Cataract Info Please

[Kyra]

My 8-10 year old adopted Shih Tzu has a cataract in his left eye and one developing in his right eye.

On his vet check the vet said cataracts are nothing to be concerned about however after reading up on it on the net I don't know what to believe? I realise he will eventually be blinded from it and a few websites have actually said the dog could be in pain & have double vision?

Also what are peoples opinions on the quality of life of blind dogs?

Would you have your dog PTS or do you think it's fine to let blind dogs live? Do you think that's cruel?

[Teebs]

I walk many blind dogs, and we have a few that come to the kennels, they all get on fine, no way i would PTS because a dog couldnt see

No info on cataracts tho sorry

[Kyra]

Wouldn't it be frustrating for the dog to be bashing into things all the time? would the dog need someone with it all the time so it can drink/eat?

How difficult would you say it is to manage a blind dog?

I'm in no way saying i want to put my dog to sleep i'm just trying to gather as much info as i can from people with experience.

[Crisovar]

Dogs with blindness adjust,more so if it is a gradual deterioration of the eyesight, you need to make some changes to the way you do things, but it is easy.

Always leave their food and water in the same place, do not go moving furniture around or leave obstacles in doorways etc.

As long as they know where everything is they cope just fine.

I know of blind dogs that still play fetch, they retrieve toys with bells in them they hear where they land.

Blindness is not a death sentence.

[Cavandra]

I know a Pekingese that has no eyes, yet it still knows dam well where peoples ankles are to latch on & bite them!!!

Dogs do not use their eye sight like we do, it is the lesser of the senses, their sense of smell is their strongest one...They dont go bashing into things very often, as they sense things, & smell things...

I know many blind or sight impaired dogs, and they are very happy ))

[periannath]

It is possible to remove cataracts from dogs eyes now ,though of course it is expensive. I don't know what state you are in but I imagine most specialist ophthalmologists would be doing it.

Last time I was at SASH I was talking to fellow with an elderly bitch who had cataracts removed from both eyes and was delighted with the results. The little dog seemed pleased as well. She was bouncing around like a two yr old!

[Kyra]

Dogs with blindness adjust,more so if it is a gradual deterioration of the eyesight, you need to make some changes to the way you do things, but it is easy.

Always leave their food and water in the same place, do not go moving furniture around or leave obstacles in doorways etc.

As long as they know where everything is they cope just fine.

I know of blind dogs that still play fetch, they retrieve toys with bells in them they hear where they land.

Blindness is not a death sentence.

That was quite helpful Thank you

[anthony mazzeri]

It is possible to remove cataracts from dogs eyes now ,though of course it is expensive. I don't know what state you are in but I imagine most specialist ophthalmologists would be doing it.

Because of the cost, some people only get one eye fixed - seeing with one eye is better than none!

The operation involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one. It's all done through a micro-hole in the cornea (the clear eye outer layer). The clouded lens is broken up ultrasonically and sucked out in pieces, the new lens is inserted through the tiny hole folded up and unfolded in place inside the eye. You cant even see the insert hole afterwards. One complication when I had my previous dog's eyes fixed was that he could no longer dilate his pupils which were wide open at all times even in bright sunlight. I assume the technique has been improved since then.

[Golden Rules]

My first dog went blind overnight - he hadn't been well for a few days and his health deteriorated so quickly, he was PTS within 48 hours. (He had cancer).

However, when I first realised he was blind (he was suddenly walking very slowly and bumping into everything), the first thing I did was get on the net and searched info for reasons why he might have gone blind so quickly (before we could get to the vet) and came up with loads of information on how to care for blind dogs!

Google is your friend

[Kyra]

Because of the cost, some people only get one eye fixed - seeing with one eye is better than none!

What is the approx cost to have it done?

Thanks ArtyFarty.

[anthony mazzeri]

It was about $2,500 per eye, way back when. Probably cheaper now.

[Kyra]

It was about $2,500 per eye, way back when. Probably cheaper now.

Oh okay. I was thinking it would be much more than that.

[anthony mazzeri]

Before you get your hopes up, you have to be sure it actually is cataracts, as in older dogs it might be nuclear sclerosis instead which can't be fixed with cataract surgery. If you shine a light into the eyes and there's no reflection from the back of the eye (like the red eye from a flash when taking pictures) it's a cataract. If there is reflection, it sclerosis.

Also, there could be complications from the surgery and it may not work, like the chance of a detached retina which would make blindness permanent.

Here's a thread about it:

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=118429

[Bully]

Hi Kyra,

Cataract surgery is expensive, but the results can be dramatic I'd research it and your dog's condition to see (bad wording LOL!!) if it would work for your little buddy. If you decide against it, dogs are very adaptable and cope with the loss of sight.

There are quite a few blind dog groups on the internet. Simple things to do are keep the furniture in the same spot. Wear a cat collar with a bell on your ankle when walking so that your dog can hear where you are. Dogs adapt and it's no big deal to them

[oze50]

My 8-10 year old adopted Shih Tzu has a cataract in his left eye and one developing in his right eye.

On his vet check the vet said cataracts are nothing to be concerned about however after reading up on it on the net I don't know what to believe? I realise he will eventually be blinded from it and a few websites have actually said the dog could be in pain & have double vision?

Also what are peoples opinions on the quality of life of blind dogs?

Would you have your dog PTS or do you think it's fine to let blind dogs live? Do you think that's cruel?

Don't know if it is the same for dogs but I have cataracts on both eyes, while not painful my eyes do occasionally get a bit dry and sore if I read too much (shouldn't be a problem for your little man lol). When I eventually have the surgery I have been told my vision will be so good that I won't need glasses anymore! No matter what happens with the cataracts he will cope quite well if he loses his vision, just keep things in the same place and don't move stuff around, and, as others have said just 'Google' blind dogs on the net, amazing what you can find!

[Kyra]

Thank you for all the advice everyone. It has been very helpful.

I think we might speak to our vet about the surgery and see what he recommends doing.

[WalandLibby]

About 2 yrs ago I was quoted about $1500 for each eye, and the opthalmologist did not plan to put in a replacement lens. However, my boy's cataracts are progressing very slowly and he seems to see well (targets easily on small things, for eg), so I haven't had it done yet.

The aftercare is fairly intense, apparently.

[corvus]

Penny can't see very well anymore. She is nearly 13. Her eyesight has been deteriorating slowly for about the last 2-3 years. She doesn't often act like a dog that can't see very well. She sometimes gets nervous when people or dogs move fast at close quarters because she can't seem to follow them very well, or perhaps she can't see them at all. She sometimes snaps at children if they put their fingers near her eyes. But then, when she was younger a toddler poked her in the eye and she's been nervous about kids around her eyes ever since.

The chief problem we have with her is that her hearing isn't as good as it was either, and if she is off lead in an open area she sometimes wanders too far away and can't see where we are or pinpoint where we are calling from. We have to go and get her. We keep her on long lines more and more. She doesn't normally want to wander far anway.

I know someone who regularly takes in senior dogs. She uses essences and essential oils to teach her dogs to find their way around. For example, she might use an orange essence at the bottom of a step so the dog knows to step up. She uses another scent around dangerous objects like hot things or drop-offs so the dog knows to stay clear. She usually starts annointing things before the dogs go blind so they can learn with the help of their eyes to begin with.

All in all, though, dogs don't need their eyes that much. Penny's eyes are very clouded, but apart from tripping over a bit, you wouldn't know it. She always knows where we are and where Kivi is and never runs into anything. I've seen a dog that was totally blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other and he still knew exactly where I was and looked right into my face. The owner told me he sometimes ran into things if she moved something, and she couldn't walk him off lead, but he was still a happy boy.