Post eye-removal surgery recovery

Question
Question on recovery from eye surgery. Our 16 1/2 year old Beagle mix is scheduled to have his left eye removed next Monday 17-May. Our vet says he is in pain - "stoic dog" and there are no internal tumors at all - just his one eye is totally gone - better removed for his "comfort.". (So you'll know, we have had two other opinions - both euthanasia.) She plans to have an IV for safety throught he surgery. We did x-rays of him and internally and she saw nothing remarkable but he does have a small heart murmur. When he starts to get up (after x hours?) will he scream in shock? or what? will he be sleeping most of the time for two weeks or ? So you'll know, he had Rimadyl prescribed two times since Christmas by other vets and he was vomiting and really sick so he must be allergic to Rimadyl. Otherwise he is a wonderful friend to my husband and me. Thanks so much.

Answer
Hi Ellen!

yes, your dog WILL be painful post surgery. Ask your vet for a Duragesic (Fentanyl) patch for pain. DO NOT accept Torbutrol as an only pain managment tool for your dog. It is INFERIOR. I don't care if this poor dog appears 'stoic' by your vet. He deserves pain managment.

Other pain meds are Buprinex and or Metacam. Ask about those. The Metacam is also an anti-inflammatory.

I'm sure your dog will do great. Enucliation surguries are usually very successful with minimal side effects- most are just some ugly swelling of the orbit, but warm packing will help with that :)

Good Luck!