Need support.. eye enuculation tomorrow :(

primecat

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Hi all,

My 6 year old male cat, Optimus Prime, is having surgery tomorrow to get his eye removed. He has had iris melanosis (brown spots on his right eye) and I took him to the ophthalmologist today for a second opinion and because it's spread the past 6 months. She said because some spots have visibly elevated above the iris in a few spots and it looks velvety, she is concerned that it is developing into diffuse iris melanoma and recommended eye removal.

I called my regular vet that I trust to see what she thought about having another ophthalmologist look at it, and she said based on the doctor's report, she is 99% sure that another ophthalmologist would recommend the same thing. She has seen his spots before but last time was about 6 months ago and they were not raised at that time. I wanted to have surgery with her but that wouldn't be until the 21st, and there is an opening with another vet tomorrow morning which she recommended I take, so I did. If it is in fact cancer, it can spread quickly.

He will be getting bloodwork and a chest x-ray done before his surgery. If it has already spread, we won't be removing his eye. I am just nervous for him and hope he is going to be ok. It doesn't help that my husband is out of town this week so I will be doing this on my own. I know Prime will be out of it from the drugs and I'll be keeping a close eye on him. He is already a small cat at 8 lb 11 oz and is finicky so I hope he gets back to eating quick.

Anyway, this is all me worrying. We just found out today and his surgery is tomorrow, just hasn't really had time to sink in. :(

Thanks for any supportive words or advice you can offer.

Lisa

 

margd

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What a shock - you really aren't getting any time for the news to sink in. I have no experience in this but wanted to send you best wishes and tons of good luck. From what I understand, cats manage quite well with only one eye so hopefully your boy will be fine. He is a beautiful cat, btw. Also he has a great name!

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zed xyzed

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What a beautiful cat. I haven't had any experience with this but I have heard that cats  handle this operation quite well. I hope it goes well, sending you and Optimus Prime good vibes 
 
 
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donutte

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Oh my, what a beautiful cat indeed! And I love the little charm on his collar. I hope his pre-surgery testing goes well, and that the eye enucleation goes without incident 

And {{hugs}} to you. This has got to be rough.
 
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primecat

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Thank you all so much. In tears right now. He is beautiful and I'm trying to think positively, that I'm saving him and hopefully it hasn't spread. His eyes are actually a deep gold, the pic doesn't do them jusice.
 

kittyluv387

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Your cat is pretty and will still be pretty after!! He will be just fine with one eye. Its just the human mind that gets upset at this. ;) Hes under your care so he will still have a great life.
 
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primecat

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Thanks everyone for your support. An update this morning - the vet doing the surgery didn't see any raised spots so he recommended a second ophthalmologist to take my cat to for a second opinion. He is the best in the state and is about an hour away. Because he didn't see any raised spots (though his tools aren't as advanced as an opthalmologist), he doesn't think there is a risk with waiting a couple of weeks for the appointment (it's Jan 25th). If this ophthalmologist sees the raised spots, we can definitely proceed with the surgery. I agreed and was happy with his conservative approach. I'll give an update once the appt happens.
 
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primecat

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Thank you!! The appointment with the opthalmologist is this Tuesday. If he thinks he needs surgery, it will happen that day. Hoping he doesn't see any raised spots and will maybe just monitor it... we'll see. I'm prepared either way. I have a feeling if he doesn't have the surgery, he won't like his cone one bit so I'm also ready to go pick up some Feliway if I need to (never used it before). He will be pampered.
 
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