Can Someone Tell Me About Dog Cataracts, Please?

[amyquilt]

I have a friend that's Poodle got cataracts. She was 10 at the time. Her name is Buttons.

They decided to pay for the surgery (and drops for the rest of Buttons life) because Buttons is still a very active dog for her age and they had already noticed her having trouble seeing and lowered activity level. The surgery was very expensive, though, and they have to put drops in her eyes every day.

Buttons came through the surgery fine and is now, 1.5 years later, back to her normal, very active, self...she's 12 now and acts much younger.

 

[tellynpeep]

Please have your dog checked by your vet!!!
It is normal for a 7 1/2 year old dog to have some lens cloudiness, but it should NOT affect vision at all. If she is having trouble seeing, get her seen ASAP. Many vision problems can be treated if diagnosed early enough.

 

[onthespot]

My friend Meegan told me that cataract surgery they remove the lense. So the dog was blurry before, and cant focus afterward! For a LOT of money! She said it was mostly a cosmetic surgery so the owner doesn't have to look at blueish eyeballs, that's all. I don't know if that is still true or not, as that was fifteen years ago, but you might ask your vet about how much the surgery will IMPROVE your dog's VISION, not her looks.

 

[wendy]

In a person they replace the cloudy lens with a artifical lens. I use to do the lens measurements for cataract surgeries. I would think in a dog they would do the say or something similar. Why spend all that money and your dog can not see ?

 

[onthespot]

just to not have to look at a blue hazy eye... and because the people don't understand the full ramifications of "removing the bad lens" or something to that effect.

 

[wendy]

I found this from a vet online, he or she does replace the lens just like in humans. Good info on there, the op may want to check it out. Read the part that says "How are lens treated?"

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/cataract.htm

 

[Guitartists]

All I can tell you is that it's common for dogs to have cataracts and for their owners to not even realize it. If it's a young animal... have your water tested! We had a cat that lost her vision due to contaminated water in our town. If it's an older animal I'd say it's par for the course. Not sure if they recommend surgery or not... sometimes the cost and risk far outweigh the wanted result.

 

[wendy]

Oh, I know, I don't know if I would do that to my dog or not. And I am not saying to have it done. Have had alot of dogs live a long time, 13 years and more. They got along just fine.

But there was a previous post that said they remove the lens and the dog is left blind. That is not the usual case. That is why I put the link on here.

 

[babalubird]

Do a websearch by entering "dog catacract treatment". You will get a number of newly developed eye drops for dogs.

I don't know how effective they are but seems worth a try before surgery maybe?

I do know this. Some tremendous research and treatments have been done in humans combining DMSO with other chemical treatments for the eye. The combination did dissolve cataracts and in a short time. Something about DMSO makes it easier for other substances to be absorbed into diseased tissue.

I tried in vane to find a doctor willing to do this for a relative. Thank you, Food and Drug Administration (argh)! I suppose they have saved us from some scams but they have also kept us from some good things with all their red tape and nonsense.

 

[warren]

If the dog is happy I don't think I would like to put him through the stress of an operation followed by sore eyes etc. To a dog smell is more important than sight.
One of our old dogs had poor sight and was a little deaf. If he was off the lead in a field and sniffing around I would call him at the top of my voice and he would look around hearing my voice but not sure where I was. Sometimes he would run towards other people and realise that they were not me when he got close enough...but he was happy enough and lived to a good age. You just have to take a little extra care with an older dog.