DOG CATARACT SURGERY

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487]

Oh, my wife is hounding the heck out of me with this. I said, let me ask the experts. Our yellow lab needs cataract surgery on one eye. It's pretty bad, the dog is only 6. When I heard the price I almost fell over. Anyway, my mrs is moaning the blues over to do this or not to do this. I guess the timeframe for after the surgery and healing and Yada Yada Yada is quite a bit on the dog AND the owner of the dog.

 

So, did any of you guys ever have this done to your Dog? Was it worth it in the long run, was the after surgery stuff that Bad?

 

She's asked me to ask, so ok, I asked, now back out to the garage, working on the 520-8. 

 

No wise cracks please, my wife will read this, I don't feel like sleeping on the couch. 

THANKS, GLENN

[wallfish 16,076]

Are you sure the eye is just not clouded but actually needs cataract surgery?

Our little dogs have eyes that look so clouded, you would swear it can't possibly see a thing. We asked about them while they were in for something else but a surgeon told us it's absolutely nothing to worry about and the dog can see fine. Doesn't seem to bother the dogs at all.

18 minutes ago, JERSEYHAWG / Glenn said:

No wise cracks please, my wife will read this, I don't feel like sleeping on the couch. 

And please don't try to ruin our fun! Just get your blanket and deal with it!

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487]

1 minute ago, wallfish said:

Are you sure the eye is just not clouded but actually needs cataract surgery?

Our little dogs have eyes that look so clouded, you would swear it can't possibly see a thing. We asked about them while they were in for something else but a surgeon told us it's absolutely nothing to worry about and the dog can see fine. Doesn't seem to bother the dogs at all.

And please don't try to ruin our fun! Just get your blanket and deal with it!

Yes, she took it the the doc, and he said cataract surgery.. and I said do you know how many wheel horses I could buy.....

 

Day 1 on couch. 

 

Glenn

[SPINJIM 1,978]

I have a Golden Doodle that had cataracts and his eye lids turned under.  The eye lids problem was causing him pain, so we spent 4 WHs to have them surgically corrected.  It was a 3 mo. recovery that was rough on the dog.   He needed meds & eye drops for 6 weeks, but it saved him the severe pain.  The vet recommended against the cataract surgery for a 10 year old dog, because the results would not be 100% successful, and the recovery would be difficult.    It boiled down to 'quality of life' for the dog's remaining time.   My dog can't see very well, but he's happy and not suffering.  

 

Just like with people surgery, I'd get a second opinion from another vet, and from the surgeon himself.   Most regular vets are not qualified to do the surgery, and refer to a specialist (more money).    I recently heard on the news about a woman who spent $3000 to save a goldfish that was choking on a pebble.    More importantly, you have to live with your wife, not just the dog.   If you don't keep your wife happy, you're the one in the dog house.

 

Good luck,   Jim

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487]

18 minutes ago, SPINJIM said:

I have a Golden Doodle that had cataracts and his eye lids turned under.  The eye lids problem was causing him pain, so we spent 4 WHs to have them surgically corrected.  It was a 3 mo. recovery that was rough on the dog.   He needed meds & eye drops for 6 weeks, but it saved him the severe pain.  The vet recommended against the cataract surgery for a 10 year old dog, because the results would not be 100% successful, and the recovery would be difficult.    It boiled down to 'quality of life' for the dog's remaining time.   My dog can't see very well, but he's happy and not suffering.  

 

Just like with people surgery, I'd get a second opinion from another vet, and from the surgeon himself.   Most regular vets are not qualified to do the surgery, and refer to a specialist (more money).    I recently heard on the news about a woman who spent $3000 to save a goldfish that was choking on a pebble.    More importantly, you have to live with your wife, not just the dog.   If you don't keep your wife happy, you're the one in the dog house.

 

Good luck,   Jim

Thank you Jim, yes, we have had 2 opinions. The second Dr. Was the dog cataract surgeon. "The one to see" according to the other doctor. By the price of the job, that doc could have any amount of wheel horses he wants. Along with a few exotic Italian Sportscar to.

 

Glenn

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

Dogs are pretty resilient! My previous guy, Oke', was blind in his left eye from untreated glaucoma when I rescued him at nine years old as a stray. I always felt sorry for him when, because of no peripheral vision to the left, he would bang his snout on things. But he never let it bother him. The vet said dogs cope better than humans! I tried to make up for the rough way he had been treated previously in the three years with us. Rest easy, "My Good Buddy."

 

 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Animals get the same diseases that we get!

My cataract surgery cost (the insurance company) about $12,000 per eye! Oh, but I did get some sunglasses with each surgery!

Edited September 25, 2016 by KC9KAS
spelling

[WHX?? 47,138]

I had a best dog I ever had Chesapeake that got diabetes and that caused it to go totally blind in both eyes. The diabetes thing cost me five horses and my BIL is a vet!

Didn't stop her tho, still retrieved by smell. I wouldn't worry about it Glenn unless it is causing her pain.

[953 nut 52,421]

I tend to agree with Jim, we are talking quality of life and if it is not causing the dog pain and it is happy; Let it alone. Pain or health threatening conditions are another matter. We had a cat that traveled with us where ever we went; while on vacation in upstate NY he developed a bladder infection and couldn't urinate (Saturday evening out of town). Went to the animal emergency hospital and $ 1000 later he could do his business. At the time it seemed outrageous, but he was a member of the family in pain and this could have killed him. In retrospect it was well worth it because of the love he showed us the rest of his life.