Ben Has Cataracts

[greytpups]

Ben and Brooke had their annual checkups yesterday and both are in excellent health However, Ben has stage 1 cataracts (there are 3 stages). I asked if he will eventually go blind but it's hard to predict...depends on how fast they develop. Ben could reach the end of his life before going blind. I also asked if they could be surgically removed.

 

I looked cataracts up in Care of the Racing Greyhound and it noted surgical removal. Anyone have any experience with cataracts with their grey?

 

Our vet also took the time to explain Bailey's MRI in detail to me. I still mourn her loss and I was hoping to get some closure by hearing every sordid detail of her diagnosis. Poor baby, there was really nothing we could do for her but let her go.

 

On the bright side Ben and Brooke are very healthy, Brooke has a very athletic heart and our vet is so impressed with her physique. He said he doesn't see many dogs like this whereby I quickly proclaimed I want to look like Brooke. She's young, athletic, playful, happy, ripped, sweet, beautiful and very precious.

 

Ben has lost 4 pounds this year...maybe he's moving more He weighed 62.5 lbs. so he's pretty small fore a male. As his cataracts develop and he loses his sight, his other senses will heighten. Maybe he will teach me how to stop and smell the roses...something I need to do much more often.

 

I've rambled on so much here now my question probably got lost in my chatter...anyone have experience with cataracts with their grey?

 

thanks for listening!

 

Jan

Edited September 15, 2010 by greytpups

[Guest PhillyPups]

on a good report. Yes Brooke is solidly ripped - beautiful girl.

 

Stepper had cataracts. I would test his vision by flipping a piece of popcorn (he was very food motivated) and he never missed. The vet thought his were juvenile and over 4 years of her tracking them, there was no change.

 

That is my only experience with them.

[Guest dogdaze]

I was a frequent dog sitter for my friend's Border Collie, so he was at my house a lot of the time. He had cataracts and he adapted really well. He was fine in the house and we did normal walks, although I kept to the same familiar routes. I've met a couple of people who have totally blind dogs who live normal lives. Maybe dogs are able to make the adjustment as long as their routines and their environment stay the same.

[Guest greybookends]

My mother has a Papillion that quite suddenly went blind from cataracts.There is surgery that can be done to remove the cataracts and give them their sight back but it is expensive. Momma is looking at $2000 + or -. I would gather it is more for a larger dog.

[GeorgeofNE]

How old is Ben?

 

"Mild" cataracts are quite common in older dogs. Before I worried too much, I'd take him to a specialist to confirm that he really does have them, and not just that weird sort of bluish haze that so many older dogs seem to have.

[Guest KennelMom]

I'm sorry to hear this about Ben

 

Hanna has cataracts in one eye. Our treatment will just be to remove the eye when/if they become painful because she's already totally blind from Progressive Retinal Atrophy (genetic disease). Surgery to remove the cataracts would have been the course of treatment if we could preserve vision. Cataracts are different from (what I call) 'old dog eyes' - the natural aging process of the eye that causes them to look cloudy/whitish. So, if Ben is older that could be what's going on...but a regular vet should be able to tell the difference between a cataract and normal aging eyes (lenticular sclerosis).

 

My best recommendation with eye issues is to get a referral to an veterinary ophthalmologist. They will be able to confirm the diagnosis and would be the best possible way to monitor and treat them. Eyes can be weird little things and specialists are worth it in this particular area, IMO.

Edited September 15, 2010 by KennelMom

[Guest Maddison]

Stinkerbelle has cataracts. She isn't bothered by them at all. She gets around. She doesn't see food that drops on the floor, we have to tap our foot by it repeatedly for her to get it. You would think her other senses would compensate but they didn't get stronger, she still doesn't smell things from a mile away. She can hear her bowl clink if something falls in it but that's nothing new! She's old so we aren't looking into fixing them for her. It doesn't seem worth it to us if she's not bothered by it.

[greytpups]

How old is Ben?

 

"Mild" cataracts are quite common in older dogs. Before I worried too much, I'd take him to a specialist to confirm that he really does have them, and not just that weird sort of bluish haze that so many older dogs seem to have.

 

Ben is 8. Our vet has been in practice since 1974 so I trust he knows the difference Plus he has been seeing Ben on an annual basis for the past 5.5 years.