[caz7]

Hi, My I think my 12 year old Shih Tzu is starting with a cataract. Problem is we got her when she was 3 years old and when we bought her she only had one eye, so losing the sight in the remaining one is a blow. Can anyone tell me if their dog has had a similar problem and if anything can be done?

Many thanks.

[Lotti]

caz take her to the vet, my 12 year old looks like he has cateracts forming and the vet informed me that the tint he has on his eyes is due to natural drying out of the eye, but not cateracts. As they get older, one side of the lens starts drying out faster than the other so the light has to bend to go through. This makes it look tinted to us, but doesn't affect their vision at all.

IF she does have cateracts forming I think treating it can be dangerous until it's thick enough to lift off (treating it before that can result in complete blindness).

I hope that helps, I don't know too much about it tbh but I'd definitely see the vet.

[caz7]

Thanks I'll take her next week. I feel so sorry for her,the poor little thing she has live most of her life with just one eye so I would hate her to go blind.

[Lotti]

I can understand that caz Although I do know of a few blind, or almost dogs that are very happy (as long as you don't move the furniture around!) it may be that to reduce the risk of sending her blind during the op, the vet asks to wait until the cataract has built up, so she may need a bit of help for a little while because her vision will be reduced a lot.

However, they might be able to suggest something else, I'm not expert at all just going on things I've heard before!

Good luck xx let us know how you get on at the vet!