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“Oscar” Pug 4 month old Male

Oscar was brought to our emergency clinic when the owner came home and found that his left eye had proptosed (was improperly sitting just outside of the socket). This was the first day he had been left alone with the older household dog and it was only for a short period of time.

The patient was immediately triaged to the treatment area where an Elizabethan collar was placed to prevent any further damage to the eye (specifically from Oscar scratching it). Local pain block was instilled onto the eye and then antibiotic drops were placed on the eye to prevent dehydration and infection. The patient was also given an oral anti-inflammatory to decrease the pain and swelling associated with a proptosed eye.

The doctor placed a fluorescein stain into the left eye. If there were corneal ulcers present (scratches on the eye) it would uptake this stain. No ulcers were seen.

With this treatment alone, the swelling decreased significantly and no surgery was needed. He was sent home with a soft Elizabethan collar, an oral anti-inflammatory/pain medication and antibiotics for the eye.

Usually proposed eyes need to be surgically repositioned (or removed if the eye cannot be saved). This repositioning procedure is called a temporary tarsorrhaphy. The patient is anesthetized and the doctor repositions the eye back into the socket. The eyelids are sutured closed for 10 days to 2 weeks while the eye is given time to heal. If, at the end of two weeks, the eye has not had sufficient blood and nerve supply (due to the injury), it degenerates (dies) and must be removed. This procedure is called enucleation. Most dogs and cats can have happy, healthy, normal lives with only one eye.