Dogs eyesight problem despite op

jamesf85

Hi all,

Anyone here have any advice it would be greatly appreciated. We have a husky. 3 years ago he developed diabetes and developed cataracts. We got his diabetes under control with 2 injections daily and we were advised by our vet that having an operation to remove one of the cataracts would give him 90% of his vision back and that the cataract in that eye wouldn't return.

He's now nearly 11. Recently, his right eye (the one that was operated on) started weeping a lot, so much so it stained his fur around the eye. We brought him to the vet on 2 different occasions, both visits costing close to 100 euro each. We received antibiotics and drops for the eyes but this evening I'm after noticing that not only is the eye starting to weep again, there's now a bulge on it and the cataract has returned.

To be honest I'm really angry, but maybe it's misplaced? It feels like the vets are just trying to bleed every cent they can from us. Bearing in mind his eye operation cost 1,800, and all his vet bills in total have cost just over 10,000 euro. What is most frustrating is when we bring him back for a revisit of the same issue the charge us the consultation fee every time, even though they clearly haven't prescribed the proper medication.

I'm sorry if it seems like I'm having a go at vets, I'm not...I love animals and their profession is one I respect but in the case of my dog it feels like they're taking advantage. Is it normal for a dog to have cataracts removed only for them to return even though it was promised that they would never return? We're not particularly wealthy, and the cost of our dog is a financial burden but he's a part of the family so we want him to have the best quality of life possible, we've always done as directed by our vet.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

tk123

Well I don't know anything about cataracts but I know about vet visits lol. No - i would't be happy paying a consultation fee each time. One of my dogs has had a few eye infections and injuries - at one stage we were back every few days for dye and check and we weren't charged. The same for the other fella who's had a few different surgeries over the years - wound checks would be free/covered in the cost of the operation and as many as needed until the vet/nurse was happy.
Why not get an second opinion - if you're being charged the full consolation fee at your own vets you have nothing to lose cost wise going elsewhere! I'm sure if you posted where you are people would be able to recommend vets. Was it your own vet who did the eye surgery?

jamesf85

tk123 wrote: »

Well I don't know anything about cataracts but I know about vet visits lol. No - i would't be happy paying a consultation fee each time. One of my dogs has had a few eye infections and injuries - at one stage we were back every few days for dye and check and we weren't charged. The same for the other fella who's had a few different surgeries over the years - wound checks would be free/covered in the cost of the operation and as many as needed until the vet/nurse was happy.
Why not get an second opinion - if you're being charged the full consolation fee at your own vets you have nothing to lose cost wise going elsewhere! I'm sure if you posted where you are people would be able to recommend vets. Was it your own vet who did the eye surgery?

Thank you very much for this response. We are in Limerick.

boomerang

He’s eleven? Maybe he is developing a cataract due to old age, unrelated to the cataract that was treated?

Bicycle

A human family member had cataracts. They had a lens implant and got their sight back. HOWEVER, a few months later, they had to have a "lazer zap" on one of the eyes because the cataract had returned.

Apparently this happens in a small percentage of cases.

Rather than getting annoyed, you perhaps need to read up on cataracts and see if what happened your dog was usual or unusual.

Don't know if I can recommend a vet directly but we use John Garahy of Treaty Vets and find him great.

boomerang

jamesf85 wrote: »

Hi all,

What is most frustrating is when we bring him back for a revisit of the same issue the charge us the consultation fee every time, even though they clearly haven't prescribed the proper medication.

At the very least it should be a reduced consult fee.

jimf

are you going to a specialist

Bunnyslippers

I would insist on a reduced fee too as it's an ongoing issue. Cataract ops in pets are not always successful just like in people, they should never have told you it would not return.
Also are you sure it's a cataract that has returned and not an eye ulcer, the weepy eye sounds more like that than a cataract which unless infected should just make the eye loose sight, do read up though but the eye is often bulging and cloudy with an ulcer. Eye infections especially ulcers can take months to heal, we had a dog with a bad ulcer and they tried every drop going and in the end we had to use white blood cells from his blood to heal it, it was expensive but it did heal. I have seen them not heal though and it was kinder to remove the eye and the dogs were just fine, but you need to speak to your vets and voice your concerns and take the bills with you and highlight the things that are ongoing issues, if they won't agree then change vets.