Talk to me about senior dogs and cataracts

[bluebird44]

So I took the boys in for their annual visit this morning, and my vet tells me that my coming 12-year old mutt is developing cataracts. Not uncommon in a senior dog, and there is nothing to do about it other than surgery, and if he lives long enough, he will eventually go blind.

I am heartbroken about it because this is my best bud, but the vet says his quality of life is excellent and will remain so even if he can’t see, as most dogs adapt quite well. I was somewhat in shock at the office and did not ask the million and a half questions that I’ve thought of since this morning!

Since he is on the smaller side at 20 lbs, I had hoped for several more years with him, barring any other issues that of course may come up. I’m not sure surgery is a great plan for him, as he does not do vets and recovery very well, but I am open if it is simple enough and could make a huge difference for him. Has anyone else gone through this with a dog? I would love to hear some thoughts and experiences.

[Casey09]

I have larger dogs, so with lifespan it may be different.
All of my dogs have gotten cataracts as senior dogs, and I’ve never had surgery done. I believe dogs rely a lot on their sense of smell, but as they age you will see changes just as in people. I’ve never known anyone whose dog was not able to have a good quality of life with cataracts. As my dogs age, I try to focus on keeping their teeth healthy, keeping them at a healthy weight and as active as is comfortable, and providing extra creature comforts where needed (such as in beds designed for senior dogs, etc.). I think your dog will adjust to sight that gradually diminished without that causing a poor quality of life, but surgery is always something you could investigate.

[chestnutmarebeware]

So sorry to hear about your boy!

My corgi developed cataracts, and was completely blind at least the last two years of his life. He managed so well that it wasn’t until the day he was be-bopping down the “Old Dog Ramp” and tumbled right off the side that I realized he truly couldn’t see anymore. He was a very buoyant soul, and never seemed to be upset by his condition. He’d run into something, bounce off, and go his merry way. It was much harder for me than it ever seemed to be for him.

[cloudyandcallie]

Cataract surgery is a fairly simple and quick procedure for humans and animals. Only takes a few minutes and the cataract is out. Any anesthesia is of course risky. But cataract surgery, like tonsil removal, allows the animal to be awakened immediately afterwards. No long delays like spaying. Other determinations besides age are also important, heart rate, diabetes, whatever else in either human or animal.

If you are near a vet school, go there for consultation. If you are near Georgia, you want Dr. Victoria Pentlarge in Athens. She is the best around here.

[GotSpots]

Our wheaten went almost completely blind from cataracts in the last couple years of his life and it didn’t seem to phase him. He was more careful going up and down stairs, but still managed to maneuver around the house and yard as well and cheerfully as ever. He was not a great surgical candidate overall and our vet didn’t recommend giving it a go, but in her/our opinion, losing his eyesight wasn’t a major detriment to his quality of life (his arthritis was far more limiting overall).

[HPFarmette]

I’ve cared for many elderly dogs and many with cataracts. Not really that horrible. Listen to your vet, and don’t be heartbroken.

[bluebird44]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

[vacation1]

My 16yo has very clear eyes for her age, but she obviously doesn’t see as well as she did. It bothers her at night - she’s much more hesitant about steps and walking outdoors in the dark. I’ve watched my girl age from a vibrant 10 to a fragile 16, and every single loss hurts me but she adjusts fine. I hover, I micromanage, I obsess and worry, and she just marches onward. In her case, arthritis has slowed her down a lot and so things that might have been iffy for a dog with vision issues - jumping on furniture, for example - aren’t an issue. You might want to consider your dog’s routine and how easy/hard it would be to keep him safe as a blind or partially blind dog, as part of your debate over surgery. The older ones don’t welcome change to their routine, so it might be easier on him to do the one-time surgery than to change a lifelong pattern of leaping onto the bed.

Thanks for the thread, btw - it’s galvanized me to add some more lighting outside, where we walk at night.

[TrueColours]

I belong to a couple of FB groups for Blind Dogs and they are brilliant. You will have access to thousands of dog owners that have walked in your shoes before and can give you pros and cons of surgery, plus some terrific tips for “blind proofing” your house, yourself and your yard better than it is now

https://www.facebook.com/groups/63550472590/

and

https://www.facebook.com/groups/126150894067756/

One of the concerns with partially or fully blind dogs is corneal lacerations and ulcers, as well as injury to their faces if they cant see a low branch or something in their way that may harm them. The Optivizor is a perfect solution whether you opt to go for surgery or not - it allows their eyes and face to stay safe and protected while they are up and about

https://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Colours-Products-Equivizor-Optivizor-Novaguard-product-line/553856588124461

Good luck in your decision!

[danceronice]

Puff will turn 16 this year (yes, Puff the COTH giveaway where the old owner couldn’t interest rescues because nine was “too old.” Good thing she tried asking on here!) He’s been showing signs of cataracts for a while and I can tell he does not always see exactly what’s going on. But overall it doesn’t bother him and he can definitely see a little (definitely shapes and movement, and if the light’s on he does better.) Of course he’s also the tallest dog around here–sometimes I think it’s not he can’t see when my corgis or the neighbor’s min pin approaches, it’s that he’s not looking down! An elderly min pin at the clinic today bumped into him because the pin couldn’t see and Puff was looking straight over his head!

[JBD]

I had cataract surgery done on 12 year old terrier mix. His pre-surgery bloodwork had something slightly off on either kidney or liver values but when I questioned it, the surgeon assured me that if it was his dog, he’d operate. The cost was $4000 but we are fortunate that it could come out of our discretionary money. So for us, it became of question of how much would we enjoy whatever we bought with the money if poor Fred was running into walls.
So Fred had the surgery and very shortly thereafter he had to be hospitalized with liver and kidney problems. He recovered and came home but had kidney issues which worsened over the next 2 years and caused his death.
And his eyesight was still bad, go figure. Miss you Freddy, RIP

[Cat_Tap]

I would not do cataract surgery. The surgery involves removing the lens in the eye. Other than allowing more light into the eye it doesn’t help their vision because without the lens they have no focusing mechanism.

I worked in an eye clinic. Many years ago before they had intra-ocular lenses people were so disappointed after surgery. They could not focus and those pop-bottle glasses made everything look larger and closer than they were.

That has changed now but I don’t know if they put a lens in with dogs. But even then if the lens moves you could end up with other problems. Not worth it in my opinion.

Dogs don’t rely on their vision like people do.

[animaldoc]

@cloudyandcallie;8097143

But cataract surgery, like tonsil removal, allows the animal to be awakened immediately afterwards. No long delays like spaying.

Can you clarify what you mean by this? The anesthesia for cataract surgery (phacoemulsification) is much longer than anesthesia for a spay, but with both, the patients are awakened immediately postoperatively…

Bluebird- it’s probably worth a visit to a veterinary ophthalmologist for a consult. Older dogs very commonly get nuclear sclerosis which is a normal age-related change with no therapy required (and it can look similar to cataracts). If it is cataracts, the ophthalmologist can probably give you a better timeline of what you can expect as far as how fast the cataracts may mature, when you are likely to see issues, risks/benefits of surgery etc. If the ophtho says something like based on where they are now, you might not see problems for three years, that would be a different decision than if they said something like six months…

[bluebird44]

Thank you animaldoc! I don’t think we would probably do the surgery, but I do believe a trip to a veterinary ophthamologist would help me best understand the options, outcomes, and prognosis for my boy.

[cuatx55]

I did the surgery for my dog and it’s been amazing, but it also cost a lot of money.

[Kodidog763]

Our 14 1/2 year old Chesapeake has cataracts. It has not impacted her quality of life at all. She is also mostly deaf, so it is a bit of an inconvenience when she’s outside. It can be hard to get her attention since she doesn’t see or hear me very well. When she is outside, I’ve resorted to clapping (which usually gets her to look my direction), and then waving my arms around like a nutjob which seems to work as her signal to come in the house. :lol:

Ultimately, she still enjoys walking around outside, smelling things the same way she used to. She even went hunting (she’s a bird dog) last fall. My husband just made sure he kept her closer than what he does for the other dogs (but that is primarily because she can’t hear him).