Eye removal in dogs is a surgical procedure that takes place usually as a last resort when all methods of saving the dog's eye have failed. It is an irreversible procedure performed by a veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist.
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Identification
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''Enucleation'' is the medical term for the surgical procedure to remove the eye. It means that the dog's eyeball is entirely removed from the eye socket.
Function
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The main reason an eye is removed is to provide permanent pain relief or prevent diseases of the eye from spreading to other body parts.
Common Reasons
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Eye removal in dogs is undertaken when dogs are affected by eye cancer, uncontrollable glaucoma, serious eye trauma, congenital deformities of the eye or infections and inflammations that do not respond to treatment.
Options
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Dog owners may choose to have a prosthetic eye inserted to replace the lost eye. Owners may choose between ''Standard Enucleation,'' in which the eye is removed and the eyelids are permanently sutured closed, or ''Enucleation and Placement of an Orbital Prosthesis,'' in which the eye is removed and replaced with a prosthesis for a better cosmetic appeal.
Considerations
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Often dog owners have a hard time dealing with the loss of the dog's eye. Dogs, on the other hand, appear to be finally relieved from the pain of the underlying cause and generally tolerate the procedure well.
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