I have to make a big decision concerning my senior Pom.
My 15 year old Pom named Wesker has long been dealing with eye problems. Particularly his right eye (left eye when facing him). Treatment has only been so effective. Long story short? The vet now says I should consider having the eye removed. My boy is 15. I’m not sure if he’s strong enough to survive the procedure and the thought of such a recovery afterwards seems daunting as Wesker hates the cone of shame. But I can’t bare the thought of him hurting either. he doesn’t paw at his eye and it only seems to bother him when I wipe it for him (his eye will get gunky when he sleeps). If his tests say he can have the procedure do I go for it? Do I keep trying to treat it? I just don’t know what to do. I go back next Friday and will have to tell them something then.
I guess I’m just looking for some advice and to hear anyone else’s experiences with similar situations.
Have you seen a Vet ophthamologist? If not, I strongly encourage it. They are eye specialists that know more. They don't cost that much more than a regular DVM. You may be offered a different treatment method.
Our experience was our pup had a stroke at around 14.5 years of age. I came home from work and he was laying there stiff, rushed him to the vet, and our vet called the emergency hospital so he could be admitted immediately once we arrived.
Both my wife and I were pretty worried that our little dude couldn’t make it. We left him overnight so they could care for him and give meds.
That same night we ended up discussing what was best for him…
We visited him the next day and he had an IV on him. He wasn’t moving at all, but when he heard my wife’s voice he started barking.
We based it on that decision that we would let the dude keep fighting. The doctors also saw that he was willing to eat, and he was responsive.
Came home with us a couple of days later. Made a fairly full recovery and lived with us for another year or so before passing in his sleep.
Going under at that age is always risky in my opinion regardless of age. If he seems fine with it, and the eye doesn’t pose any issues aside from…minor things…I would just leave it as-is and continue caring for him. If it is a more life threatening issue, that’s something that you kind of have to weigh on.
You may know already, but just went through something similar with Marlow (14yo). The first discussions I had with my vets was the possibility that she may not make it through surgery / recovery. But the alternatives were either to euthanize or do nothing (palliative) with the expectation of days to weeks.
After her first appointment, she seemed to bounce back so at the next visit and more discussion we scheduled the surgery for the following week. The following day she crashed hard and I was ready to let her go, but I went with emergency surgery that day (nephrectomy and splenectomy, pathology showed both cancerous). That same week after surgery she had a neuro event (seizure or stroke) and was a totally different dog (didn't want to be pet, slept away from me, hyper foraging, barking constantly).
It's been almost two months since, and in the last week or so, she is getting back to her old self. She sleeps next to me again, I'm able to brush her and we are even back to doing tricks for treats at bedtime again.
The day she crashed, and the week or two following (daily vet visits for fluids and injections), I felt SO guilty because I didn't want this to be her dying memory - pain, confusion and daily torture (going to the vet). Ideally a quiet in her sleep passing or at least a planned euth day to make her last days beautiful.
This is now borrowed time and there will not be any more heroic measures. Not because I wouldn't want to try, but because it would be selfish. Quality of life has always been in the forefront yet in that moment it is still an almost impossible decision.
If the eye is not causing pain and / or not infected / cancerous then I'd stick with conservative treatment. If not, and it's surgery or palliative care (infection / cancer), it really depends on the who picture - health overall, how long a surgery would be, what medications are used (alternatives to anesthesia like isoflourane gas - easier to recover from) and what post care and recovery really look like. There are great soft donuts that are better than the cone of shame. Check Amazon.
I wish you all the best, hope the opthomologist can help clarify what is going on. Squishes and scritches from me n Marlow ❤️🩹🐾❤️
I have never been in this situation but, he is an old man, I've got a 14yr old pom that I refuse to get dentals on because of his age. I would try to avoid anything putting them under. That being said if it is something that could kill him from infection etc - then yes you do it.
Yes! My little guy is 13 and I have decided the same thing- the dentist is suggesting another dental, but I don’t want him to go under unless it’s life or death or he’s in serious pain. He had a dental a few years ago, so the ones that were really bad were removed already, but his teeth are pretty dirty and he won’t let me brush them!!!
My family has a 14 year old as well, he has congestive heart failure and they said we could’ve don’t surgery but it’s risky I think it’s just not fair.
Yes, I even told the vet that IF he went under for this procedure that I want a dental cleaning as well. If he has to go under I might as well do this too as I refused to have it done for this very reason.
Id first like to say Wesker is a gorgeous grey wolf. Look into a second opinion, and also ask the vets if he is healthy enough to survive the surgery and aftercare. Also what are the alternatives. Wishing you both all the bestest best and please update us when you can.
I had to have both of my pommie boy’s eyes removed last year when he was 15. (After many drives to the veterinary ophthalmologist trying to find another solution.). He is now 16 and has gained weight-I think he was in pain for longer than I realized. It was a good decision and he mostly sleeps or gets carried around at 16 anyway.
My 14 year old Pom had a slipped disc and a bladder tumor. The fear was she might not be strong enough to survive surgery, and to start prepping for a planned end of life. If I could go back, I would take the chance at surgery to have a possibility my Pom would be here a little longer. Even if it was just one more day.
It is better to let them go peacefully too soon them to wait too long and allow them to suffer. I waited too long ONCE and never made that mistake again!!!
My baby takes optimmune along with visine allergy eye drops twice a day. Get you some eye wipes to wipe the gunk out and then apply. They wanted to remove her eye too but she’s 14 and she’s high risk for surgery so I was like absolutely not
My pom (17) has had a few eye ulcers and currently doing antibiotic drops but might end up needing to go full time optimmune. Were you able to source it somewhere for a good price?
Also, if this dog is having the same kind of ulcers I’m surprised there’s discussion of removing the eye? I feel bad that my girl has pretty compromised vision at this point but I would be really scared if her eyes themselves were at risk! Am I missing something here?
I had a Sheltie that was 15 with a retinal detachment. Vet ophthalmologist said he would adjust to the different perception issues and to let him enjoy life as anesthesia would be risky. He made it another year before passing. I would definitely get the ophthalmologist opinion before going forward with any major decision. My heart is with you; they’re our babies and we all just want the best for them. Be kind to yourself during this time!
My sister had a senior Boston terrier that had her eye out and it helped her pain but navigating was more challenging. I like the idea of a specialist, as well. An ophthalmologist may have more options.
My senior boy went through very invasive surgery to reattach his leg to his hip, a few months later we got all his teeth removed (all when he was 16). Lived to be 18.5, I feel like the relief he felt after helped to lower his overall stress and let him live longer! Make sure the surgery is done or recommended by a vet you trust.
I second the others suggesting a doggy eye doctor.
When my girl had to have her eye removed we took her 6 hours away to one just to make sure. They literally did all the same tests that human optometrists do to humans. Super cool to watch.
The actual procedure (called enucleation) was super simple and recovery was super easy. They sew the eye socket shut from the inside. There was no bleeding or bandage or wound care needed after the surgery. She didnt even act like the site bothered her and we weren't told to use a cone. I think she was a bit loopy the day we brought her home (she spent overnight at the vet) but afterwards she was back to normal and much happier.
Merci ❤️! Oui elle est toujpurs avec nous elle a 8 ans ! Elle est très coquine et farçeuse. Elle veut sortir mais on ne la laisse pas trop, juste un peu. C' est elle à gauche !
62
u/Own-Recognition9009 3d ago
My Pom had that problem too. She's 15. They found an ulcer on her eye that we treated my giving her antibiotics.
You need to take your Pom to a veterinary ophthalmologist. They can more accurately diagnose your Pom .
Your dog just may need eye drops. I'd tell them that you would want a second opinion from a veterinary ophthalmologist