Westie with cataract

lusence · 12-09-2007, 07:01 AM

I bought a westie 3 days ago and doctors made me return it because they found cataract.

I will be very gratefull for any information about the illness advices about what to do and if someone had a common problem .

As well as they suppose some mental problems as she cant focus her eyes but i havent noticed anything unormal despite hitting objects. Also she has cough that concerns me. I rly wanna take her home but we grew 1 ill dalmatin and my parents cant bare another sick dog but still i cant let her go

Please if anyone can post something to do so im accepting all kind of advises!

Thanks for the support

sobreeze · 12-09-2007, 10:53 AM

I do rescue foster a lot of dogs this rescue takes in puppies that are flawed. I have had 3 pups with cataracts all 3 Welsh Corgis . If you look it up on the net there is a top 10 breed list of breeds that have cataracts more often than other breeds Corgis are one I think Westies are on that list but not sure .What you have is juvie cataracts it is genetic the breeders do not test there dogs unless you get a very good breeder. The kennels or as I call them puppy mills do not test at all . When the brokers buys there puppies they check them out they wont buy the flaws so breeder takes them back to kennels. If they cant find a rescue or sell to someone like you they most often put to sleep or stop feeding them so they die on there own . That way they can deduct as a loss on incometax . This is the reality of flawed pups .
But on a lighter note these pups do well if there home and play areas are protected from dangers my fosters play with the other dogs fine big dogs as well as small . I have a farm and we play with the dogs a lot . As your pup gets older he will listen to your voice more . These Corgi girls I have run play run into things dont bother them much . They see big things real well but things like chain link fence is hard for them to make out but they see toys as they find them to play with each sees a little different .
The surgurys are very costly $2,200.00 to $2,800.00 and thats in the midwest most likely higher in coasts east and west .
Its up to you if you keep this pup but they do manage well most of the time .And can be very normal special needs pups that will love you for being there care givers .
As for the cough sounds like she has a case of kennel cough almost every pup I get from these kennel gets it and are coughing when they come in .If it dont get real bad they get over it by themselves . But talk to your vet he may want your pup on some meds to help it get over this you should also make sure all vac. are upto date even kennel cough vac. Good luck and if I can help with anything pm me .

007Dogs · 12-09-2007, 11:45 AM

First off, how old is the dog? The OP never stated this was a pup. Most cateracts do not show up in very young puppies. Juvenile cateracts can show up as late as 5 years old. If you are getting a dog or puppy, the breeder should be doing CERF tests annually on there breeding stock. Puppies can be CERF tested as young as 7 weeks old, but very rare for a pup to have an issue this young. And even with testing, since some of these issues do not show up until so late in life, many times a dog will have been breed several times prior to any knowledge of a problem. And if it is a stud dog, no telling how many dogs he could have sired before a problem arises.
I am proud to say the dog that is sire to my stud dog passed his last CERF test at the rip old age of 9, and his son passed his at the ripe old age of 7. So I can rest a little easier knowing that information, but it in no way prevents that something could still pop up somewhere in the future in my lines. All I can do is continue to test all dogs yearly.

And there are eye issues within every breed. Some just more so than others.

sobreeze · 12-09-2007, 03:42 PM

Thats not true about not showing up till older. As I said I have gotten 3 corgis in with cataracts the first was 3 mo. old and had them the last 2 I am still fostering and had them when they came here at 8 weeks old . You are thinking good breeders yes they do the tests . Breeders that are millers or just bybs do not test for any thing . They just do not care that much about the dogs its the money for them .

salask · 12-09-2007, 09:56 PM

How old is your dog? How long has your dog had cataracts?

lusence · 12-10-2007, 03:21 PM

Thank you for the long and supportive answers !

It is a genetic cataract yes and what happened is that after we returned it to the shop and wanted to get it back she was gone. We turned over the whole country to find her again and after 2 days efford it appeared that a fammily just took her. We took a new dog but the person from which the familly took her is informed that if they see the problem and return her ( which i suppose they will do ) To call us imidiately to take her back along with the other westie we have now. I hope that family wont do so she wont have to pass the stress of beeing moved but if they do return her im taking her.

Cheers on people who watch dogs like this

Means that you are rly loving person who can give for what he loves

Thanks again and Best wishes