My doggy can't see anymore : [?

Question

I have a dog who is suffering from cataracts and no longer can see. She on average has 8 more years to live and don't want her to spend them blind. I was wondering because the surgery to remove the cataracts cost $4,000 and I can't afford it me being a child & my parents don't have the money to just fork out 4 grand. Do you think people would be willing to give donations to help pay for her procedure if I set up a web-site?
I really love my dog and want her to be able to see and have fun in her last years of life.

Does Cataracts hurt dogs?

Thank you everyone for your advice its all so great. Thanks.

Answer 1

You would be surprised how she can adjust to not being able to see. Even with surgery there is no guarantee that she will be able to see then. I have had cataract syrgery and corneal transplants in both eyes. I have had 3 laser durgeries in the left eye and one in the right. I have also had a vitrectomy in my left eye and a biopsy when they thought there was a cancer. I have good vision in my right eye but almost no vision in my left. The problem seemed to come about because of the cataract surgery. I am still facing at least one more eye surgery for the left eye. This has all happened in the past 21 months. So as you see the surgery doesn't always fix the problem, in my case it caused more problems. She can learn how to get around fine. You can arrange things where it will be easier for her to navigate. You can be her seeing eye person. I am thinking of training one of my chihuahuas to be my seeing eye dog........lol

Answer 2

Years ago, very few people fed commercial dog food. Dog food was actually introduced on a wide scale during the First World War. Even after the war, maybe people continued to feed their dogs mainly scraps. Commercial dog food has only become big in maybe the last 20 odd years. Poo turns white usually because there is an excess of calcium in the diet. Dogs that are fed raw or home cooked food's poop typically turns white and crumbles within a day or two. Dogs that eat 'real' food absorb almost all of the nutrients and leave very little waste matter unlike kibble fed dogs. A raw fed dog might produce one small, tiny poop per day where a typical kibble fed dog will usually produce three huge poops that do NOT turn white or crumble. Hope I helped!

Answer 3

You could try to get donations, or you could try to raise some money yourself.

But as you say, $4000 is a lot of money to come up with.

Dogs adapt very well to being blind. With cataracts they lose their sight very slowly and are able to get used to it. They often are able to see light and dark even with advanced cataracts so they can get around. Your dog can have a happy and fulfilling life even without being able to see. Since you mention cataracts and the cost of the surgery, it sounds like her failing eyesight has been diagnosed by a vet...he or she could give you advice on caring for a blind dog.

Go online and do research about caring for blind dogs and I think you will not feel so sad. I work at a vet hospital and we have five or six blind dogs who come to us. None of them are unhappy and one is a very popular therapy dog at hospitals because she is so cheerful and friendly.

Thank you for caring so much about your dog.

Answer 4

I doubt very much that people would be willing to trust in what could easily be a scam over the internet.

Your dog will cope better than you think. Dogs do not live by their emotions like humans. Her site has gone gradually, so that she really does not understand what she has lost.

As long as she is in familiar surroundings, and you try to avoid major changes like moving big pieces of furniture, she will cope very well.

There is nothing wrong with a blind dog, except that it has no sight. It can still play, and provide the same companionship that they did when they could see.

Answer 5

Its not as bad as you think. Sight is only a secondary sense for a dog and they can quite happily live without it.

A dog would find it much harder to get around if it lost its sense of smell

Just dont move the furniture around. You will find the dog makes a kind a of "mental map" of where everything is and will walk around objects without even thinking. If you have stairs, put your dog on a lead and lead it up and down the stairs a few times a day for a week or so. It will soon remember where they are and how many there are.

My blind dog lived for years quite happily. We even played fetch in the back yard. I just got a ball with a bell in it and he would chase the sound, and when it stopped would sniff it out.

Check this website for lots of ideas and advice

http://www.blinddog.info/blinddoghelp.htm

Answer 6

Dogs rely more on sense of smell than sight than humans. She may adjust better than a human. I don't know that you'd do well on a web-site because people might think it was a scam, but you could see if the Humane Society or another animal charity offered reduced rates for the operation or a payment plan that could be more affordable for you. You could try to do things to raise extra money like a some sort of fund-raiser for your dog. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

I doubt it.. money is tough for many people, and the odds of someone being able to con them online is far too great.. (meaning, that they have no clue if you are who you say you are.. you could be anyone trying to get money.. I'm not saying you are a con person.. just that the chance is there) ..

What I would suggest is seeing if you have an ASPCA animal hospital around there.. or any vet willing to take payments on it.. You won't know unless you ask..

Answer 8

i understand what you are saying, but sometimes theres not much you can do. you must remember dogs have wonderful hearing and a great sense of smell. yeah it helps to see, but dogs only see in 1demention and in black & white. dogs are very good at adapting. just because she cant see you does not mean she does not know you are there she can hear your voice, smell you and she will know. and if you still have an avg of 8 years with her why dong you start saving money and have the surgery a little later? have a yard sale and with is sell lemon aid and cookies and brownies use that money to start you savings. just a thought....

Answer 9

I feel for your situation. I think a website might help you, but convincing people of your dogs plight would be futile. I would think it would be seen as a scam and doubt you would get any responses unless you can prove your case. I hope your dog does well and I am sorry for what has happened.

Answer 10

You could try this website to see about getting donations...http://www.sixdegrees.org All the best to you. No they are not painful and dogs do make due and learn how to get around. Take care;^)