Tear Duct

[Thor's Dad]

So we've had Thor to the Vet, twice now for an enlarged tear duct. She says is out of place. While there is a very slight chance that it could go back in she feels that it is unlikely.

The Vet wants to wait until a year old and then remove the duct as she says that is the best way to go. She stated since a Newfie has several tear ducts removing one is not a problem.

So I did a search on here, but it seems that they were all very old threads, so I wanted to get a fresh opinion if anyone has done the surgery lately and were you happy long term with the results.

Thanks, Tom

 

[Angela]

My information isn't up to date but Dudley had it, 1998, he was 5 months old. The vet stitched it back and he never had any more problems with it for the rest of his 11 1/2 years.

I personally would want it done now rather than wait.

 

[lmfoltyn]

No experience with this but thinking of you! Poor guy!

 

[Jeannie]

Adam had cherry eye when he was young. I opted for the vet to remove the duct. Worst mistake ever. I've fought eye problems with him most of his life. Mostly dry eye and always putting drops in.

Have you taken him to an eye specialist? I would before I'd let a general vet do something major as this.

Edited to add: I chose to have the duct removed because my vet didn't tack. I wish I'd taken to have it done correctly.

 

[Thor's Dad]

Adam had cherry eye when he was young. I opted for the vet to remove the duct. Worst mistake ever. I've fought eye problems with him most of his life. Mostly dry eye and always putting drops in.

Have you taken him to an eye specialist? I would before I'd let a general vet do something major as this.

Edited to add: I chose to have the duct removed because my vet didn't tack. I wish I'd taken to have it done correctly.

Jeannie- thanks for the information. Debbie is taking him on Friday to a specialist that is from UPenn. They claim a very high success rate for tacking back into place so likely we will do this surgery.
Tom

 

[chumleysma]

Tom...just saw this now. I have no experience to help, but certainly glad you're going to U of Penn, Matthew J. Ryan Vet Hospital. I'll be thinking of Thor on Friday. Good Luck!

 

[lmfoltyn]

I am so jealous that everyone seems to have available to them the best pet hospitals and they all seem to be on the east coast! Is there anything comparable on the west side of the US?

 

[Thor's Dad]

Tom...just saw this now. I have no experience to help, but certainly glad you're going to U of Penn, Matthew J. Ryan Vet Hospital. I'll be thinking of Thor on Friday. Good Luck!

Stacy
Sorry I wasn't exactly clear, Debbie is taking Thor to Metropolitan Vet Clinic in Trooper. The docs there are all from UPenn, so we don't have to downtown.

 

[chumleysma]

Hey Tom...How is Thor doing with his eye?

 

[Thor's Dad]

Stacy - Thanks for asking, I've meaning to get back here and post and was literally just getting to it and I just saw your post.

He is scheduled for surgery at Metropolitan Vet Hospital on April 10. He will have his tear duct put back into position as well as correct for scrolled cartilage in both his eyes.

They claim a 98% success rate with the tear duct fix. Then two weeks of keeping him calm and not letting him get to his face, (yeah right), so he will be wearing the collar of shame for two weeks!!

So he should be good to go for a Sunday BBQ in our backyard sometime on Sunday afternoon in May or June. Will contact you later in April to see how we can get this on our calendars.

 

[Ginny]

The longer that eyelid is prolapsed, the more likely it is to stay out. The bulge can be massaged back into place. Some vets recommend NSAIDs for a time...

If you go the surgical route, tacking is the best. Jeannie's experience with dry eye and the other negative side effects of removal, are common.