Reece :(

[aly]

I've posted a couple times about Reece's cataracts. Well, I think he is almost blind in his eye with the really bad cataract. He has an appointment with a specialist coming up. But I was just testing his eye reflexes and I don't think he saw my finger that was less than an inch in front of his eye :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( My poor baby.

To make matters worse, I had him at the dog park yesterday and a woman came up to me and told me that her Cocker had the same problem as Reece and died when she was just 5 years old. Then she asked me how old Reece was and I said 3 years. Then she goes "Oh no, thats just 2 more years" WHY did she have to say that. I can't stop crying. I don't think he's going to die in 2 years, but it was rude of her to say .. or imply that.

[Uabassoon]

I'm so sorry to hear about Reece. But I know that despite not being able to see well he's such a happy guy. Tibby has vision problems and I don't even think she notices it. As for the lady at the park she shouldn't have said that, I'd just forget about her.

[micki76]

I read the title of the thread and it scared me half to death! Believe me cataracts are no big deal. He can live happily without vision, my cousin's poodle did for about 6 years and he got cataracts when he was 11!

What did her cocker die of? Is there some other condition that Reece has?

[aly]

Thanks guys. I feel better already. I should be thankful it is just in one eye. He does have problems starting in the other eye, but I'm hoping the specialist will be able to fix it somehow :(

Reece doesn't have any other serious conditions. He has bad allergies, chronic yeast infections, and anal gland problems. But nothing that should be life threatening.

I don't know exactly what her dog died off. She upset me too much that I couldn't think straight.

[aly]

You can see his bad eye in this pic. It actually looks a lot worse now than it does in this pic that was taken a month or so ago.

Oh yeah, yesterday on the way to the park, he tried to jump in the car and slammed into the seat and got knocked to the ground because he misjudged the distance :(

[wolf_Q]

Oh Aly I don't know how I missed it but I don't think I knew Reece had cataracts. :( Poor sweetie....I can't believe that lady said what she did. All she did was upset you, and that was not warrented. Cataracts is not a life threatening condition that I was aware of. I hope things go well with the specialist. We all know Reece will have the best love and care. :)

[binka_nugget]

Poor reece. :( But don't stress yourself over it. My cousin's shitzhu is blind in her left eye completely and the right one is starting to go too. She's been living like this for sometime now. She's around 13 I believe.

[Amber]

Dont Worry! That lady was just being rude! Reece is going to have a long happy life!

[micki76]

Originally posted by aly
Thanks guys. I feel better already. I should be thankful it is just in one eye. He does have problems starting in the other eye, but I'm hoping the specialist will be able to fix it somehow :(

Reece doesn't have any other serious conditions. He has bad allergies, chronic yeast infections, and anal gland problems. But nothing that should be life threatening.

I don't know exactly what her dog died off. She upset me too much that I couldn't think straight.

Aly, you're like me. I'm a worrier. I worry about if the dogs aren't eating enough and I worry if they're eating too much. If they sleep a lot, I worry. If they don't sleep enough, surely something must be wrong. LOL. I drive Michael crazy!!!

Don't let yourself get stressed out. Everything will be fine. Ask ParNone. I think Maddie's totally blind. My Dad's chi even had cataract surgery and had them removed from both eyes.

Everything will be ok, I promise. :) Now, go give Reece a kiss!

[tomkatzid]

Tonee (RB) at the age of 16+ was totally blind and did just fine. She didn’t get cataracts, but glaucoma. She was at the specialists many many times. We saw lots of sight-impaired pups, all doing great. maybe in dogs as in people one eye only makes your depth perception off. It may just take getting used to it. There is surgery for cataracts in dogs as well as people. Your vet will give you the best solution to Reece's problem. Dogs don't die just because they go blind; they just need to ride in a wagon for some of the tougher walks;)

[aly]

I'm still freaked out and worrying, but now its about Skylar. He's been in the closet all day and isn't acting like himself. I'm considering a trip to the Emergency room, but he doesn't have any clinical signs. He's just not himself.

Peka is whining and the puppies are screaming. *sigh* I'm going to lose it.

[Aspen and Misty]

O no Ally ::hugs:: Stay strong. Everyone will be ok ::hugs::


I am so sorry to hear about Reece, I hope the specialest can help him.

Ash

[lovemyshiba]

Oh, Reecie, I'm sorry to hear your eyes are giving you trouble!!

Aly, I'm sure it is awful to go through, but I just know Reece will be just as happy and loveable as ever, even with his sight going on him.

As for that lady at the park, what she said was dumb, try not to give it another thought.

I hope things are going better this morning!!

{{{{HUGS}}}}

[Kater]

Cataracts are not life-threatening! I think that lady was implying as such, and that's just completely wrong. :mad: I hope the doctor has some helpful options for Reecie so he can have some more years of vision. He's just a young doggie Aly, don't start worrying about losing him yet! He just needs some extra babying in light of his worsening eyesight --- that's his plan anyway! ;)

[Albea]

Aly, if it is any consolation, that lady at the park was a moron. Carina has congenital cataracts and she's 10 1/2. The vet keeps checking whenever we go to see him and doesn't think she needs surgery, at least not yet. They don't seem to bother her at all. Pups can live a very long and happy life even when they can't see very well.
Please, give Reece a big hug from me.

[wolfsoul]

That lady was a total moron. :mad: That wasn't nice of her at all.

Don't worry. :) Cataracts aren't really a big deal; they certainly can't cause death. They can, however, cause blindess, but there are certain surgeries to get rid of cataracts.

Leather has had cataracts since she was about 8. They don't look very nice, but she doesn't seem to be having any problems with them. ;)

[aly]

My mom and one of my friends are coming with me to Reece's appointment. I am really happy because my mom said she would help me pay for surgery if Reece needs it. Did I mention I LOVE MY MOM? I was really worried about the money part, but feel better now.

My friend just got laid off her job and said she'll be home a lot and can babysit Reecie if he needs it :)

Skylar is doing much better today.

Now I'm trying to nurse Piper. She's acting really weak and wobbly. I got her some Nutrical and Pedialyte and some more Esbilac to put her back on the bottle. Poor girl. Her big, fat, mean brother keeps beating her up too.

[captain]

Aly,

You do so much, ......... stupid woman at the park is a MORON!!!

Let us know what the vet says.

My Aunt had a dog that lost his sight at 5 years and lived til 12!!!!! He was quite able, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! He did occasionally knock into things, but he was still able to do things. Such a great dog.

[KYS]

Geesh! that lady who spoke to you was not to bright. :rolleyes:

My neighbor's senior fox terrier had cataracts in both eyes
for many years.
Eventually it progress, to the point that Dutches
started walking very slow because she was unsure.
Dutches was taken to a specialist,
and was a candidate for cataract surgery.
First one eye, and later on the other.
Dutches acted like a young dog again.
Good for your mom, for helping you pay for the surgery. :)

[micki76]

Originally posted by aly
My mom and one of my friends are coming with me to Reece's appointment. I am really happy because my mom said she would help me pay for surgery if Reece needs it. Did I mention I LOVE MY MOM? I was really worried about the money part, but feel better now.

My friend just got laid off her job and said she'll be home a lot and can babysit Reecie if he needs it :)

Skylar is doing much better today.

Now I'm trying to nurse Piper. She's acting really weak and wobbly. I got her some Nutrical and Pedialyte and some more Esbilac to put her back on the bottle. Poor girl. Her big, fat, mean brother keeps beating her up too.

I'm kinda fond of your mom now, too! :D How's the Piper doing?

[aly]

Piper is acting a bit stronger and VERY happy to be back on a bottle. Sebastian was NOT happy to see me on the couch giving her a bottle, so I had to make him one too. After he ate, he spit up a few times, but I think he just drank too fast (he attacked the bottle!). I will probably have Piper longer than 8 weeks because she won't weigh near enough to spay yet.

Reece is doing good today and had a pretty happy day, despite me dragging him out in the rain to potty... the horror!

[shais_mom]

I have a feeling that ladies dog had other problems then cataracts. That just doesn't make any sense.
Poor you and Poor Reece.
you will be in my thought and prayers

[Pam]

I have to echo what everyone else has said. That lady was a total moron not to mention just plain mean. I work for an ophthalmologist and believe it or not most of us will develop cataracts if we live long enough. For those of us who are bothered by them enough that they hamper our daily activities, cataract surgery can be done and it's very routine and very safe.

My toy poodle, Pumpkin, who left for the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 17, had cataracts and wasn't bothered much by them at all. His real problems started when he went deaf and developed bladder control problems. :o I have a friend who opted for cataract surgery for her dog and it went very well, although it is very expensive. I guess this makes a good argument for getting some pet insurance although I don't have it either.

[lbaker]

Aly, my little Collar[flower] has only had vision in one eye since she was born. She can run and play with the pack just fine. Sometimes when we are playing catch the other dogs will let her get the ball (when I throw it right at her) even though they could easily get it themselves. Her mom, CheekyBitch, has now gone almost totally deaf. That's bad for a border collie but she too has adapted quite well and is as happy as ever. They adapt better than we do sometimes. Stay strong.
L

[Sudilar]

Oh poor Reece! There is nothing about Cataracts that would cause premature death! My Great Pyr had a degenerative eye problem in her last years, not cataracts, that was not operable. She got along just fine. You'd never know her vision was impaired.

Don't listen to that lady. There had to be more wrong with the dog than just cataracts.

[ramanth]

When is Reece's appointment?

I hope he, Skylar, and Piper are feeling better. :)

[mruffruff]

The woman at the park was way off base!

My dog, Bear, had cataracts due to diabetes. I was naive enough to think I could wait to take him to an opthamologist. When I finally did, it was too late.

While Bear's cataracts were inoperable, many dogs have theirs removed with wonderful results. There are several stories of both successes and failures on the message boards of Blinddogs@ezboard and the canine diabetes board. You might want to read some of the posts just to see what is involved.

Bear ultimately developed uveitis and then glaucoma. After a lot of meds and money, he had both eyes removed. He does very well getting around and bossing the other dogs.

I'm glad your Mom is there for you. It does get expensive, but Reece is worth it.

Mary