Dog loosing sight :-(

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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My 15yr old whippet x has developed cataracts :-( I won't put her through surgery but wondering if anyone has any first hand experience.

She can see better when it's light but her night vision is terrible now. She is also very jumpy if things appear in front of her suddenly. We don't tend to move furniture etc round so she knows her way round pretty well and now stays on lead when out of house xx
 
my mums dog is 17 and also has cataracts :( I dont know if he'd survive surgery and is happy enough. He doesnt go for long walks anymore, and he stays on the lead as he's deaf more or less too and gets worried and confused if he cannot see my mum. He is being monitored very carefully and as soon as he deteriorates he will be pts, but for now hes quite happy living the quiet retired life :)

eta - he has also developed an aversion to going out side in the rain.. I don't know if its related or hes just going softer in his old age!
 
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My old dog Barney that we lost a few months ago, went blind with cataracts, we had the operation done on both his eyes and it was amazing too bring home a dog that could easily see everything from being 100% blind! it was expensive but so worth it.
 
Thanks for replies so far. I would consider op but she is absolutely petrified of going to vets or having anything medical done so it's not a option for us. I couldn't put her through that stress xx
 
Supertrooper said:
Thanks for replies so far. I would consider op but she is absolutely petrified of going to vets or having anything medical done so it's not a option for us. I couldn't put her through that stress xx
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same! Mums dog is a proper wuss and would be very stressed too. He's old anyway and has other problems - if he was fit, healthy and younger we may have considered it. As harsh as it sounds the cost of the surgery wouldn't be justified by enough things x
 
They learn to adapt. I wouldn't put a dog that age through surgery personally. My cocker spaniel Pixel has very limited and can only see shadows, but she has been like that since birth so doesn't know the difference. She goes off lead on walks, though i still put her on the lead when someone is approaching.

As has been suggested keeping furniture the same. I have also found that she enjoys going on the same walks, its like she maps them out and it unnerves her less. Though now shes confident enough to even go to the beach off lead :D

I talk to her lots!!! People must think I'm nuts but it helps her keep track and people don't even realise there's anything wrong! Nice smelly treats too to carry to encourage.

She also knows special commands, saying things like 'up' and 'down' going on and off kerbs really helps. More for off the lead but she knows stop and turn.

Best of luck, hope she adapts quickly :)
Elle
x
 
We don't have the otpion of an operation as our dog has a degenerative sight condition before sh egot cataracts (so either way she'd be blind!) She swims, enjoys life, sometimes get confused but by far has more good days then bad. She still hasn't cottoned on to me shouting 'woah!' but sometimes gets 'step' to warn her of a step!
 
Thank you for all your replies, we made the sad decision to have her put to sleep tonight as her eyesight had deteriorated further and we felt she was unhappy. She was put down at home in her beanbag.

I'd owned her for 12yrs and she will be very much missed xx
 
I'm so sorry to hear that. I had to have my last dog pts because of going blind, she got very stressed and couldn't cope. It was awful but the right thing for her. Sleep tight little whippet.
 
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