Dog whimpering after eye removal

    • Silver

    Dog whimpering after eye removal

    My 13 year old silky terrier, Katie, had to have her right eye removed yesterday due to many glaucoma and cataract issues with that eye over the past four years.
     
    The surgery went well, and she came through with flying colors. They kept her overnight for observation and I picked  her up and brought her home this morning.
     
    She has slept peacefully most of today, but about an hour ago she woke up and started whimpering. I can't tell if she's just emotionally nervous or whether she's experiencing pain. I called the vet and she said that Katie's pain control patch should have been kicking in right about then.
     
    I'm wondering if anyone here has been through a similar experience. Katie does tend to be a little jumpy and nervous in general, and I know it was very upsetting for her to be away from home overnight. But I would hate to think of her being in pain right now. It's hard for me to tell?
    • Silver
    No useful advice im afraid,but like to say hope he feels better soon the poor love x[:)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Poor little sweetheart. If she continues to whimper I would call the vet again. Have you tried just sitting with her and cuddling for awhile? If she's nervous that may calm her down. I hope she feels better soon.
    • Silver
    Yes, I cuddled with her for a while but she seems to want her own space. I think she is still rattled by the whole surgery experience.
     
    I fed her dinner and that seemed to calm her down. Maybe she was just hungry?
     
    However, when I went to give her the post-surgery meds, I realized I had left the Clavamox (antibiotic?) out on the counter all day long. The vet told me this morning it needs to be refrigerated. I hope I didn't damage the medicine by leaving it out at room temperature all day!!
    • Silver
    Update -- she has been up crying, whimpering and shivering all night long. I am exhausted. I wish I knew what was going on. Is it possible to have pain even with a pain patch??
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sorry to hear about your little one.  Yes, it is possible the pain patch is either not strong enough or not the right one for her.  It is also possible that she is reacting to the chemicals in the pain patch - she would need to be seen by the vet to be sure - anyway you can have them look at her today?  My vet would not charge for a re-check after surgery on something like this.   Maybe its due to the weirdness of adjusting to sight from one eye and has her rattled?    Sorry I cannot be more help.
     
    I hope her discomfort ends soon and no more bumps on the road to recovery! 
    • Silver
    Well, we just got back from  the vet and he said her vital signs are all good. Physically she looks OK with a good heart rate, temperature and no excessive swelling. So this may very well be nerves/anxiety. Just in case this was a reaction to the pain patch, he removed the patch and put her on Tramadol painkillers. ($50, please.)
     
    I hope this will be the trick. She is still whimpering a bit and it is breaking my heart to have to sit here and listen to it. I feel helpless. Plus my other terrier, Elizabeth, is passing blood clots in her urine and it's looking a lot like she has an aggressive form of bladder cancer (average life span after diagnosis, 3 to 9 months). We will know more on Monday after the $300  ultrasound.
     
    I am now approaching almost $4,000 that I have spent on my two terriers' health issues just this year alone. I am a teacher and I can't afford this. There is a part of me that will be relieved to not have to be hemorraging money at the vet when this is all said and done. But it breaks my heart to think of losing Elizabeth so soon, maybe even before Christmas.
     
    Anyway, though I'm feeling gloomy today I do appreciate the feedback and input from everyone. Have a great day.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I am so sorry your dogs are sick and I can understand being concerned about the cost of their veterinary care.  I've spent money I don't have on my dogs, too- what else can you do?- but it still adds to your worries...
     
    I hope everything turns out OK for you and your pups.  We'll all send good thoughts...
    • Gold Top Dog
    Hope the tramadol works for Katie and both of you have some peace and quiet soon!  Sorry to hear about Elizabeth though - even though it's a long shot I'll keep my fingers crossed it's just a nasty UTI/bladder infection. 
     
    Please know many of us know how you feel.  I spent close to $2000 on my Lani when she was diagnosed with Cushings and still lost her.  Cried my eyes out and swore no more dogs...cost too much in money and pain.  Here it is a 1.5 years later and not only do I have my Bandit but two fosters!  Still broke and sometimes pulling my hair out but wouldn't have it any other way! [;)]
     
    If and when you do lose your baby please do not feel guilty for
    There is a part of me that will be relieved to not have to be hemorraging money at the vet when this is all said and done.
       i think it is a natural feeling and a common one.  Take care of yourself in this stressful time!  Thinking good thoughts for you guys! 
    • Gold Top Dog
    I hope your pup is improving and that her pain and anxiety is reduced - it's just heartbreaking to see or hear signs of pain in your baby, and you can't do anything about it or make them understand what's happening.
     
    I just wanted to echo what the others have said about the cost of veterinary care - we're still trying to pay off the credit card bill we built during our baby's final months (surgeries, meds, tests, etc. etc.).  It's hard to deal with such financial issues, but we wouldn't have done it any other way.  Too often I hear about dogs being given up or euthanised when their medical needs become too expensive for an owner (my cousin works in a vet clinic and she sees this regularly).  You're to be commended for fulfilling the commitment you made to your pup when you brought her into the family - you're doing all you can for her, even if it means big sacrifices.  Best wishes for a continued, speedy recovery for little Katie!
    • Gold Top Dog
      Hi; I'm sorry to hear that Katie is restless; hope the new pain killer works but it could be her adjusting to losing her eye. Even if she couldn't see with that eye the area where it was probably feels different and a nervous dog could be upset from the change.
       If your other terrier does have bladder cancer you should post here asking about a cancer diet. Callie ( user name calliecritturs) and some other members know of diets that can slow the spread of cancer; also, there is an animal nutritionist called Monica Segal who can help you with a cancer diet for your dog. She will work with your vet also to formulate the right diet for your dog's medical condition. Here's her website;  [linkhttp://www.monicasegal.com/]http://www.monicasegal.com/[/link] . I'll do the same as rredbird and hope it's a UTI infection; please keep us posted. About the veterinary costs; you may be able to work out a payment plan with your vet; others here have been able to.
     
    • Silver
    Thank you everyone so much for the feedback and the kind thoughts. I really appreciate it.
     
    The update is that it has now been four hours since the vet removed the pain patch and switched Katie over to Tramadol painkiller pills instead. The difference has been like night and day. Katie has been sleeping peacefully most of the afternoon, only a whimper or two here or there but *nothing* like last night.
     
    Elizabeth had probably a teaspoon of blood in her urine this afternoon. I haven't seen that much yet. Not a good sign. It's going to be a long wait until Monday when we have the abdominal ultra sound done, but I feel in my heart that I already know what the news will be.
     
    Since transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is so aggressive -- and also given Elizabeth's age  (almost 14 years old) --- I am probably not going to do any heroic measures such as chemo or surgery. I watched my own mother die of cancer just three weeks after the oncologist prescribed a chemo regimen. I will never forget how it weakened my mom, just when she was at her lowest point, and her death was imminent anyway so what was the point??? I will do everything in my power to keep Elizabeth comfortable and pain free.... in the meantime I'll pray for a miracle during the ultra sound on Monday. It would be beautiful if this turned out to be a wicked urinary tract infection.
     
    Thanks again so much for all the kind thoughts. I am stuck at home today looking after my babies and it's feeling kind of gloomy around here. I appreciate the response. Thanks.
    • Gold Top Dog
    It's hard but try not to worry too much about Monday and just spend the weekend loving on those two cuties! 
     
    If it helps you any - I have a 12-13 yo kittie with breast cancer that after the surgery to remove the tumor I elected to forgo the cost of chemo - mostly a quality of life issue for her - CJ hates people and does not like to be handled, treating her after the surgery was bad enough - only a few bites & scratches!   She is past her expiration date and still ticking! Hissing and meowing at everyone!
     
    Take care and God bless you and yours!
    • Gold Top Dog
    You might want to consider a cancer diet for your baby.  Cancer feeds on carbs, specifically GRAIN carbs, so no fuel, it *should* progress more slowly.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Shari had her eye removed in Jan 2005 at the age of 14 and I was amazed how quickly she adapted!  I don't have any experience with the pain killers since we didn't give her any extra after she got home.
     
    I hope you get good results for your other baby.  It's tough when you lose them, however it happens and I know the worried feeling very well.
     
    Take care.