Surgery To Clear Blocked Tear Ducts

[pugdogsrock]

Hello

I am hoping for some advice (or perhaps just reassurance from people who have been through this).

My gorgeous 12 month old pug oscar has battled dermatitis on his face/wrinkles his whole life. He has had many visits to the vet (and dermatologist and opthamologist) to try and get on top of things. Dermatitis is being caused by constant moisture on his face due to blocked tear ducts (confirmed by opthamologist) and after 10 months of twice daily cleaning/drying of face (his face is again wet as soon as I have wiped it dry) and applications of topical antibiotics (only when it flares up really badly) we are still getting nowhere.

The opthamologist has recommended surgery to unblock the tear ducts to allow for natural drainage of the moisture. He has undergone GA before when he was neutered, so I know that he is ok with GA. While opthamologist reassured me it is pretty standard surgery, I obviously am very nervous about any surgery (and do see this as a last resort).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[~Anne~]

I am sure he will be fine and you are doing the right thing. His sight is very valuable to him. You said he is a young dog, so he will cope better than most and will be bounding around again in no time.

[Mas1981]

My pup suffered from a blocked tear duct as a younger pup, he had them flushed with antibiotics by the opthamologist many times in a row and it eventually sorted it out. She was wonderful with him, He didnt have surgery though. I am ultra careful with his eyes now, if he goes somewhere with a lot of sand i rinse his eyes out when we get home to stop grains of sand etc getting stuck.

[pugdogsrock]

thanks Anne and Masons_mum for your replies...

i wish i could just get them flushed to clear, but the opthamologist ruled that out and said surgery was only way to go, as problem is caused by the deformed/flattened nature of his face (and he may not even have complete tear ducts, but don't care to think about that!). He does get lots of eye boogers, but has never had an infection in the eye - just the skin below his eyes.

The eye clinic has assured me as far as "eye surgery" goes it is a fairly routine procedure, but it is still surgery...