Oliver has juvenile cataracts - YorkieTalk.com Forums

lexi43 · 12-23-2012, 10:18 AM

We just found out our 2 year shi tzu has juvinile cataracts and is going to need surgery. We have an appointment on Friday with a specialist. The sad part is we never realized that Oliver is blind in one eye and we feel really guilty. I had a feeling it was a cataract but I figured he is only 2 years old. We had no idea that a dog this young can have cataracts. My vet says that with surgery he will be able to see perfectly again. We feel so bad for him because he is such a great little dog and never gives us any kind of problems. The vet also said that she sees signs in the other eye also but so far his vision is okay in that eye. Thank God I have the funds to pay for this. I know so many people don't.

lynzy420 · 12-23-2012, 10:22 AM

Interesting, I never heard of that before, why would you think at only 2 something like this...ugghhh, I'm so glad you found it now and that you are able to handle it financially...

just wondering...did they say how long your pup had this? Wondering why it wasn't caught in a routine exam? or is it a quick onset?

lexi43 · 12-23-2012, 10:31 AM

hWell actually he's had it for awhile but we thought he just needed eye drops. Yes he was examined by our regular vet a few months ago and she never once mentioned it. I don't think she was really looking for it but my friend and I were tallking about that yesterday. I thought it was my imagination but his eye has had a film over it for quite awhile. Well hopefully the surgery will take care of this problem. If Olilver ever went blind I would never forgive myself for my stupidity.

lynzy420 · 12-23-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexi43

hWell actually he's had it for awhile but we thought he just needed eye drops. Yes he was examined by our regular vet a few months ago and she never once mentioned it. I don't think she was really looking for it but my friend and I were tallking about that yesterday. I thought it was my imagination but his eye has had a film over it for quite awhile. Well hopefully the surgery will take care of this problem. If Olilver ever went blind I would never forgive myself for my stupidity.

No honestly, its not something you would expect to happen, and if it was overlooked by the vet....hmmmmm, might want to switch vets....you did good, just know in the future that your mommy gut is usually right!!

MandiesMom · 12-23-2012, 02:33 PM

I'm happy to read that surgery can correct this. I would think the vet would catch that, too. Poor guy, but don't beat yourself up..you know now and you're taking care of it. That is really all you can do. Please update us to let us know what they say about the surgery and how it goes.

ladyjane · 12-23-2012, 02:35 PM

This is very successful surgery! That is, as along as the pup is a candidate...usually with juvenile cataracts they are.
Keep us posted!

gemy · 12-23-2012, 02:46 PM

I am so sorry about the cataracts. You really do need to let your breeder know as this is a genetic condition - and she or he needs to rethink their breeding program.

msyorktown · 12-23-2012, 02:59 PM

Wow I have never heard of this before either...then again one wouldn't consider this in a two year old..I know I wouldn't. Don't beat yourself up, he will be good as new after the surgery corrects it. Prayer for you and the little one. Keep us posted.

CouversMom · 12-23-2012, 10:05 PM

I'm glad to hear that you are getting his cataracts taken care of. I would consider switching vets though... I cannot understand how your vet could have missed that.

LilAnnCamp · 12-23-2012, 10:19 PM

Did you have bloodwork done? Just a thought not to scare you but diebetes can bring this on in young dogs

LilAnnCamp · 12-23-2012, 10:21 PM

Oh and I agree change vets

If your vet doesnt look in your pets eyes what are you paying for woth the head to toe exams

bobohyde · 12-25-2012, 04:39 AM

My dad's dog had that surgery. She was an elderly dog, though. They did one eye at a time. It required eye drops after the surgery for a few weeks. When the first eye was better, they went back and did the other eye. She did fine and perked up after because she could see better.

dottiesyrky · 12-26-2012, 06:28 AM

I am so happy that the eye surgery for your dad's dog was so successful and relatively easy. Although the eye specialist is the best in this area my experience was not so easy. The sight was restored and technically the surgery went well.
But the length and intensity of the post op treatment was very long and tedious for the dog and us. We were administering oral and eye meds up to 17 times per day and the dog had to wear a hard cone for several weeks. Even a year later he is having NSAID eye drops. So in our case this was a big deal, but I wonder if we just had a very cautious vet?? Now my baby who was only nearly two years old at the time has corneal deposits from the constant prednisone eye drops! That also can cause blindness. We were totally unprepared for all this.

gemy · 12-26-2012, 02:22 PM

Once again I will post how important it is your breeder knows your only 2yr old dog has cataracts!

This is a Genetic inherited condition. And one or both breeding pairs should be pulled from breeding.

I am a breeder, and when my male sire got diagnosed at 5 3/4 yrs old with a small cataract in his right eye, I immediately pulled him from any more breedings. He cleared CERF's three times before. I also contacted the litter owners and the owner of who he mated with. As this can be a recessive gene. So just to let you know I would immediately want to know if any puppy of mine got diagnosed with an eye problem!

dottiesyrky · 12-26-2012, 03:06 PM

Thank you. I fully appreciate your concerns over the genetic nature of cataracts. It is impressive that you take such actions and precautions with your dogs. How sad that your male developed cataracts at nearly six years old, and that it involved you in so much anguish contacting all litter owners etc.
Unfortunately my dog was a rescue with unknown origins and thus I could not warn or inform anyone of the early onset cataract. When we adopted him he was a very healthy dog until a few months later the cataract appeared on one eye. We were very dismayed and shocked. He is now four years old, and still has eye drops! It seems from some posters here that cataracts are not always detected early enough by regular vets and perhaps they should be more aware that very young dogs can get this genetic disease.
You make a very important point that it is essential that breeders are quickly informed of any possibly genetic defects in their pups, even after the health guarantee period is over.
The breeder's life is not an easy one!

12-23-2012, 10:18 AM	#1
lexi43 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Deer Park New York Posts: 1,586	Oliver has juvenile cataracts We just found out our 2 year shi tzu has juvinile cataracts and is going to need surgery. We have an appointment on Friday with a specialist. The sad part is we never realized that Oliver is blind in one eye and we feel really guilty. I had a feeling it was a cataract but I figured he is only 2 years old. We had no idea that a dog this young can have cataracts. My vet says that with surgery he will be able to see perfectly again. We feel so bad for him because he is such a great little dog and never gives us any kind of problems. The vet also said that she sees signs in the other eye also but so far his vision is okay in that eye. Thank God I have the funds to pay for this. I know so many people don't.

12-23-2012, 10:22 AM	#2
lynzy420 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Posts: 7,652	Interesting, I never heard of that before, why would you think at only 2 something like this...ugghhh, I'm so glad you found it now and that you are able to handle it financially... just wondering...did they say how long your pup had this? Wondering why it wasn't caught in a routine exam? or is it a quick onset? __________________ The Above advice/comments/reviews are my personal opinions based on my own experience/education/investigation and research and you can take them any way you want to......Or NOT!!!

12-23-2012, 02:33 PM	#5
MandiesMom and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 7,842	I'm happy to read that surgery can correct this. I would think the vet would catch that, too. Poor guy, but don't beat yourself up..you know now and you're taking care of it. That is really all you can do. Please update us to let us know what they say about the surgery and how it goes. __________________ Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale

12-23-2012, 02:35 PM	#6
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,413	This is very successful surgery! That is, as along as the pup is a candidate...usually with juvenile cataracts they are. Keep us posted! __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

12-23-2012, 02:46 PM	#7
gemy YT 2000 Club Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Huntsville,Ont,Canaada Posts: 12,333 Blog Entries: 2	I am so sorry about the cataracts. You really do need to let your breeder know as this is a genetic condition - and she or he needs to rethink their breeding program. __________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018

12-23-2012, 10:31 AM	#3
lexi43 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Deer Park New York Posts: 1,586	hWell actually he's had it for awhile but we thought he just needed eye drops. Yes he was examined by our regular vet a few months ago and she never once mentioned it. I don't think she was really looking for it but my friend and I were tallking about that yesterday. I thought it was my imagination but his eye has had a film over it for quite awhile. Well hopefully the surgery will take care of this problem. If Olilver ever went blind I would never forgive myself for my stupidity.

12-23-2012, 02:59 PM	#8
msyorktown ♥Love My 3 Furrbutts♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Whitby, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,912 Blog Entries: 2	Wow I have never heard of this before either...then again one wouldn't consider this in a two year old..I know I wouldn't. Don't beat yourself up, he will be good as new after the surgery corrects it. Prayer for you and the little one. Keep us posted. __________________ Jacqui, mom to Raelle , Orion , Jersey and Gizmo https://www.facebook.com/PreciousPawzGroomingSpa http://jlevy.scentsy.ca

12-23-2012, 10:05 PM	#9
CouversMom and Khloe Mae's too! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 14,732	I'm glad to hear that you are getting his cataracts taken care of. I would consider switching vets though... I cannot understand how your vet could have missed that. __________________ Michelle- mommy to Couver and Khloe Mae! http://yorkiehavenrescue.com/

12-23-2012, 10:19 PM	#10
LilAnnCamp LovingLifeWithAnimals Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pinson, AL Posts: 2,048	Did you have bloodwork done? Just a thought not to scare you but diebetes can bring this on in young dogs __________________ Ann & Milo, Buttons, Dooley, Mr. Bigglesworth, & Crimson The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

12-23-2012, 10:21 PM	#11
LilAnnCamp LovingLifeWithAnimals Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pinson, AL Posts: 2,048	Oh and I agree change vets If your vet doesnt look in your pets eyes what are you paying for woth the head to toe exams __________________ Ann & Milo, Buttons, Dooley, Mr. Bigglesworth, & Crimson The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

12-25-2012, 04:39 AM	#12
bobohyde Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c Posts: 427	My dad's dog had that surgery. She was an elderly dog, though. They did one eye at a time. It required eye drops after the surgery for a few weeks. When the first eye was better, they went back and did the other eye. She did fine and perked up after because she could see better.

12-26-2012, 06:28 AM	#13
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Cataracts I am so happy that the eye surgery for your dad's dog was so successful and relatively easy. Although the eye specialist is the best in this area my experience was not so easy. The sight was restored and technically the surgery went well. But the length and intensity of the post op treatment was very long and tedious for the dog and us. We were administering oral and eye meds up to 17 times per day and the dog had to wear a hard cone for several weeks. Even a year later he is having NSAID eye drops. So in our case this was a big deal, but I wonder if we just had a very cautious vet?? Now my baby who was only nearly two years old at the time has corneal deposits from the constant prednisone eye drops! That also can cause blindness. We were totally unprepared for all this.

12-26-2012, 02:22 PM	#14
gemy YT 2000 Club Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Huntsville,Ont,Canaada Posts: 12,333 Blog Entries: 2	Once again I will post how important it is your breeder knows your only 2yr old dog has cataracts! This is a Genetic inherited condition. And one or both breeding pairs should be pulled from breeding. I am a breeder, and when my male sire got diagnosed at 5 3/4 yrs old with a small cataract in his right eye, I immediately pulled him from any more breedings. He cleared CERF's three times before. I also contacted the litter owners and the owner of who he mated with. As this can be a recessive gene. So just to let you know I would immediately want to know if any puppy of mine got diagnosed with an eye problem! __________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018

12-26-2012, 03:06 PM	#15
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Cataracts Thank you. I fully appreciate your concerns over the genetic nature of cataracts. It is impressive that you take such actions and precautions with your dogs. How sad that your male developed cataracts at nearly six years old, and that it involved you in so much anguish contacting all litter owners etc. Unfortunately my dog was a rescue with unknown origins and thus I could not warn or inform anyone of the early onset cataract. When we adopted him he was a very healthy dog until a few months later the cataract appeared on one eye. We were very dismayed and shocked. He is now four years old, and still has eye drops! It seems from some posters here that cataracts are not always detected early enough by regular vets and perhaps they should be more aware that very young dogs can get this genetic disease. You make a very important point that it is essential that breeders are quickly informed of any possibly genetic defects in their pups, even after the health guarantee period is over. The breeder's life is not an easy one!