4 Year Old Staffy - Possible Cataracts :(

[KokiBella]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to the forum! My husband and I have a 4 and a half year old English Staffy named Koki.

We took Koki to the vet for her annual vaccination and the vet commented on her eyes looking a bit cloudy.. I had noticed the reflection when she was under lights but never really thought anything of it until the vet said something :D

She suggested it could be the start of cataracts but that it was quite strange as she is so young.. We ordered the DNA test for hereditary cataracts and are waiting patiently for the results to come in. The vet thinks hereditary cataracts is all it could be since she is still so young - we are incredibly anxious waiting!! We bought her as a pup from a friend who was a breeder, I thought the parents were both clear in the eye tests but I could be mistaken - I guess if this is the case, the DNA test should come back negative?

Does anyone have any experience with Staffy's and hereditary cataracts?

We will obviously be watching her eyes closely now and getting even more regular check ups than before. If they get worse, she'll be off to have the surgery - we cant have her go blind (she is terrified of loud noises like thunder and fireworks and has been on clomicalm for what feels like ever!) - I think if she went blind it might make her fears even worse!

I'm no expert on any of this, I just love my dog and hope she is going to be ok!

Thanks

Susie

[nickojoy]

A SBT breeder will confirm, but doesn't HC start at around the 6 months of age?, so 4 isn't really young.

Stolen from a SBT site:

Hereditary Cataract in Staffordshire Bull Terriers has been recognised as an inherited condition since the late 1970’s. Affected dogs develop cataracts in both eyes at an early age. The condition is not congenital, so the lenses are normal at birth but cataracts appear at a few weeks to months in age, progressing to total cataract (and resulting blindness) by 2 to 3 years of age.

Edited May 25, 2010 by nickojoy

[Sandra777]

Yep, Hereditary Cataracts in Staffords are early on set, however nothing in life is fixed so it is possible for it to develop more slowly in some dogs, nature doesn't work to a fixed schedule :D

Your friends had the parents eye tested as in opthalmic exam? HC is a recessive gene which means both parents could carry the gene but they themselves can have perfectly normal eyes.

This is how the disease has remained in the breed for so long, until the DNA test was perfected there was no way of knowing the difference between a "carrier" (unaffected but carrying the condition in their genes) and a "clear" (both unaffected and not genetically carrying the condition) until someone bred an affected puppy.

The DNA test was available when your puppy was bred.

A blind dog copes very well so long as the owners put some thought into it's surroundings so even though it is a horrible disease, it's not a death sentence or the end of the world even if you decide not to try and have the cataracts removed.

Best of luck.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Sandra777

[nickojoy]

There are alot of blind dogs on here, owners will be able to give you advise on how to cope with a blind companion.

The DNA tests should take 14 days to come back, I wouldn't really be stressing to much about it your dog can still live a normal happy long life.

[KokiBella]

Thanks for your comments!

We cant remember if the parents were tested or not. We bought Koki from a friend who was breeding at the time because we absolutely adored the mother. We are no longer friends with the person, so it makes it tricky to find out for sure which is why we decided to do the DNA test.

Koki is a little replica of her mum so we got exactly what we wanted but since she was a back yard breeder (both parents have papers) I guess we could pay the price. We were young and thought we new best at the time! Wouldn't trade her for anything though - even with all her problems!

If she has cataracts, we'll get them removed if that's what the vets say to do, we couldn't put a price on her - especially not at 4 and a half!

I never realised hereditary cataracts started so young in SBT's.... Looking back through photo's its hard to tell if there has always been something there or not - her eyes have always looked a little evil in photos!! She has been seeing the same vet since she was 1 so I would have to assume that there was nothing there before?

I guess our concern with her going blind is just because of her fears, we understand that dogs can still be happy when they are blind, we just don't want her fears to get even worse!

Thanks again :D Susie

[Dogsfevr]

You need to go see an eye specialist & i wouldnt be waiting for the DNA test to come back.

Cloudy eyes can be created by many things not just HC & until correctly diagnosed you will have no idea.

Medications,poor diet,diabetes,cushings disease & the list goes on can all be associated with eye sight issues BUT only a specialist will be able to confirm .

Was her eyes ever checked before given clomicalm It seems many vets hand this drug out without looking at all aspects whether that be eye sight/hearing, its always labelled as fears/anxiety.

You need to see a specialized & see what it is & then look at all options because the cataract removal surgery doesnt always work & i do now of more failures than good personally but that is just a small drop in the ocean.

If she has cataracts you need to ensure her eye pressure is correct which a specialized will check ,your normal vet can not do this.

If i remember correctly the main ingredient in Clomicalm can cause dry eye or be a pre cursor to Glaucoma (someone may now more )

Edited May 25, 2010 by showdog

[ellz]

Some valid points there showdog....BUT....I can tell you how surprised I was to find eye issues with Staffords so very different compared to eye issues with other breeds, for example, Yanks. Mode of inheritance for HC etc is the same, but actual presentation can be somewhat of a surprise.

[Dogsfevr]

Some valid points there showdog....BUT....I can tell you how surprised I was to find eye issues with Staffords so very different compared to eye issues with other breeds, for example, Yanks. Mode of inheritance for HC etc is the same, but actual presentation can be somewhat of a surprise.

Yep ,of all the breeds i own/ed i reckon each one has been different .very confusing .

But as you now of to the eye doctor :D

[KokiBella]

The DNA test will be back by the end of the week or start of next week. She had full blood work and full physcial examinations prior to going on clomicalm and regularly since she has been on it. Without the clomicalm she would probably be seriously injured if not dead by now. When she gets scared she tries to escape or hurt herself and has caused some pretty nasty injuries even with clomicalm and valium or xanax (not together). Her fears are very severe so yes she was fully assessed prior to going on medication - our vet doesn't just hand it out thankfully.

She sees the vet very regularly and we see an excellent vet who also owns a Staffy and has quite a lot of experience with behavioural issues - this is her main area of interest/expertise.

Obviously if the tests come back positive or her eyes get any worse we will be referred to a specialist - at this stage though, the vet is suspecting cataracts are forming and has suggested visits every 2 months to keep an eye on them. As I said, she hasn't lost any vision yet (well not that we nor the vet can determine) but there is some clouding visible to the vet. She doesn't have dry eyes at all, just this slight cloudiness. As I said, our vet is really good, she suggested getting the test done, if it comes back positive then off to the eye doctor for Koki, if it comes back negative, we'll probably still ask to go to the eye doctor!! :D

[Dogsfevr]

Unless your vet is a specialist she cannot say it does/doesnt have dry eye as this is tested by drops & a pressure stick.

Sorry but i wouldnt be waiting to see what happens irrespective of the DNA test.

But each to there own.

Having had dogs with catarcats,PRA,glaucome i now the importance of keeping on top of things in young dogs

[KokiBella]

Thanks for your thoughts Showdog! :D We are new to the whole 'eye issues' thing!

I guess we are thinking that since the tests results will be back so soon, we will wait to see what they say, then we can take that to the specialist - whatever the results indicate.

The vet probably wouldn't give us a referral until we have the results anyway!

[ellz]

Remember too that even if the test comes back as being DNA clear of HC, there are still all kinds of cataracts that can affect a dog....dietary, environmental and those related to injury. A persistent case of dry eye for example, can cause ulceration which can in turn lead to a cataract.

[KokiBella]

Remember too that even if the test comes back as being DNA clear of HC, there are still all kinds of cataracts that can affect a dog....dietary, environmental and those related to injury. A persistent case of dry eye for example, can cause ulceration which can in turn lead to a cataract.

Thanks Ellz! I think the vet wanted to investigate hereditary cataracts first because she is very young for cataracts.

I'll keep you posted on what happens when the results come back! :D

[nickojoy]

Remember too that even if the test comes back as being DNA clear of HC, there are still all kinds of cataracts that can affect a dog....dietary, environmental and those related to injury. A persistent case of dry eye for example, can cause ulceration which can in turn lead to a cataract.

Like my boy, he has (had) Distichiasis which caused constant ulceration which lead to a cataract. The cloudiness has grown nearly accross his entire eye in the last 12 months. There is nothing to fix his blindless in that eye now, too much damage occured by constrat ops when he was 6 months old. He is now 3, doesn't worry him a bit.

[KokiBella]

Remember too that even if the test comes back as being DNA clear of HC, there are still all kinds of cataracts that can affect a dog....dietary, environmental and those related to injury. A persistent case of dry eye for example, can cause ulceration which can in turn lead to a cataract.

Like my boy, he has (had) Distichiasis which caused constant ulceration which lead to a cataract. The cloudiness has grown nearly accross his entire eye in the last 12 months. There is nothing to fix his blindless in that eye now, too much damage occured by constrat ops when he was 6 months old. He is now 3, doesn't worry him a bit.

What sort of dog do you have?

[GRLC]

My female Stafford was diagnosed with SARDS last year . SARDS stands for sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome . SARDS affected our girl literally overnight , she is 100% blind . I absolutely recommend seeing a specialist , the specialist we saw was able to diagnose her within 15 minutes into the consultation and tests were completed to verify the diagnosis , they were great . Bebe has adjusted really well to the blindness and is a very happy dog she runs around with my other dogs and plays all the time and still loves her walks . She knows where her bed is , water etc and we try not to move things so not to confuse her . When people see her they just assume she is a dog that can see because she is that well adjusted , they get a shock when i tell them she is actually blind. The advantage i have is that SARDS is known to make dogs sleep more .Bebe was an anxious dog before SARDS and SARDS has actually calmed her down. i can't really comment on the scare issues you have with your girl , but You maybe surprised how well she will adjust to blindness i certainly was . For a blind dog we tend to make special allowances and they may get a bit more special treatment then they would of got before so this may work to your favor . Just so you know there is a lot of Dolers who have or have had "Disabled dogs " and can provide the much needed support, tips and help you may require . Fingers crossed it's not cataracts, but it's not the end of the road if it is .

[nickojoy]

Remember too that even if the test comes back as being DNA clear of HC, there are still all kinds of cataracts that can affect a dog....dietary, environmental and those related to injury. A persistent case of dry eye for example, can cause ulceration which can in turn lead to a cataract.

Like my boy, he has (had) Distichiasis which caused constant ulceration which lead to a cataract. The cloudiness has grown nearly accross his entire eye in the last 12 months. There is nothing to fix his blindless in that eye now, too much damage occured by constrat ops when he was 6 months old. He is now 3, doesn't worry him a bit.

What sort of dog do you have?

SBT same as you.

[KokiBella]

SBT same as you.

Did you have to see a specialist to work out what the problem was or did your vet pick it up? How did you know something was wrong?

[Dogsfevr]

SBT same as you.

Did you have to see a specialist to work out what the problem was or did your vet pick it up? How did you know something was wrong?

I think you need to understand that a vet can see signs that can lead to certain eye conditions but your normal vet can not give you a defiant answer to any eye condition as they do not have the qualifications or the equipment that is required to diagnosis these conditions & any secondary condition that can be associated.

[KokiBella]

My female Stafford was diagnosed with SARDS last year . SARDS stands for sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome . SARDS affected our girl literally overnight , she is 100% blind . I absolutely recommend seeing a specialist , the specialist we saw was able to diagnose her within 15 minutes into the consultation and tests were completed to verify the diagnosis , they were great . Bebe has adjusted really well to the blindness and is a very happy dog she runs around with my other dogs and plays all the time and still loves her walks . She knows where her bed is , water etc and we try not to move things so not to confuse her . When people see her they just assume she is a dog that can see because she is that well adjusted , they get a shock when i tell them she is actually blind. The advantage i have is that SARDS is known to make dogs sleep more .Bebe was an anxious dog before SARDS and SARDS has actually calmed her down. i can't really comment on the scare issues you have with your girl , but You maybe surprised how well she will adjust to blindness i certainly was . For a blind dog we tend to make special allowances and they may get a bit more special treatment then they would of got before so this may work to your favor . Just so you know there is a lot of Dolers who have or have had "Disabled dogs " and can provide the much needed support, tips and help you may require . Fingers crossed it's not cataracts, but it's not the end of the road if it is .

Hi GRLC, thanks for your post! We will be back at the vets next weekend once the results are in, then off to a specialist. I've never heard of SARDS - but as I've said all along, very new to eye problems!! Koki gets lots of special treatment - hehee not sure we could treat her any better even if she does go blind!! hehee She sleeps all day at the moment, always has though - she has her 30 minute 'zoomy' time after dinner and then goes back to sleep! I'm glad to read yours and other Dolers posts about their blind dogs and how happy and 'normal' their lives are!

SBT same as you.

Did you have to see a specialist to work out what the problem was or did your vet pick it up? How did you know something was wrong?

I think you need to understand that a vet can see signs that can lead to certain eye conditions but your normal vet can not give you a defiant answer to any eye condition as they do not have the qualifications or the equipment that is required to diagnosis these conditions & any secondary condition that can be associated.

Showdog, I completely understand what you are saying - perhaps you haven't been reading my posts clearly?

I have said that we will be asking for a referral to a specialist, but that we are going to wait for the DNA test results to come back in first. I'm sure it will be beneficial to have the results before seeing the specialist, particularly if they come back saying she has hereditary cataracts. My question to nickojoy was purely a question as to whether or not his vet did pick it up or not.