yorkie eye surgery - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SaraHawk · 07-10-2009, 09:01 AM

My mother in law has 2 yorkies, one is 12 one is 10.. the older one, joey, is the sweetest of the sweetest, most well-behaved dog I have ever seen. I mean, this dog is like up there with the jesus' of yorkies.. these two dogs are all my MIL has, they are her children. They go everywhere, even to work with her. They are never far from her sight..

And this year, joey was diagnosed with diabetes, which she manages with diet, insulin shots, etc. However, he is developing catarracts and they say that he will go blind within 6 months. The vet say his vision right now is like looking through a bed sheet...

What I wanna know is, would you do surgery on a dog like this so that he can see? My MIL doesn't wanna put him under the anesthesia... that is the biggest scare, plus it will cost around $3000... what would you do? he is a senior dog, so who knows how long he might live after the surgery, but the vet really said within 6 months he will be blind. I say to her, he is like your child, wouldn't you do it for your child? But others told her no, that is too much money, he may not live much longer, he may not survive the anesthesia..

what would you do?

thanks!

TLC · 07-10-2009, 09:05 AM

For me it wouldn't be about the money OR how long he will live for after that. Of course the money is alot, but I would fin a way, and even IF he only lived a short while after that, I would know in my heart I did a good thing....However, I would be scared about the anesthesia. I would have to do alot of research and thinking and talking to the eye surgeon to see if I were comfortable enough

- If all was good, I would go for it

Not sure if that helped, but that's what I would do

SaraHawk · 07-10-2009, 09:52 AM

I agree with you. thanks!

lilbumbleybees · 07-10-2009, 10:44 AM

Exactly what TLC said! I'd find a way for the $$$ part and it's about the well-being of the baby. We can't live with the "what-ifs", we need to live in the right now.

al_mc · 07-10-2009, 11:28 AM

We may have cataract surgery done on both of Teddy's eyes. He is 8. We are leaving it up to the Ophthalmologist. She is monitoring his vision and how quickly he is losing it. She said she can pretty much tell once he has the final round of tests if the surgery will be successful or not. She will not put him through it unless she is comfortable with the outcome. If we get the go ahead from her we will do it. It will cost $1500-$2300 depending on if she does one eye or both. One is much worse than the other. We are saving up for it. We feel that he is our responsibility and we have to provide the best care for him that we can. We worry about the costs and the anesthesia but we have a great vet and now a great specialist and we feel we can trust their advice. If your MIL has not had Joey seen by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist I would recommend getting a referral to one from her regular Vet. The specialist may not feel Joey is a good candidate for the surgery so that may be the end of the discussion. In the end I think that is the most important thing to consider.

SaraHawk · 07-10-2009, 06:40 PM

my MIL has actually driven over 100 miles to see someone "great" at the vet school at the Univ. of Tenn... so I hope they are telling her the best of the best, truth of the truth.... but that is a great idea and I will suggest that to her! Thanks so much!!

Yorkie4luv · 07-11-2009, 07:18 AM

I would also make sure they are using Isoflorin for the anethesia..safer for the the little dogs.

07-10-2009, 09:01 AM	#1
SaraHawk Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 49	yorkie eye surgery My mother in law has 2 yorkies, one is 12 one is 10.. the older one, joey, is the sweetest of the sweetest, most well-behaved dog I have ever seen. I mean, this dog is like up there with the jesus' of yorkies.. these two dogs are all my MIL has, they are her children. They go everywhere, even to work with her. They are never far from her sight.. And this year, joey was diagnosed with diabetes, which she manages with diet, insulin shots, etc. However, he is developing catarracts and they say that he will go blind within 6 months. The vet say his vision right now is like looking through a bed sheet... What I wanna know is, would you do surgery on a dog like this so that he can see? My MIL doesn't wanna put him under the anesthesia... that is the biggest scare, plus it will cost around $3000... what would you do? he is a senior dog, so who knows how long he might live after the surgery, but the vet really said within 6 months he will be blind. I say to her, he is like your child, wouldn't you do it for your child? But others told her no, that is too much money, he may not live much longer, he may not survive the anesthesia.. what would you do? thanks!

07-10-2009, 09:05 AM	#2
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	For me it wouldn't be about the money OR how long he will live for after that. Of course the money is alot, but I would fin a way, and even IF he only lived a short while after that, I would know in my heart I did a good thing....However, I would be scared about the anesthesia. I would have to do alot of research and thinking and talking to the eye surgeon to see if I were comfortable enough - If all was good, I would go for it Not sure if that helped, but that's what I would do __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com

07-10-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
lilbumbleybees YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 1,339	Exactly what TLC said! I'd find a way for the $$$ part and it's about the well-being of the baby. We can't live with the "what-ifs", we need to live in the right now. __________________ Liz Little Lotte , Bouncer, Lilli , Yodi

07-10-2009, 11:28 AM	#5
al_mc Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: KY Posts: 34	We may have cataract surgery done on both of Teddy's eyes. He is 8. We are leaving it up to the Ophthalmologist. She is monitoring his vision and how quickly he is losing it. She said she can pretty much tell once he has the final round of tests if the surgery will be successful or not. She will not put him through it unless she is comfortable with the outcome. If we get the go ahead from her we will do it. It will cost $1500-$2300 depending on if she does one eye or both. One is much worse than the other. We are saving up for it. We feel that he is our responsibility and we have to provide the best care for him that we can. We worry about the costs and the anesthesia but we have a great vet and now a great specialist and we feel we can trust their advice. If your MIL has not had Joey seen by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist I would recommend getting a referral to one from her regular Vet. The specialist may not feel Joey is a good candidate for the surgery so that may be the end of the discussion. In the end I think that is the most important thing to consider. __________________ Al (Teddy's mommy)

07-11-2009, 07:18 AM	#7
Yorkie4luv Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: citrus heights, ca Posts: 65 Blog Entries: 1	I would also make sure they are using Isoflorin for the anethesia..safer for the the little dogs. __________________ Yorkie Mom to "Sophie Girl" and "Chipsterdoodle"

07-10-2009, 09:52 AM	#3
SaraHawk Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 49	I agree with you. thanks!

07-10-2009, 06:40 PM	#6
SaraHawk Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 49	my MIL has actually driven over 100 miles to see someone "great" at the vet school at the Univ. of Tenn... so I hope they are telling her the best of the best, truth of the truth.... but that is a great idea and I will suggest that to her! Thanks so much!!