Eye Removal****UPDATE****

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Not Rooney or Stuart's thank God but my dad's dog Pugsley.  My dear father took an old buddy (think Grumpy Old Men but they aren't grumpy), his two dogs and took a drive from Michigan down to Florida to see my brother.  While there Pugsley (who I am not overly found of but hey it is family) had his eye ball start to swell up, dad took him to a local vet thinking that he had scratched it or was have an allergy problem.  The vet informed him that the dog had a cyst in the eye.  Pugsley was put on several medications and things started to look better but yesterday the eye was worse so they operated and removed the eye.  I am feeling so bad for my sweet father, who is the biggest animal lover ever and is always taking in strays and injured animals.  I've never heard of something like this happening with no warning, is it common?  Is this breed specific?  Pugsley is a rescued Pug whose original owner killed himself and the wife and kids dumped him.  My dad is worried sick and now would like to return home but doesn't want to make Pugsley travel till he is feeling better.  Anybody have an experience with this issue?  Thanks.  

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As of last night Pugsley was not eating or drinking, not doing well at all, blood coming out the nose  - just lots of awful stuff.  Dad was worried he might not make it through the night but he did and then finally this afternoon seems to have turned a corner.  Ate a little, drank a little - no more bleeding.  Dad says it is just painful to look at - they I guess shaved to the skin and left the stiches hanging with really long threads - kinda like a dog from a Tim Burton movie - only with 1 eye.  I'll keep you all updated - thanks so much for caring about a dog that isn't a doodle, I appreciate all the info, advice and concern.  xoxoxo

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so sorry for your dad and for Pugsley, Jane. Apparently, pugs do have more problems with their eyes than most other breeds. When I googled "dogs eye removal", a lot of articles about pugs came up. Here's one: http://www.puginformation.org/dog-eye-removal-enucleation.html

I didn't see anything about cysts specifically, but whatever Pugsley had may have some other name.

I have known other dogs with only one eye and they've all done very well and adjusted easily. Even totally blind dogs adjust much more easily than humans would.

I hope Pugsley recovers quickly and your dad can stop worrying. :)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Boy oh boy, I've no experience on that but I can see from the way you write that this is indeed a shock as well it might be.  I am really sorry that this has happened and hope that your father finds the answers he needs as to whether to travel or not. I do know that dogs do really well with one eye so I wouldn't be concerned for the long term outlook and also that Pugs especially are prone to eye problems on account of their eyes protruding.

[Becka]

I have heard (and this is completely anecdotal) that pugs do have a tendency to have eye problems. Like many of the overbred breeds with squashed noses (the technical term escapes me) their faces are actually becoming too small for their features. Jane this sounds very sad and stressful for everyone involved and I hope that the pug heals quickly.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think they are brachycephalic.

[Becka]

That's it! Thank you--that was going to bug me until I figured it out.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yes, I am very familiar with one dog who had this procedure. Yuck. But the dog lived many many more years after having his eye removed. This was an ugly overweight lab who was happy, well adjusted, and died at 17.
I'm sorry for your father and his dog. The one experience with this had a good outcome though.

I've mentioned this before but I had a blind dog for many years who was happy and healthy and complained a lot less than my children.  Happy guy.   So, if the dog heals without any other incidents, they do adjust just fine. 

[Christine & Camus]

I don't have any experience with this,but want to send well wishes to Pugsley and your dad.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Thanks everyone - I guess I'm just shocked that this can all happen within 3 or 4 days - boom.  Last I heard Pugsley's surgery site was very swollen so back to vet this afternoon - my dad is on a very fixed income so I'm worried about the expense.  I do hope that Pugsley can get better soon, I think my dad would feel better if he could get back to his regular vet in Michigan.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have no experience, but I'm really sorry to hear this.  I imagine it's very traumatic for your Dad and actually everyone in the family.  Hoping for a speedy recovery.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am very sorry to hear about Pugsley. Let's hope he makes a speedy recovery and that the swelling is normal.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, I had a friend whose mother had two pugs and both of them only had one eye. It was a long time ago, but I am pretty sure they had a button over the eye. Is that possible? Anyway, they had no problem finding your leg to bite on when you walked in the door. I did not like those dogs, but not because they only had one eye. I hope your dad's pug does fine with one eye and how nice of your father to rescue him. I am sorry about his eye.

[F, Calla & Luca]

A button over the eye? What could that be?