The phone rings. On the other end is a client with a Boston terrier.
“Hey,” she says calmly. “I just came downstairs this morning, and Chewey’s eye was popped out. I just pushed it in but I’m coming in for you to see him anyway.”
Good call.
Proptosis, otherwise known as bug eyes, eyeballs-popping-out-of-the-head, or most commonly, “AUGH!” is most commonly the result of some sort of head trauma. When the eye is completely displaced out of the orbit, the damage is extensive and may result in loss of the eye. Do not google this. Trust me. Even I am a bit horrified looking at it.
Breeds with a shallow orbit- ie, the bony cup in which the globe resides- are predisposed to this occurrence. Pugs, Boston terriers, shih tzus, and other squishy faced sorts are the dogs we most often see with the condition. With these guys, the protrusion of the eye can result from something much less extreme than a car accident- such as a tussle with another dog, or an overly eager veterinary student restraining a dog with too much vigor (NOT me!)
The good news is with those less traumatic events, often the eye can be gently replaced, thus preserving vision. That is what happened with good old Chewey, who was none the worse for wear upon arrival at the clinic. I tested his vision, gave him some medications to help with the inflammation, and we’ll go from there. If it happens again, there are surgical procedures that can make it less likely to happen again.
With medical entries, I like to try and include a picture to help convey the type of condition I’m describing. I’ll spare you that in this case. Instead, enjoy this short clip from the oldie but goody, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.
Exophthalmos at its most fun.
please tell me this is an extremely rare thing to happen in american shorthair cats! i honestly don’t know if i’d finish freaking out in time to help the two who allow me to live with them.
although, you have greatly narrowed down the list of possible breeds allowed when i am able to get a dog for my daughter. for that i thank you. 🙂
Hey, how do you test an animal’s vision? Is there like an eye chart with mice and birds and tennis balls? (J/K) I think my cat may be nearsighted. (Or he’s just not that intelligent.) He doesn’t like strangers, and sometimes if I walk toward him from far away, he runs away, but if I talk while I do it, he’s fine. I’m pretty sure he can see out of both eyes, he just doesn’t seem to see well. He has bi-colored eyes, and his blue eye’s pupil is not as well-defined as the other, but his mom was like that, to-I just assumed blue eyes were like that.
There used to be a show about vet interns on Animal Planet. I remember in one episode an intern had to put a baby doxie’s eye back in… and it went in with the most bizarrely satisfying pop (not audible–just, the motion somehow was a *pop*!). Next episode she had to reset a dislocated hip. Another satisfying pop! I wonder if she was ever thankful for getting those two cases so close to together. I know that if I am going to be doing something like putting a puppy’s eye back in, I want some sort of physical assurance that I am doing it correctly. Both times she just grinned the biggest, proudest grin.
Oh god, the first week that I worked as a vet tech we had a shih tzu down for surgery. I looked over to check on him only to see his bug eye popped out of his head. I freaked out! The other tech that was with me just laughed and popped it back in like it was no big deal. That image will stay with me forever…. :O
MY GAWD, I have a 4.5 month old bulgy eyed Boston Terrier who plays like a MO FO with dogs of all sizes. This is very good info to know, I had heard of Cherry Eye and have been keeping an eye out for that.