My Chewy needs help, please!
 

I posted this in the sick/injured forum, but I know more people come to this forum, so I am putting this here too:
Hi my yorkie friends! My Chewy (7 y/o) has cataracts...I just took her to the vet and he confirmed what I thought. He said she would have to go to a specialist and it could cost thousands! Well, my husband and I are retired and only living on our SS and don't have that kind of money. Is there any help out there for our Chewy? I hate to leave her like that. I am so sad for her. The vet said she is looking out a tinted window at this point. Please, anybody...can you help us? My heart is breaking for our beloved Chewy....... :(

Cataracts
 

It doesn't say where in CA you are, but I can ask my vet if he does that kind of surgery, or if not, who he would recommend. And find out prices and all. Course, I can't do it til tomorrow. Vets have this funny rule about taking the weekends off unless there's an emergency!!
Suz

Thanks Suz for your help. I am 70 miles West of Bakersfield, 50 miles East of Paso Robles. We are in the mts, there really is no town here. But we would be willing to travel wherever necessary. Thanks again!

Ro ;)

I'll call tomorrow too. You can also check the ASPCA, they have special rates for pet owners. I found this out when they had a stand at the Mall. I had to check out their puppies for adoption, and the girl was telling someone about Micro Chips. They do them for 15.00 I said boy I paid 75.00 for Princess, that's when she said ASPC has special prices on different things. So I would call and check that out too. I know they have their own Vets, so it would be worth a call. Good luck to you. Please keep us posted. :)

I hope you can find someone where you are. My yorkie had to have eye surgery a couple of years ago and it was expensive. But his was a little more involved than cataract surgery I think. We had an eye specialist and it was 1200 to repair his eye. Did your vet give you any indication where the eye specialist was located? I would take him in for a consultation first and see what they say. Good Luck to you!

This website gives you the opthamologists(sp?) in all areas and you can try calling around to see if the prices are any better or if they might even take payment plans.
www.acvo.com

Thank you everybody for your help. I will try some of the things you suggested and let you know how I make out. :rolleyes:

How about a Vet Medical School. Any near you?

I am sorry to hear about Chewy's cataracts. How is she reacting to them..does she act blind?
I hope you are able to find a way to have surgery, if not please know it could be years before she is totally blind and dogs do very well with a small amount of sight. Best wishes

Thanks for your replies, guys. I don't know of any vet school, but I will try looking one up.
And, she seems to see okay for now. One eye is almost completely covered with this blueish film and the other eye just has a little bit on it. You can't see it unless the sun is shining on it. I will try all of these things that everyone has suggested. I feel so bad just leaving it alone. My vet said she sees like she's looking thru tinted glass!

My husband just had laser surgery for Glaucoma that was discovered in a routine exam. His eye is fine now, thanks to our good insurance and God. But my poor babies don't have insurance. Who would've thought we would ever need it? For all of you that have babies, you better look into getting some. I now wish I would have, if it even covers things like this.

Thanks for all of your help. I will try looking some of these things up. I will keep you posted. :(

Good Luck!
 

I dont have any helpful advice, I just wanted to say Good Luck! I will be thinking about you guys!

The vet schools are part of the universities, so you would need to check under their listings. Good luck. You might also ask someone involved with yorkie rescue. They deal with this sort of thing a lot and would probably be able to guide you to a source they use.

Thanks, thanks and thanks again. I found two opthalmologists in my general area (within a few hours drive) and I will call them tomorrow. :thumbup:

Just to keep for possible future use - perhaps someone here could help guide you as well :)

CALIFORNIA
Yorkshire Terrier Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue
Shelly Ince, 10907 E. Bella Vista Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85259 (480) 391-1766 Email
Yorkshire Terrier Club of Northern California Rescue
Pat Connick - (415) 382-0302 Email
Meg Owen - (510) 486-1907 Email


http://www.netpets.com/dogs/dogresc/breeds/dogyork.html

Thanks for the info. I just went to that site and emailed those people in Ca. We'll see. Keep your prayers coming, friends.

Thank you again! :thumbup:

I don't have anything to add, but wish you luck.

Please let us know how it goes.

Kate

I hope you can find somebody, you must be so worried :(
Thinking of you,keep us updated
Sharon,Charley & Melody xx

Thanks for your concerns and prayers. I tried calling a few places today, but no luck as of yet. One of the rescue missions is supposed to call me back with a Vet's name that might be able to help me. Keep us in your prayers, please.

Thanks everybody! :thumbup:

Here is a list of websites or phone numbers of specialists for animals. You might want to go on the website as I am sure it will help you find a vet.

Anesthesiology www.acva.org
Canine & Feline Practitioners www.abvp.com (800) 697-3583
Cardiology www.acvim.org (800) 245-9081
Dentistry www.avdc.org (215) 898-5903
Dermatology www.acvd.org
Emergency & Critical Care www.acvecc.org
Internal Medicine www.acvim.org (800) 245-9081
Neurology www.acvim.org (800) 245-9081
Nutrition www.acvn.org
Oncology www.acvim.org (800) 245-9081
Ophthalmology www.acvo.org (208) 466-7624
Pathology www.acvp.org (608) 443-2466
Pharmacology www.acvcp.org
Toxicology www.abvt.org
Veterinary Behaviorists www.veterinarybehaviorists.org
Veterinary Surgeons www.acvs.org (301)610-2000

Thanks Cindy. I did go to the one for opthalomogy and got a few near me. Nobody would give me any estimate until I go for a exam....even that cost $137 at one place. ....I'm still looking....and trying.....

One of my sweet little dogs had diabetes, and the vet told me that there was a good chance that she might go blind from this eventually. (Unfortunately, I had to put her to sleep for another problem before this ever happened.)

Nevertheless, her going blind one day was always something that I worried about. The vet did tell me little house dogs that go blind - adjust to it and do surprisingly well. I'm sure this is true - and kept this in mind all the while I had her.

I know that cataract surgery is relatively expensive for people -- and don't we know that medical bills are very similar for animals --given the same medical problem. So - cataract surgery for a pet being expensive doesn't surprise me.

I know that when vets purchase their equipment, x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, surgery equipment, etc. it costs them just as much as it costs our doctors. (They do cost a fortune!) And, we want our vets, including specialists) to have the same training, experience, and skills that we want our own doctors to have.

It's unfortunate when some of us find ourselves in need of such expensive care for our pets (I've been there.) Hopefully, most of us will never need it -but if we do - it certainly can cost a lot of money.

I have "beginning cataracts" in both eyes. And - yes - things are a little blurry for me. But, not bad at all yet. However, in time, I'm going to have to have mine taken care of.

Carol Jean