Is our dog going blind? Do they get cataracts?

[King Herald]

Our Jack is about ten years old, and had a hard, unhappy life before we finally rescued him. He is a bit aggressive, a bit messed up in the head I guess, but he is lovable enough.

However, lately he seems to be getting a bit scruffy, his fur looks a bit of a mess, and his eyes seem to water a lot. His pupils look sort of cloudy, a bit like our new puppies, rather than the sharp black they used to be.

I'm guessing he is losing his sight.

We have a vet coming out next week to give our pack their annual injections, and check out the new puppies, so I'll ask her to check him out.

[twosocks]

my lab went blind with PRA and it they also get cataracts, other than a few bumps she gets around ok, just dont move furniture

[bexVN]

Is he drinking more? It would be a good idea to rule out diabetes. Take a urine sample to your vet for a quick test to check.

Hopefully it won't be and so more likely to be age related cataracts or maybe a lens luxation. It is possible for cataracts to be removed by specialists but it isn't cheap.

Your vet will hopefully be able to tell you more when they ck. Tell them you want his eyes looked at so they can bring the right equipment with them.

[King Herald]

I'll tell the vet, so they are prepared. He is a bit 'unpredictable' at times, so may need a muzzle putting on. Better they bring one or they might lose a finger.

[randlemarcus]

Bex, purely out of curiousity, how do you suggest actually persuading a lab to give up the sample?

[bexVN]

Not usually difficult, go outside with them, when they cock their leg or squat to pee pop a shallow dish underneath and catch the wee ....of course not all dogs play by 'the rules' but this technique generally works.

[King Herald]

Jack peed on my wife yesterday. She was crouching down playing with a pup, and jack walked over, sniffed, cocked his leg, and... I wish I'd had a sample dish ready. And a video camera.