Rough Collie aged 11

DeBarra, Kate

My mum's dog (a rough collie) is aged 11 and my siblings and I think he has cataracts. We checked with a dog expert but they said that was normal with a dog of his age and pedigree!

Ruu_Old

Well its fairly normal for a dog that age, did a vet check it out or was this expert someone you know? Only they will be able to tell you if it is cataracts, could be just blurring or lens scratched which looks like cataracts too.

Schlemm

Rough Collies are prone to several hereditary eye problems, such as collie eye anomality or progressive retinal atrophy. Hereditary cateracts can occur too.

A cateract appears as an opaque lens in the eye, and cannot be diagnosed without using special instruments to examine the eye properly. If you let them go without treatment, they will prevent normal vision, and complete cateracts will lead to blindness.

If you feel that your dog can't see properly or if you have noticed a change in his eyes, go to the vet. Your vet will be able to make a diagnosis. Provided it is a cateract and it is not too advanced, there are some drugs which can slow the advance of the cateract. Surgical treatment is also possible and is frequently carried out today.

nando

First of all did the vet say it was definitely a cataract? Nuclear Sclerosis which causes a blueish appearance in the eye occurs in the majority of older dogs and is really commonly mistaken by owners for a cataract. This is a normal ageing change in the lens of the eye and almost never affects vision.

Like Schlemm says there are lots of causes of cataracts in dogs but hereditary ones and also the other heritable eye problem of collies mentioned usually show up much earlier in life and definitely wont be appearing for the first time in an 11 year old dog. Diabetes is a common cause in dogs also.

The only effective treatment is surgical removal of the lens usually by Phaecoemulsification which is the same treatment used in humans. There are really no ointments available - there are a few experimental topical treatments but they have not proved particularly successful.

Phaecoemulsification is VERY expensive - about €1500 per eye. It is only carried out in a handful of specialist clinics in the UK and I'm not sure that it is available in Ireland. There is a vet ophthalmologist in Dublin who may have the facilities but it is not even available in UCD vet hospital afaik.

RaiseTheBlinds

Schlemm wrote:

Provided it is a cateract and it is not too advanced, there are some drugs which can slow the advance of the cateract. Surgical treatment is also possible and is frequently carried out today.

is that right ?........whats the process involve to get cataracts removed ?
and would it be a good idea for a 12 year old dog (black lab) ????

any good remedies for improving your dogs hearing , do you know ?
the vet says its just old age,...but he (Elmo) particularly likes 1 ear to be scratched,... he tries to edge/angle his head in order to satisfy his "itch" deep in his ear socket (i know it sounds gross!)
anyway ive given him warm ear drops, and he hates the smell.

Elmo likes to sleep on my foot, so he knows if I move - he will wake up !!!
he can hear clapping but dosent respond to his name when you call him !!?!

Jules

Nando, does michel woods in primrose hill not do that kind of surgery.

Personally, I wouldn't put any dog over the age of 10 under G.A unless your vet thinks it necessary. It was be quite dangerous. The vet i mentioned above is an eye specialist and can be gotten in the phone book, also Terry grimes in UCD, if he is still there. But i would recommend bringing your dog to your own vet and getting a referal letter for any specialist you go to.