have no interest in meals until 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
Use of an e-collar (aka hard, plastic cone) is imperative to a speedy and problem free recovery after surgery. It can be challenging for us as care providers to adhere to use of a cone 24/7, especially when we feel our pet is not rubbing at their incision site. We assure you that your veterinarian’s recommendation is to help keep the surgery site protected from as many disruptions as possible; whether it’s your pet’s own paws, the carpet, blankets, or any other ingenious method our pets can manage to devise.
WHEN SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?
Each day should be an improvement from the previous day! As mentioned previously, some minor seeping of serous discharge or blood and swelling can be expected for the first few days after surgery, but should be addressed by your veterinarian if not improving or becomes abundant. Notify your vet immediately if any thick, yellow/green mucoid discharge is observed, if any sutures appear to be loose, “out of place”, or if your pet’s discomfort seems to be declining.
Ultimately, no worry is too small! It is important to contact your veterinarian with ANY concerns you may have throughout the healing process so they can determine whether intervention is necessary.
WHEN WILL MY PET BE BACK TO NORMAL?
The average time for complete recovery from an enucleation is approximately 10 to 14 days.
✨🐈✨🧙♂️ JUST LOOK AT MERLYN🧙♂️✨🐈✨
Merlyn is an approximately 7 &1/2-year-old domestic short hair kitty whose adorable-ness cannot be contained!!! In fact, that is what inspired his name!
His family shared, “When he was a baby, he would consistently escape from his enclosure. He was a magician and an escape artist! As soon as he learned to climb, we could never contain him! That's how he got the name Merlyn!”
Merlyn came to visit our office after his family noticed that the color in his right eye was changing. Over a short period of time, his eye color changed from gold to almost completely brown! Even though Merlyn seemed unaffected by the changes, his family thought it would be best to schedule a consultation with our office. It’s a good thing too because, although the color change does not cause discomfort or impact vision directly, this type of iris change in cats can represent a malignant or benign condition that has the potential to impact overall health. Early diagnosis may allow for more treatment options such as lasering, but if the changes are rapid, enucleation is usually recommended due to its aggressive nature.
Eye removal will allow for lab testing (aka histopathology) which allows for a definitive diagnosis of Feline Diffue Iris Melanoma (FDIM). The histopathology can also let us know whether tumors may have spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). Thankfully, Merlyn’s histopathology, although it confirmed FDIM, revealed that the tumor was contained within his globe and has a very low risk of metastasis!
We are happy to report that Merlyn recovered superbly after surgery and has returned to his normal antics! He continues to chase birds and sprint around as fast as he can! He climbs his Mt. Fuji scratcher and snuggles his family whenever he sleeps! He is enjoying life as much as ever and is a testament to how important early diagnosis and treatment can be!
Click here for more info on Feline Diffuse Iris Melanoma https://www.thrivepetcare.com/service/feline-diffuse-iris-melanoma-fdim
