Poppy was only a few weeks old when she came to our (Ngatea) clinic with an eye emergency. One of her eyes had popped out of the orbit and was trapped outside the eyelids. Fortunately the vet and vet nurse were just prepping for their next surgery and within minutes of coming into the clinic Poppy was comfortably asleep on the surgery table.

The eye globe seemed intact and surgery was performed to reposition the eye globe into the orbit. Once the eye was back in its right place the eyelids were closed to keep the globe in place. In this case special stented sutures were used to make sure that the sutures could not cut into the eye.

Poppy is a very lucky dog. The last photo was taken 9 weeks after the surgery and she can see well from the eye and move the eye almost normally.

This condition, proptosis, is an eye emergency. Animals with a proptotic eye should be taken immediately to a veterinarian.

Proptosis is usually caused by trauma to the head and is potentially vision threatening. It is more common in certain breeds, such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas. These brachycephalic animals are more vulnerable because of the t prominence of their eyes, their shallow eye sockets and large eye openings. It may occur in any species or breed though if the traumatic force is severe enough.

It looks dramatic and most owners recognise that it is an absolute emergency and the animal needs to be taken to a vet as soon as possible for the best outcome for the affected eye.