Before and After (WARNING: mildly graphic material)

I thought I'd give you a recap of what's been going on with Rosie and her eye, this time with photographic supplementation. If you remember from earlier posts and pictures, Rosie has had a "bad eye" for a long time (roughly 15 years). It had been discolored and bulbous for quite some time, but up until very recently it had caused her no issues.

This is Rosie a few weeks ago. You can see the discolored, bulbous nature of her right eye. It had been this way for quite a while.

About a week and a half ago, on New Year's Eve, I suddenly noticed that Rosie's right eye was displaying a very severe, alarming change. The eye was suddenly misshapen, with a portion of it seemingly protruding from the surface. There was also bloody discharge coming from it, sometimes pouring from it.

After a trip to the vet, it was deduced that the eye would more than likely need to come out, as the entire central portion of the cornea was essentially absent, and it was infected. First, though, Rosie was started on antibiotic eye drops, oral antibiotics, and pain meds. She was to stay on those over the weekend of the New Year, with a recheck and likely eye removal scheduled for the following week (last week).

Rosie went in this past Tuesday, when it was decided that the eye indeed needed to come out. Not only was her eye likely very painful, but there was also the concern that the infection could travel to her brain. The doctor decided to schedule her eye removal surgery (known as enucleation) for this past Thursday. Rosie remained on all of her meds until then, which she did not particularly appreciate.

So, this next picture was taken just one or two nights before Rosie's surgery:

This picture is a bit blurry, but that may benefit you viewers. You can get an idea how the eye had developed a protrusion, had developed a yellowish tint (possibly indicative of infection) as well as a bloody tint, and was secreting a bloody discharge.

I was very anxious about Rosie going under anesthesia for surgery on Thursday, especially given her age (21), renal disease, and heart murmur. But, she did great! She went home that night, still wobbly and a bit lethargic from the anesthesia, but recovering nonetheless. I have been monitoring her to make sure that she does not bother her sutures until they can be removed, and she is still (quite unhappily) receiving oral antibiotics and pain meds.

So, this is Rosie today:

Rosie is resting and doing well, and she has not bothered her sutures at all. She goes back to the vet in just under two weeks to have the sutures removed.

I again want to thank all those who sent purrs and prayers Rosie's way this past week and a half! They were and still are deeply appreciated!

Have a great week, everyone!