any idea's?

[JennyB]

[SIZE=12pt]My Zip is going blind

...He has been going blind for years, but seems to be progressing a little faster now. I know they can do cataract surgery, but my vet says it is $2000. now to do them...I have also heard of natural remedies such as Bilberry, vit c and e....does anyone have any experience in either of these areas? He is almost all blue heeler and I am not sure how he would handle being totally blind as a heeler depends on their eyes sight so much. I hate to see him go blind...

...I LOVE this dog sooo much

and would do anything for him. He is going into his 9th year and I have had him since he was a tiny puppy. I would have to win the LOTTO to get his eyes fixed by a surgeon, so any helpful hints or words of wisdom would really help...[/SIZE]

Thanks,

Jenny

 

[TheCaseFamily00]

We just got a older cocker spaniel from the shelter and she has cataracts. She has the most trouble in the evening and at night,she'll bump into things. She seems to handle it very well,doesn't seem to really slow her down or upset her.Our vet said it's like looking through a frosted shower door.Surgery isn't an option for us,but she seems happy to just have a home and food

. If you find something that works please let me know

.

 

[anoki]

If he's a "Heeler" (otherwise known as an Australian Cattle Dog), there is a chance he has PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/pra.htm

Just a thought, as I know Cattle Dogs are on the list of those that can be afflicted with the disease.

~kathryn

 

[bcody]

I have a nine year old keeshond who has gone blind from cataracts, he has diabetes and it happened fast. I was told $3000 for surgery. Sadly, I can not do that know for many reasons. I found some information on drops called can-c. They can be expensive, but found a place to get them for a good price. It is suppose to reverse cataracts. I have been using them for about 2 weeks. Nothing yet, though I think his eft eye is looking lighter blue, I am hopg tha it is not wishful thinking. If I can get him partial sight in one eye I would be thrilled. I would love to do the surgery if I cold find someplace to do it for less money.

He was depressed when he went completly blind, but is now adjusting well. Unfortuatly I will be moving soon and he will need to adjust to a house he has never seen. He is also almost completly deaf.

He will adjust, and I have lots of tips I can give you if you want that have helped.

 

[ErikaS.]

I am so sorry that your Zip is going blind

and I don't know of anything to help treat it. Do you have any other dogs that you can put a bell on their collar? Seriously. I have seen several dogs with companion "seeing eye" dog that get around very well as long as they hear that tinkling bell. Just a thought... I guess it doesn't work if you only have one dog.

 

[R Whiteman]

We had a little border collie who contracted a nasty tick borne disease when she was 10 weeks old. We never knew where it came from as ticks are not an issue in our part of Western Washington during the season she was a small puppy. Another story, but the result of the disease was total blindness by age 6. We actually never thought she would see her first birthday. Short of running into a few things she did everything our other border collies did, including herding sheep every chance she got. For a couple of years we were in denial about her vision since we were amazed daily at her activity level. When we moved to a new farm last year, we were terribly worried about her ability to adapt. There is a creek in the front yard, and a large deep farm pond, electric fences and a host of dangers to the non-seeing dog. Our new guardian Pyr took her as a special project, carefully guiding her over the whole property until she knew it well enough to "fly solo". It turned out that this was our last year with her; she died at 9 of complications brought on by the early damage of her disease.

My point is that dogs are truly amazing creatures and they do not worry about what they used to be, only about what their life is like in the here and now. You only have to remember to make a few concessions and your doggie will adapt to his situation.

He might be a little quieter, a little more careful (he might not), but he'll still be the "love of your life".

 

[shorthorsemom]

I had a min pin that went blind at 6 years old. We just lost her this year at 18. She did just fine blind for all those years, just watch moving stuff on the old girl, but she would learn to move and adjust. I could not afford the surgery option, just kept her pain free and happy and let nature take its course. Good to have a fenced in yard with the blind ones. She went deaf too and still did ok. Used her nose for everything. Best wishes and hope you find a solution that works for all.

 

[Pepipony]

I had a heeler who went blind from PRA, progressive retinal atrophy. It was slow. However, on top of that he developed cataracts. Couldnt treat the first, no use in treating the latter. Dallas did amazingly well. If you didnt know he was blind you would probably never guess. He was THE happiest dog in the world

And he went everywhere with me. He learned fast too, easy, slow, stepup , stepdown, LOOKOUT LOL and many others. When he was dxed I slowly moved things around the house so he would always have a clear path. He rarely bumped into things. Usually only when I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride. Then he would take off running, bumping into this, bumping into that

But he never got depressed. He was dxed at 6 and lived to 12. Probably blind for the last 4 years.

I know it sounds like the end and that you will loose your Zip. But dont worry, he will probably get along just fine. Dogs are blessed to not realize what is happening if its slow. He will still adore you as him mommy

Just as you will adore your Zip.