GA at 15?

[poiuytrewq]

I posted a few weeks ago re my dogs sore eye.
At the time I made a vet apt and it suddenly got better, cancelled, came back!
So she’s been a few times in the past few weeks. It’s not an eye infection but an infection in her eye... bit confusing!
They think that when she blinks for some reason her upper lid is rubbing on her eye and that’s infected. ?‍
So she’s had anti inflammatory’s pain killers and antibiotics
She’s also got on going eye cream.
It’s all helped but not fixed it and so they are talking about operating if it’s not better in 10 days or so.
I’m worried sick about this. Firstly she’s 15 years old, secondly she’s utterly terrified of the vets and leaving her there will destroy her. It’s bad enough at the moment, I’m allowed into the consulting room but not to hold her, they literally take her lead and haul her across the room where she’s a quivering mess.
I’m still hoping she improves but am not holding out a huge amount of hope. poor old bird

 

[poiuytrewq]

She’s frightened since/because I had to leave her in a few years ago for a GA

 

[{97702}]

Is it entropian? That’s a horrible condition which used to only usually be resolved by cauterising the eyelashes? Dunno whether things have progressed since then, I haven’t encountered it for years.

If her heart is sound I would hope she would be OK with a GA - I’d insist on bloods pre-anaesthetic and fluids all the way through as well, it will increase the cost but it’s better for the dog IMO

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Ditto Lev.

Ask if they can give her a sedative whilst she's still next to you. A local vet did that with a friend's Rottie in the carpark, though admittedly was more of a safety thing.

Hopefully she'll be still a bit sleepy when you can collect her, thereby reducing the stress levels.

 

[planete]

If it is entropion, a possible temporary alternative is to pluck out the eyelashes that rub on the eye surface. Of course they will grow back in time but it should only need a local anaesthetic. I would be tempted to mention this to the vets in view of her age.

 

[Aru]

Do pre anesthetic bloods and iv fluids and the chances of complications are still very low regardless of age if the heart and lungs are good.
old age isnt a disease it just predisposing you to having more issues.
Dont worry to much. vets anaesthetise elderly animals all the time for the likes of dental disease etc. I did a 14 year old today. more then an hour under ga -11 teeth down...and he went home a lot more comfortable then hes been in a very long time. you would be amazed at how well a lot of the old codgers do....even with underlying issues.
Once she has a premed (antianxiety and pain med cocktail given as step one in an anesthetic protocol) on board shell be feeling quite out of it and calm. We give ours soon after admitting to reduce the stress of the entire experience.

short term pain for long term game. if it improves her quality of life dramatically and quickly it is worth doing.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Sorry! Delayed reply.
Now she’s far less sore and very happy for me to do anything to it (if a biscuit is involved!) I’ve had a good look myself.
It appears to me, obviously no vet that it’s not the upper eyelid that’s the problem.
Her eyelashes all look fine- is that something I’d be able to see? The vet certainly didn’t mention eyelashes either.
If I gently pull her lower lid forward- I have to do this slightly anyway to get the medication in. There seems to be a pocket of pussy stuff down inside. Certainly when I clean her eye it’s coming from down there. I can’t get all that out obviously, I can only remove the stuff that works it’s way up to the eye.
It’s, as I said to the vet not really like eye gunk but thicker and just a bit weird.
Gross sorry!
So anyway, it’ll be a fortnight this Thursday since her last apt and I’d say it’s no better now than it was then so pretty sure she has no choice but to go in and have it sorted out properly and get a proper answer as to what’s going on
I will ask about the sedative, that’s a good idea and would make me a lot less stressed if not her!
I’m fine with stuff like this! Don’t know what’s going on ?‍
Thanks for the replies