EYE ENUCLEATION

• Your cat's eye is badly or irreparably damaged. 

• Your cat's eye pain is unmanageable. 

• Your cat has an untreatable eye condition or tumor. 

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During this surgery, the entire eye globe, including the elements contained by the conjunctival sac (eyelids, conjunctiva, and nictitating membrane) is removed. 

 

If you've just learned that your cat needs to have an eye removed, you are bound to be feeling shock, alarm, sadness, and of course, concern for your cat's health during surgery and the recovery process. You're also probably wondering if a cat can even function with just one eye. 

 

Cat Eye Removal Surgery: Procedure & Cost 

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Veterinarians will take your cat's vital signs before anesthetic drugs are administered. Staff will then shave the fur around the affected eye and trim the upper eyelashes with fine scissors before using tape to remove fine hair from the skin. 

 

The surgery will be completed based on the surgical approach you and your veterinary ophthalmologist have decided is most appropriate for your cat's eye condition and needs. The eyeball and eyelids will be carefully removed and their wound stitched. 

 

Stitches are used to close wounds. Some stitches or made of absorbable, invisible material and will not have to be removed because they gradually dissolve. More often, stitches are non-absorbable and are visible on the skin's surface. Your vet can discuss which kind of stitches were used and provide instructions on when to return to have, them removed. 

 

Once the surgery is complete, the empty eye socket will be covered by skin. While the 

Blood dripping from the nose should diminish about two to four days after the operation. 

 

Pain: Your cat is likely to feel a small amount of pain and discomfort post-surgery. Most of this can be managed with medication. Make sure to administer all medicines correctly once your kitty has returned home. Contact your vet if your cat still seems to be in severe pain. Once healing is complete, the surgical area should be pain-free and comfortable. 

 

Protect the Wound: - You'll need to prevent your cat from pawing at or damaging the surgical site to avoid infection or reopening the wound, especially in the first 3-5 days post-surgery. 

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Your cat should wear their e-collar (Elizabethan collar, also referred to as a head cone) the incision has healed and your vet says it can be removed (usually within 10-14 days). Your pet should be able to eat and drink with the collar in place, but if you have concerns, check with your vet about removing the collar at meal times. Make sure your pet is well-supervised if you do remove the e-collar. 

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If you have other pets living in your home, you'll also need to stop them from licking your cat's wound and sutures by separating them from your cat during your cat's recovery. 

 

Keep Your Cat Indoors: If your cat normally ventures outside, it's important to keep them indoors as they recover. This decreases the risk of injury or infection. Don't forget to provide a litter box, too. 

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Administer Medication as Directed: Your vet will prescribe pain medication to be administered while your cat recovers, likely for a week or so after surgery. Always follow your vet's instructions when administering medications to your cat. 

 

Make Sure Your Cat Gets Lots of Rest & TLC: Prepare a warm, comfortable, quiet place for your cat to rest and recover after the surgery. 

 

Provide Soft Food: If your cat is experie::ncing pain or a loss of appetite, soft food may help to encourage their appetite. Try warming their normal food slightly or giving them something with a strong scent, such as tuna. 

Return to Your Vet for Stitch Removal:  Stitches typically need to be removed within about seven to 14 days after the operation. 

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Monitor Health & Whisker Regrowth: After enucleation surgery, whiskers won't typically grow back for six to eight weeks. Since cats use their whiskers to sense their surrounding environment, they should be monitored and protected during this timeframe as cats without whiskers are prone to loss of balance.

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The cost of cat eye removal surgery will depend on many factors, including their pre- operative and post-operative care needs. 

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Cat Eye Enucleation: Potential Complications 

If an infection occurs, the eye area will remain swollen for an extended period of time (longer than the week or so it would normally take to heal), and you may notice pus draining from the incision. In this case, the infection would require drainage and antibiotics. 

If you notice these symptoms and suspect your cat may have a post-surgical infection, contact FRESNO T.N.R. or your Vetinarian.

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When a cat's eyes are removed due to severe damage, veterinarians sometimes have difficulty removing the eye in one piece. A small fragment of the rear eye membranes may remain. If enough of this tissue is left, fluid secretion may continue to ooze from the incision. If this is excessive, a second surgery may be required to completely clean the cat's eye socket. 

 

Recovery After Cat Eye Removal Surgery 

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This procedure is a permanent solution for eye conditions that have not or will not respond to treatment. Completely removing an eye that's been damaged by injury, infection, or cancer will ideally eliminate the issue and prevent the condition from spreading. 

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Here's what you can expect and some actions to take to ensure your cat's recovery from surgery goes as smoothly as possible: 

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Bruising: There may be some mild bruising and swelling soon after your 

cat's surgery. It's normal for this to worsen in the first 24 hours, then ease gradually over the first week of recovery.  

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Weeping: You may see a small amount of blood-stained fluid come from your cat's wound or, occasionally, from the nose. This is because the tear ducts are connected to the inner nostrils. Contact your vet for further instruction and care if there are more than a few drips. 

eye may remain swollen for a week or so, the scar should hardly be visible once the fur grows back. 

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Swelling: Your cat's eye may remain swollen for a week or so, the scar should hardly be visible once the fur grows back. 

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The cost of cat eye removal surgery will depend on many factors, including their pre- operative and post-operative care needs. 

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Life After Cat Eye Removal Surgery 

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Many pet parents wonder, "What happens when a cat loses an eye?". Some worry for their pet's safety and ability to enjoy a good quality of life. 

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Owning a one-eyed cat will come with its challenges, but shouldn't be particularly different from having a fully sighted cat, as they tend to adapt well. You can help them by: 

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• Moving any objects that are the same height as your cat's head and may cause harm or injury (since your cat will not be able to see from the side where they've had the eye removed). 

• Take other preventive measures as directed by your vet if your cat has a condition that may threaten the remaining eye. 

• Speak to them when approaching on their blind side to avoid startling them. Tell guests to do the same and take extra care when bringing small children and other animals around your cat. 

 

Most cats adjust well to partial blindness and resume regular activities quickly.