Guest jurishound Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 We adopted seven year old Harley in late October, after his "family" lost their home and he was bounced around for a while and then thankfully, taken in by one of the kindest people in the world. He is a very affectionate, sweet dog at home. Soon after we adopted him, we discovered that he seems apprehensive toward other dogs, and even - gasp - aggressive. I also started noticing that he occasionally bonks his head into objects, such as door jambs and table tops. I began to wonder if he has a vision problem. Today, DH and I were walking him with our other hound, and Harley stopped to investigate a smell. DH got ahead of us, and as Harley and I approached them from about 25 feet away, Harley's tail and hackles went up and he growled a bit at her. As soon as he reached DH and our other hound and sniffed her, he was fine, wagged his tail, and happily went on his way. I am now suspicious that his apprehensiveness toward other dogs is because he can't see very well! Should I take him to our vet, or directly to a specialist? Has anyone else encountered this before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Directly to a specialist would be best Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boondog Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I agree with Diane. I would go to a specialist. You'll likely end up at one anyway. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Our Emmy went blind before she passed away. I'd take your baby to a specialist and have his eyes checked. You can ask your vet for a referral to an opthlmologist. In the mean time you can put a bell on the collar of your other hound so that your boy will hear her when she moves about thereby lessening any chance of an attack because he can't see her. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Yup, I'd go directly to a veterinary opthalmologist. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 (edited) In these parts, the only way to get in to the specialist is a referral from the primary vet. Our vet knows any eye issues we bring to them will always be accompanied with a request for a referral to the specialist...if nothing else than to confirm a diagnosis. eta: we have a blind greyhound and a blind-in-one-eye greyhound. Edited April 16, 2009 by KennelMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhndz Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Joslin, I brought Susie to see one of the ophthalmologists at Mass Vet. Referral Hosp. in Woburn. Dr. Welch - really nice guy, very thorough. They do require a referral from the primary care vet, but my vet took care of that without needing to evaluate Susie first. I hope Harley's eyes turn out to be normal - I thought Susie had visual impairment much as you describe with Harley, but luckily Dr. Welch did not find anything to suggest this was the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I agree, don't stop with your normal vet. Carl developed rings around his corneas, his (used to be) regular vet misdiagnosed it as Pannus. I asked at the visit where we got the diagnosis if we should go to a specialist, the vet said, "No". Wrong!!! After he didn't respond to treatment I asked for a referral. Got another misdiagnosis of corneal dystophy (this guy promotes his practice as an animal eye center, but he's just a REGULAR VET with no board certification), finally we went to a real veterinary ophthalmologist and are on the road to recovery. I hope you can get Harley's problem under control and turned around right away. Please don't mess around with a regular vet on this. Please let us know how he's doing. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DofSweetPotatos Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 (edited) Good luck to you and Harley. Edited April 17, 2009 by DofSweetPotatos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Naty Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Joslin - Vescone in Waltham has some vision specialists. I brought a kennel dog from GF there at one time. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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