15 year old poodle mix.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Plantman · #1 04-08-2008, 04:08 PM

Anyone else have a 15 + year old dog?

Rusty is about 15 and a half, and other than cataracts, is perfectly healthy, has plenty of energy and surprises the vet every year.

Does anyone have any experience with cataract surgery for dogs?

Just wondering if it would be more harmful than helpful, or possible at all given his age.

Thanks!

BodhiBenz1987 · #2 04-08-2008, 04:37 PM

I'm definately not an expert, but it seems to me that if the cataracts aren't bothering him and he's happy and otherwise healthy, it may not be of much benefit to try to correct the problem. Much of a dog's world is created around smell, so he's probably just adapted to not seeing well. But definately talk to a vet you trust ... they should be honest with you. It could be the surgery is very easy on the dog and would be worth a try.

FWIW, I had a 20-year-old cat who went blind three years before she died. She also went deaf at about the same time. She just went right about her business, and right up until the end, was perfectly happy. Animals are pretty amazing in their ability to just keep chugging along.

Plantman · #3 04-08-2008, 04:53 PM

He gets around the house fine and in the front and back yard for the most part, although he did walk into the pool last week.

I agree that they are uncanny in their ability to adapt.

I will take him to a doggy opthomalogist soon though, there may be other options.

Thanks

davidmash · #4 04-08-2008, 05:10 PM

I have a 13-14 yr old Shelty and she seems to be doing OK. Her PO never exercised her and she was trough fed so she has a weight/thyroid probelm that we have not ben able to correct even with vet care. She has alost a bit but she will always be 'big boned'. Her eyes are degrading a bit but it has not affected her in the least as far as I can see.

I did have a cat that developed some sort of tumor in the eye and we had to have it removed. Uncanny how he was still able to judge depth and still jump on a dime without hesitation.

I guess the fact that they are not self aware (at least not like us) allows them to deal with a problem with out the baggage of self pity or doubt.

Surgery is invasive and quite dangerous (especially for an older dog). Our Shelty had a growth on her side that was removed at the beginning of the year. It was benign but the rate of growth could have killed her.

I would definitely talk to your vet but my vote is if it is not affecting her life adversely, leave it be. What ever you /the vet decide, make she it is for the dogs best welfare and not your own (not saying you would not do other wise). I have seen to many people take life prolonging measures on an animal even though it would have been best to leave it be (I am guilty of that as well). We want to make them better but at what expense?

Stepping off the soap box and handing the mic to the next person......

Plantman · #5 04-08-2008, 05:19 PM

I wouldn't put him in harms way for my benefit, just don't want to see him running into walls and stuff if it can be helped.

It's funny, because when you call him, he looks all over the place except where I am, until he smells me. It thinks it's just started to affect him a bit more and obviously won't get any better.

.02

Ara T. · #6 04-08-2008, 06:52 PM

Our old Cocker Spaniel had glaucoma in one eye and it was a nasty, bulgy looking thing. At first she just got blind in one eye and it appeared to be kind of blue looking. It seemed to bother her so we had it removed and the socket stiched shut. She looked much better after that and much happier, she lived another couple years to be 13.

TheDon · #7 04-08-2008, 07:00 PM

my poodle is 13 and is showing signs of cataracts.. but other than that and his leg he is full of energy

davidmash · #8 04-08-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

I wouldn't put him in harms way for my benefit, just don't want to see him running into walls and stuff if it can be helped.

Never meant to imply you would. Have to weigh the risk verses benefit and how long he will have to enjoy it. Good luck. It is always difficult to make life changing decisions for someone else even if it is a pet.

BodhiBenz1987 · #9 04-08-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

I wouldn't put him in harms way for my benefit, just don't want to see him running into walls and stuff if it can be helped.

It's funny, because when you call him, he looks all over the place except where I am, until he smells me. It thinks it's just started to affect him a bit more and obviously won't get any better.

.02

I could be wrong, as every animal is different, but I think you won't see him running into walls very frequently. My experience with my blind cat was that as her eyesight got worse, she did a lot of bumping into things, getting "lost," not being able to find her food, etc. ... but after a certain point she just switched over to other senses and found her own way to navigate. Occasionally she'd bump into something (especially if it was something that had been moved, i.e., a trash can in the middle of the kitchen), but not often. That cat was GREAT at finding her way through three messy rooms, up the stairs, down a messy hall and through another messy room to the side of my bed to meow incredibly loud at 3 a.m. because she wanted food. Eyesight Shmeyesight.

But, definitely talk to a specialist. Information is always good. I would think the biggest risk of surgery is anesthesia, always a risk in older animals (and people). Good luck, whichever direction you decide to go.

G-Benz · #10 04-09-2008, 02:37 PM

I had a schnauzer as a kid, who at 13, developed cataracts. It caused her untimely death however, as she couldn't see traffic when she wandered off one day and ventured onto a busy road...

I really missed that dog.