Can Someone Tell Me About Dog Cataracts, Please?

[peepsnbunnies]

Hi all,
I want to Thank each of you for answering my post about Heidi's eyes. I had a lenghthy discussion with my vet today. We discussed treatment options. He suggested waiting to do anything at this time as she is still able to see pretty good. We have a fenced yard so she is safe from traffic and other dogs and she has no trouble navigating around here. He did say that he would have do refer us to another vet as he does not do the surgery and the surgery would cost around $1000.00 for each eye.

It is difficult to describe the look on DH's face when I told him that.

Anyway, I appreciate you folks answering my question and posting links for me to read.

Lisa

 

[rcf0924]

I am an MD specializing in holistic medicine. A vet eye exam will discern the correct diagnosis. Usually with sclerosis there is not much interference with vision. Vets usually advise you to forget about it. A common attitude is:

" Lenticular sclerosis (cloudy eyes, looks like catarracts) is a normal age-related change in the canine eye," explains Jeff Wayman, DVM, of Belton, Missouri.

My response:
Amazing how veterinary (like human) health professionals have such big blind spots resulting from inadequate understanding of nutrition, and lack of open mindedness to tools outside of their own (small) toolboxes. This quoted vet thinks nuclear sclerosis is a "normal" age related finding that should just be left alone. No doubt this is because of his inadequate education, and arrogant clinical closed-mindedness. Case in point is the use of vitamin C. This vet and most others would say dogs don't need supplementation because their bodies can make it on their own. Really? Don't they realize that aging and other physiological stressors can increase the need for vitamin C beyond the dog's abilities to synthesize it, and/or that aging may reduce the amount produced? For example, I noticed clouding of the lenses of my 12 year old Cockapoo's (Sneakers) eyes last year, and my Vet made the diagnosis of nuclear sclerosis. The clouding was very obvious and affected both eyes, tho his vison was not impaired that we could tell. The Vet recommended no treatment, no doubt because despite how frequently she sees it, in her mind it is untreatable. I guess when you think you know it all already, you don't bother doing any digging for alternatives. Well over the last 30 days I have been supplementing my dog with approximately 250mg of ascorbic acid powder twice a day. Both eyes are now completely clear. Since nuclear sclerosis is an age related finding, it appears vitamin C can not only slow, but can even reverse at least some of the underlying changes associated with aging. I would assume if it was so effective with the eyes, continuing the supplementation should help with other less visible processes of aging. The docs will ignore this and cry out "spontaneous remission" or "anecdotal evidence". Caring pet owners will give it a try.

Thanks for your replies!

Is there a way to tell which condition she has, or does she need a vet to examine her to tell?

Lisa

A lot of people mistake cataracts for Lens Sclerosis, which is the natural thickening of the lenses in their eyes as they age. It doesn't really affect their vision it just causes a slightly hazy look. She is an older German shep so it would be a normal change for her.

Lenticular sclerosis, also known as nuclear sclerosis, is a normal change within the lens that occurs with
advancing age. The central zone of the lens, also known as the nucleus, becomes denser and appears as a grey
haze within the eye. Humans, dogs, cats and horses are all affected by lenticular sclerosis. In humans, nuclear
sclerosis results in presbyopia, which is a loss of the ability of the lens to accommodate. Accommodation is the
mechanism used to maintain focus on objects that are close up. Accommodation is required in humans for
performing routine tasks such us reading. Lenticular sclerosis is the reason that most people who are “forty-
something” require reading glasses.
Your pet’s visual acuity will be slightly decreased secondary to lenticular sclerosis; however, these deficits are
minimal. Your pet's vision will be decreased in areas with dim lighting. Lenticular sclerosis is not painful and
most cases do not require medical or surgical treatment.​

HTH

More reading of you're interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_sclerosis

Quote:
Originally Posted by wendy


I worked for a Opthamologist as a Opthamology Tech and assisted in surgery. For animals it is high to have cataract surgery. I don't think there is any supplement you can get for it.
Drs Foster and Smith maybe a site to check out.

I have had several dogs with cataracts. They manage okay.

Sunshine helps cataracts develop in humans and eye injury can cause a "tramatic cataract". So in dogs I would think the sunshine contributes to cataracts too.

(We had a Vet bring a horse to the Dr. I worked for, that was interesting)

Wendy

I think my dog may have cataracts. I know next to nothing about cataracts in dogs. Can someone give me some information about them?

My German Shepherd, Heidi, is 7 1/2 years old. I have noticed lately that she has not wanted to chase squirrels very much which is unusual for her, but I did not think too much about it. But several days ago I noticed when I was taking her outside for potty at night, she was hesitated going into the dark until I turned the light on. I looked at her eyes and they look a little bit foggy, not totally clear. Are there any nutritional supplements that I can give her to make them go away, or stop the progression? Are they treatable? Is it expensive?

Lisa

as far as I know, most doctors can tell the difference by shining a light in the eye.

My 15 year old aussie mix has cataracts. Both eyes a very cloudy and gets worse as he gets older. But he also is hard of hearing and has arthritis in his hips. He's been a great dog and I will make sure he doesn't suffer in the end.

peeps, she's absolutely beautiful.

I have a 13 year old german shepard/chow mix. She has cataracts, along with a few other age related issues. She doesn't doesn't let it slow her down to much. She has more "puppy days" than she has age appropriate days. My vet wouldn't consider doing anything for her due to her age.

Smiles
Jul

One of the things associated with cataracts in people is a diet high in refined sugars and carbohydrates. ( http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/carbohydrates-and-cataracts/ )

Does your dog's food contain wheat, corn, soy, or barely?