- Home
- Dog Treatments
- Enucleation in Dogs
Enucleation in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 12/08/2016Updated: 10/06/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Enucleation?
Enucleation is the surgical removal of an eye and its associated structures, e.g. eyelids. The procedure is undertaken in order to prevent pain or spread of disease, such as when an eye is irreversibly damaged, cancerous, or affected by non-responsive glaucoma.
Enucleation in dogs is often a treatment of last resort, when all previous attempts to salvage the eye have failed. The procedure is carried out under full general anesthetic and, although a major procedure, there is every chance of a successful outcome. This is not a specialist procedure and is commonly carried out at general vet practice.
Enucleation Procedure in Dogs
Enucleation is never undertaken lightly and only after all other treatment options have been explored. For example with glaucoma, referral to place a surgical stent (drain) in the eye may be an option.
Enucleation requires full general anesthetic and may involve an overnight stay after the surgery, for additional pain relief and monitoring. Elderly patients may require intravenous fluids during the surgery to reduce the risk of kidney complications and to maintain blood pressure and hydration.
The procedure involves:
- Preparing the patient by withholding food overnight prior to the operation
- A pre-op check, possibly including screening blood tests
- A premedication injection and pain relief to prepare the dog for the anesthetic
- The dog may be put on intravenous fluids at this point
- The anesthetic is administered via a catheter in the front leg and maintained via gas delivered through a tube in the airway
- A vet tech monitors the dog's vital signs
- Hair is carefully clipped from around the eye and face
- The skin is made sterile with surgical scrub
- The surgeon scrubs up, and then sutures the eyelids of the affected eye together
- The surgeon removes the eye by careful dissection, and any bleeding vessels clamped and tied off
- Skin is sutured over the empty socket
- The dog wakes from the anesthetic and must wear a cone to protect the surgical site
- The dog is discharged with pain relief and perhaps antibiotics
- The dog requires a post-op check at two to three days
- The sutures are removed 10 - 14 days later
Efficacy of Enucleation in Dogs
Once the initial post-operative discomfort is over, enucleation is extremely effective at preventing ocular pain, without risk of relapse. Many owners who opt for surgery after a delay often notice their dog is happier than it has been in some time, now the long term low pain has gone. In many cases, the alternative to enucleation is long-term management of a condition, which can be difficult or even impossible to achieve. This may require visits to specialists for repeated anesthetics to repair damaged corneal tissue or regular visits to have the pressure within the eye measured. Medical management of severe eye conditions is rarely successful, which leaves the possibility that the dog is in constant low-grade pain, so treatment decisions are best made with the dog's long term welfare in mind.
Enucleation Recovery in Dogs
It is essential the dog wears a cone until the sutures are removed.
For the first two to three days postoperatively, the dog may be quiet from the anesthetic and experiencing some discomfort. The pain can be managed with medications, which your vet will supply.
Following a check-up at the two to three-day point, the dog has gentle lead exercise until the sutures are removed at the 10 - 14-day mark.
Complications are rare, but include hemorrhage or wound breakdown. If the bleeding is severe, revisional surgery may be required or the clinician may opt to pack the socket and use pressure to prevent further blood loss. However, the vast majority of patients make a full and uneventful recovery.
Once the sutures are removed no further aftercare is needed and the patient is signed off.
Cost of Enucleation in Dogs
The one-off cost of enucleation surgery must be balanced against repeated specialist visits, repeated anesthetics, and ongoing medication costs. At a general practice, the cost of enucleation surgery ranges from around $400 - $950 depending on the supportive care needed.
Prescription eye drops for glaucoma cost around $15 -25 per bottle and may last around 2 - 3 weeks each. When a condition is managed medically the dog may need weekly visits initially and then three-monthly check-ups. The cost of these visits can be $25 - 50 for a regular vet, to $70 - $270 for a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Dog Enucleation Considerations
There are many factors to consider with enucleation surgery. The procedure is permanent and irreversible, and the dog blind on that side afterward. However, many of the conditions for which enucleation is appropriate may have already resulted in loss of sight. The short-term discomfort of surgery is balanced against the long-term benefit of being pain-free. In addition, this surgical option can be cost effective as the results are permanent. The risks of surgery are low and relate to hemorrhage and any anesthetic risks for that individual patient. However, good surgical technique and pre-op screening minimizes both of these factors.
Enucleation Prevention in Dogs
Many of the health conditions that result in enucleation being an appropriate option are not preventable. Conditions such as glaucoma are strongly linked to genetic conditions such as luxating lens or poor drainage angles from the eye. Breeds most commonly at risk include terriers, Basset Hounds, and American cocker spaniels.
Owners of these breeds should be vigilant for the earliest signs of discomfort in their dog to get the eyes checked. Early medical treatment stands a better chance of success than much later intervention.
Other problems such as eyes popping out of sockets are linked to face shape. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs and pekes are at greatest risk. To avoid problems, the owner should avoid scruffing their dog (which pulls back the eyelids) and use a harness rather than a neck collar.
Owners should be vigilant for signs of eye discomfort, such as blinking and squinting, closing the eye, rubbing, or an ocular discharge, and seek veterinary attention. Prompt treatment of ulcers on the cornea (surface of the eye) can stop them from perforating which could result in the loss of an eye.
Enucleation Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Chi spaniel
One Year
44 found this helpful
44 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Non Functional Eye
I‘m fostering a cocker mix. He’s about 1yo. He had cherry eye surgery, but it didn’t take because his eye is abnormally small and non-functional, according to to the ophthalmologist. They recommended removing the eye to prevent intermittent infections throughout his life. I scheduled his surgery for this week, but wondering if I should move forward with it right now. He doesn’t seem to be in pain and doesn’t have discharge. He might have dry eye but doesn’t rub at it. I guess I’m looking for reassurance that removing the eye now is the right move even though it doesn’t seem to be causing pain.
July 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Ellen M. DVM
44 Recommendations
Hello, thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear that your foster dog has been having eye issues and I can certainly understand your concern.
I would absolutely follow the ophthalmologist's recommendation of going forward and removing the eye. Veterinary ophthalmologists are extremely knowledgeable, and absolutely want what is best for the dog! If he is having dry eye, that will definitely cause discomfort and eye issues down the road, even if it isn't right now. It would be better to remove the eye now before it is painful, then to wait until he's having lots of issues and in pain.
Dogs tend to recover very quickly from this surgery, and since he can't see out fo that eye anyway, he won't know any different! He will still be his normal, happy self!
July 27, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Silky Terrier
Eleven Years
23 found this helpful
23 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Grey/Cloudiness
My dog developed cataracts and I opted to do the cataract surgery about a year ago. One eye never healed properly and I had to have it removed. The other eye is starting to show signs of the same thing and she has been squinting like it bothers her. I am taking her back to Cincinnati Animal Eye Institute today to have them look at it... My question is, will she be ok if they have to remove it and will she live ok without her eyes. I'm super sad about this because before the cataract surgery she could see and nothing has been the same since the surgery except I'm deeper in debt.
July 22, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
23 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
I'm sorry that that has happened to your dog. The good news, is that dogs actually do quite well if they cannot see. As long as she leads a protected life, where she is not outside wandering alone, and you are careful not to move furniture or disrupt her environment too much, a lot of time people do not even notice that their dogs cannot see. They have so many other heightened Senses at that point. I hope that all goes well with your appointment, and that they are potentially able to save that I. If they are not, however, I think she will be okay.
July 22, 2020
Was this question and answer helpful?
Miniature Schnauzer
Christie
13 Years
23 found this helpful
23 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Discharge In Eye
Hi, Christie is a 13 years old miniature Schnauzer, she lost her eye 2 weeks ago because of a weird fight with another dog. The vet removed the stitches 6 days ago and everything seem fine except that she has like a brown crust in the corner of the eye (where the eye used to be). Is this normal?
Aug. 7, 2018
23 Recommendations
A brown crust may form for a few reasons including drainage, wound not fully healed among others; I would keep an eye on the area for now and remove the crust with a warm damp cloth when it forms. If it is still forming by the end of the week return to your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 7, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Shihpoo
Bogey
9 Years
24 found this helpful
24 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blind
Our 9.5 year old dog had his eye removed two weeks ago due to glaucoma. His other eye was cloudy but he could still see to go outside, eat treats,etc. Now it is apparent that he has gone blind in the other eye. He is running into things and seems confused. Could a complication of the surgery have caused this or is it more than likely just weird timing?
July 16, 2018
24 Recommendations
Dogs which develop glaucoma in one eye will develop glaucoma in the other eye within twelve months in the majority of cases, the intraocular pressure of the remaining eye should be monitored regularly and treated as appropriate. You should visit your Veterinarian to check the remaining eye as soon as possible. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 16, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Chihuahua
phoenix
8 Years
21 found this helpful
21 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scabbing
Pus Like Discharge
My dog had an enucleation done last week, now she has some black scab looking substance around a few of the stitchings, there is some discharge but its a very light green (kind of like a booger). She doesn't seem to be in pain and we have finished with all of her antibiotics, her stitches are due to be removed 4 days from now.
July 4, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
21 Recommendations
If the discharge that you are seeing looks like it may be pus, Phoenix should probably have a recheck sooner than the 4 days. She may need further antibiotics, or it may be normal discharge. Since I can't see her, it would be best to have it looked at just to make sure.
July 5, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
American Bulldog
Rosie
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Pain
Glaucoma
Eye Pressure
Blind
My dog 1.5 year old Rosie was born with primary glaucoma. She has been on eye drop medication since she was 8 months old to control the pressure in her eye. Recently the meds have stopped working as effectively and her ophthalmologist feels it is time she has it removed. The ophthalmologist was going to charge us $2,000 for the surgery... obviously we are not thrilled with that price. We found another vet that will do it for $900. After reading through some of these posts, I still feel like that seems rather high. But I'm also concerned with the fact that the ophthalmologist was going to use a nerve blocker during the procedure and said that is better than just anesthesia... but none of the other vets we have talked to say they do that. So my questions are: 1.) How important is this nerve blocker? I definitely want the best for my dog and want her to have no pain or complications whatsoever and am willing to pay for the best experience.. so is it worth the money to do the nerve blocker or are we ok going with a regular vet who does not do so? 2.) Even going with a normal vet it is $900... after reading some of these comments and the prices they listed, I feel like we are being way over charged... is that the case? I'm just not sure how the same procedure can be priced at $250 - $500 for some people and then the cheapest we have been able to find was the $900?! I'm just at a loss as to what to do and who to trust... I want my dog to be the taken care of in the best possible way and that is my first priority... but I also really want to find the most affordable option I can. and 3.) Is there a difference between a silicon eye and a prosthetic eye? I told the ophthalmologist we would not be interested in a prosthetic because we don't care about how she looks we just want it to be the most simple and effective procedure with as little chance for complications as possible... I just want her to be comfortable and never feel it for the rest of her life. He agreed but then still mentioned later putting a silicon ball in her eye...is that done to hold the shape of her face or was he still talking about the prosthetic? I'm just confused because I guess I thought there would be nothing in her eye and it would just be sown shut? Please help me figure out what to do. Thank you!
