Pug Eye Removal

[KLCOOP]

Hi...my Pug (Angus) is 9.5 yrs old and has suffered with severe dry eye for years. Both eyes are quite bad, and the most recent vet visit was grim. Both of his corneas are dead, and severely infected. He has been partially blind in both eyes for over a year now - seeing shadows only. The vet said that he is now completely blind and likely in some pain given his current eye condition.
He is on two types of antibiotic to try and clear this infection. If it does not clear I will have to look at removing both his eyes, or euthanasia. My problem is that his chances of surviving the surgury are very slim. I have had three vets tell me that he can not be sedated anymore given his poor breathing condition. So, do I try the surgury and hope for the best? The cost must be atrocious and the thought of removing his eyes almost makes me cry, but I also do not want him in pain. That brings me to my second part, how do you euthanize a dog who is otherwise healthy except that he is a Senior.
Comments, suggestions, words of wisdom????

[Blinddogs.net]

I'm so sorry that you & Angus are going through this.. and that you have such a hard choice to make for him. Removing the eyes really isn't as horrible as it seems.. and dogs that have had it done (that have been in pain) feel so much better (some almost immediately) even while still recovering from their surgery. The fact that 3 vets told you he can't be put under safely would be the main concern, but if your only other choice would be euthanasia anyway... it seems worth a try -- since you say Angus is otherwise in good health?

[Captain_Tom]

We have a 14 year old shitzu with a bulging eye. We decided to have the eye removed for the dog's comfort and risk the surgery at that age. The eye was cancerous and the dog is much happier (they don't have social stigma about losing an eye - they like pain relief). The vet impressed us because she said she does not do chemotherapy because she found that dogs do not understand why they are throwing up and feeling miserable after they eat so they stop eating completely and suffer for a few weeks or months longer before dying. She feels the chemo (expensive) is more for the owner than the dog so she gives the dog pain medication to relieve suffering. We like that approach.

[Blinddogs.net]

We have a 14 year old shitzu with a bulging eye. We decided to have the eye removed for the dog's comfort and risk the surgery at that age. The eye was cancerous and the dog is much happier (they don't have social stigma about losing an eye - they like pain relief). The vet impressed us because she said she does not do chemotherapy because she found that dogs do not understand why they are throwing up and feeling miserable after they eat so they stop eating completely and suffer for a few weeks or months longer before dying. She feels the chemo (expensive) is more for the owner than the dog so she gives the dog pain medication to relieve suffering. We like that approach.

So happy that the surgery went well.. and it sounds like you have such a wonderful & caring vet!