Has your pet had cataract surgery?

[MarionC]

My vet has suggested cataract surgery for my 15 year old tiny dog. It sounds good to me. He has plenty of life left, but being blind has had a huge impact on his quality of life, since he is also deaf.
I’m wondering if any Psers have gone through this surgery with their pets. It does sound promising.

 

[Calliecake]

I’ve never known anyone who had this surgery for their dog but wanted to wish your sweet baby success if you decide to go thru with it Jimmianne.

 

[missy]

@Jimmianne I left a message for my sister and we have a veterinarian here so perhaps she will see this question and chime in. My first reaction is your sweet dog is pretty old to undergo any surgery with anesthesia that is not absolutely necessary though I know restoring his vision might add considerably to his quality of life. Though I wonder how much being blind is a challenge to a dog. For humans yes but animals are different. Anyway I will let you know what she says.

OK she just called me. She said she wouldn't put your dog through the surgery unless you really think the kindness is destroying his quality of life which she thinks is unlikely. HTH.

(((Hugs))) to you and your sweet elderly dog.

 

[ecf8503]

Hi Jimmianne! I'm a vet. First off - was this your regular vet who recommended the surgery? Has the dog been evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist? Who will be performing the surgery? Does your vet feel the eyes are painful? Does he have glaucoma or uveitis as well?

If the eyes are painful or otherwise diseased, it may be good to have the surgery. Surgery in an old dog is not without risks, though. I'd make sure he has a thorough workup beforehand to make sure everything is working the way it should (bloodwork and urinalysis to look at kidney and liver function, blood cell counts, etc - an EKG is often helpful too). Does he have any other health problems? Kidney disease? Heart murmur?

Age itself is not a disease, but with advancing age comes more disease. If he is healthy and the ophthalmologist agrees that removal would be beneficial, I see no reason not to do it. Animals do manage just fine being blind (I have a blind cat), but the deafness on top of that can make life a little scary, as he can't see or hear anything. You probably already know this, but do things like stomp on the floor when you are approaching him so he can feel that you're coming closer and you don't startle him.

If you haven't yet had an evaluation by a board certified ophthalmologist, that is the next step.

 

[MarionC]

Thank you for your kind responses.
He is 15, a 7 pound chihuahua. He recently had dental work under anesthesia so we have a workup on his health condition. He is deaf. The blindness is fairly new, and I can see that he is adjusting but...
The situation...
I was planning to leave the country for 6 months. I have wonderful housesitters and I know they will take good care of him, but it will not be the same as my being there. He is relying on me in a way that they could not reproduce as they have jobs, and even when home I cannot expect they will carrying him around and sleep with him, etc. Maybe for a few weeks, but not 6 months.
The vet and I felt cataract surgery would bring him back into the world and make him more independent. I have an appointment with a well regarded animal eye surgeon in two weeks.

I fear for his quality of lfe if I leave him, yet I don’t know hiw to justify missing my daughter’s wedding.
Honestly, before the vet visit yesterday I was preparing to have him euthanized but now I am looking at things differently.
I feel he is lacking stimulation and will stand in the middle of a room for long periods of time or pace. There is no other indication of cognitive degeneration. If I give him stimulation by taking him places or going on long walks, the behavior lessens. The vet has put him on Senilife to see what it will do.

Hi Jimmianne! I'm a vet. First off - was this your regular vet who recommended the surgery? Has the dog been evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist? Who will be performing the surgery? Does your vet feel the eyes are painful? Does he have glaucoma or uveitis as well?
The appointment is in two weeks. No other issue that I yet know of. No pain that he is expressing.
If the eyes are painful or otherwise diseased, it may be good to have the surgery. Surgery in an old dog is not without risks, though. I'd make sure he has a thorough workup beforehand to make sure everything is working the way it should (bloodwork and urinalysis to look at kidney and liver function, blood cell counts, etc - an EKG is often helpful too). Does he have any other health problems? Kidney disease? Heart murmur?
His workup indicated no other issues, yet I wonder at the suddenness of the cataracts. No indication of diabetes.

Age itself is not a disease, but with advancing age comes more disease. If he is healthy and the ophthalmologist agrees that removal would be beneficial, I see no reason not to do it. Animals do manage just fine being blind (I have a blind cat), but the deafness on top of that can make life a little scary, as he can't see or hear anything. You probably already know this, but do things like stomp on the floor when you are approaching him so he can feel that you're coming closer and you don't startle him.
I am learning how to avoid startling him, and his confidence is growing as to navigation of his environment. He has to be carried in and out of the house. His sense of smell appears to be diminished so he has difficulty finding his food but he is eating well, drinking well and peeing and pooping normally. He is no longer as housebroken but finds the pee pads most of the time.

If you haven't yet had an evaluation by a board certified ophthalmologist, that is the next step.

Thank you Missy for your concern and contacting your sister.
Thank you ecf for your insight.

 

[missy]

I fear for his quality of lfe if I leave him, yet I don’t know hiw to justify missing my daughter’s wedding.
Honestly, before the vet visit yesterday I was preparing to have him euthanized but now I am looking at things differently.
I feel he is lacking stimulation and will stand in the middle of a room for long periods of time or pace. There is no other indication of cognitive degeneration. If I give him stimulation by taking him places or going on long walks, the behavior lessens. The vet has put him on Senilife to see what it will do.

In this case I would go for the cataract surgery with the veterinarian ophthalmologist if the Senilife doesn't help. Between the choice of euthanization vs the surgery I choose surgery. You don't have anything (but money) to lose.

I am sorry you and your dog are going through this. It's heartbreaking and I hope this is the answer that gives him a new lease on life.

 

[MarionC]

Missy, it would all be so simple if my dd were not getting married so far away. I hate to leave him for even an overnight. He needs constant care during the day. Best case is I leave him for as long as it takes to fly to france and back, and also hopefully my houseguests who were visiting me after wedding have not purchased non refundable plane tickets.
Euthanasia is definitely off the table now, I just have to figure out how to navigate the situation.

The appointment for evaluation is in two weeks and they said it can be a month before the surgery if he is approved. Then a long recovery time with special care for at least three months. I’m hopeful the Senilife will help, but I still want him to have the surgery if it is possible.

 

[missy]

Missy, it would all be so simple if my dd were not getting married so far away. I hate to leave him for even an overnight. Best case is I leave him for as long as it takes to fly to france and back, and also hopefully my houseguests for the wedding have not purchased non refundable plane tickets.
Euthanasia is definitely off the table now, I just have to figure out how to navigate the situation.

You are doing the best you can in a very challenging situation. (((HUGS))).

 

[MarionC]

You are doing the best you can in a very challenging situation. (((HUGS))).

Thanks, Missy <3. There is always this “on no!” feeling at the beginning and then things fall into place as one moves forward.
The good news this morning is that he is happy to eat the Senilife life gel. I am thinking I should try it myself!

 

[missy]

I am thinking I should try it myself!

Yanno, I had the same thought. About me, not you. Where can I get this Senilife. Hmmmm


Fingers crossed it works out @Jimmianne. You are doing the best you can do and that is all one can do.

 

[MarionC]

Yanno, I had the same thought. About me, not you.

HAHA

Where can I get this Senilife. Hmmmm


Fingers crossed it works out @Jimmianne. You are doing the best you can do and that is all one can do.

It contains Phosphatidylserine, which is now derived from soy and used for humans too. Sounds interesting. I was happy, when I looked it up, to see that it’s a real thing, as the rest of the ingredients in Senilife are less impressive. All the reviews say that it is like a miracle drug for their pets, which I doubted at first, but now reading about this ingredient understand that it can make a difference, so fingers crossed.

 

[kgizo]

I have not done the cataracts surgery but have done the glaucoma for a dog. The surgery went exceptionally well and saved some of her vision. I have had two blind dogs. The first didn’t have any other challenges so got along well despite being blind. The second dog is missing a front leg which makes blindness very difficult as it is face first into everything since she can’t stand on a front leg and use the other to touch what’s in front of her like the first dog did. The second dog is the dog that had the glaucoma surgery. She has since developed cataracts so is completely blind and nothing can be done at this point. The surgery was risky, $$$ and only bought her a few years, but I would do it again because there was an improvement for those years and she gradually went blind due to the cataracts vs. overnight due to the glaucoma. It sounds like you have good resources available to you and love your pup so feel confident with whatever you decide.

 

[missy]

It contains Phosphatidylserine, which is now derived from soy and used for humans too. Sounds interesting. I was happy, when I looked it up, to see that it’s a real thing, as the rest of the ingredients in Senilife are less impressive. All the reviews say that it is like a miracle drug for their pets, which I doubted at first, but now reading about this ingredient understand that it can make a difference, so fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed for you and sweet doggie. That leaves me out. I can’t do soy. Oh well. Anyway sending you both bucketloads of healing dust. XO.

 

[lyra]

Best wishes for your dog. I find it hopeful to know that he has reached the age of 15. This year my chi's will be 11, 9 and 5.

 

[MarionC]

Best wishes for your dog. I find it hopeful to know that he has reached the age of 15. This year my chi's will be 11, 9 and 5.

Aw....do you have photos?
I was always prejudiced against chi’s until I had one. Such terrific dogs. I also have a 5# Maltese chi cross and she is fierce and funny. She looks dowdy in the photo but not in real life.
Btw, the Senilife drug has really helped my dog. I wish I had know of it sooner because all my dogs would have been put on it at a certain age.