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Original poster

Posting here for traffic - need urgent opinions about my lovely Dog :-(

162 replies

Huskylover1 · 02/02/2017 20:07

I have posted in the doghouse section, but no replies, so posting here for traffic.

We have an awful predicament. Our dog is 8 years old. She suffered Glaucoma when she was 3 years old, and after treating the "bad" eye with multiple drops a day for 18 months, she had to have that eye removed (the tissue started to die).

On 22nd December, she walked in to a wall, and we knew something was wrong with her "good" eye. We got her to the vets and the pressure in her eye was too high, meaning that the Glaucoma had now hit her "good" eye, so she was hospitalised. She came home a few days later, and amazingly a week later had her sight back! Felt truly blessed!

She was placed on a treatment plan of about 11 drops a day. With a plan to gradually decrease this, as things stabilized. Thankfully, I work from home!

Anyway, since then she's had 2 more relapses (pressure in the eye too high). This is very painful. She was admitted again yesterday, to be placed on 2 IV drips. One reduces the pressure in the eye, the other hydrates her organs.

So, this is her 3rd admission and hooking up to IV's, since 22nd December. The vet says that with 3 admissions in 6 weeks, the prognosis for the eye doesn't look good, ie. she will be blind forever now, and we have 2 options :

1)Remove the remaining eye
2) Put to sleep

She is home now (picked her up this afternoon), and we don't have to make this decision until her next relapse. This could be tomorrow/next week/next month, no idea. The pressure will spike, she will be in pain, and we will have to quickly decide what to do.

I am not sure that I can see her with two sewn up eye sockets! It feels cruel. She is a magnificent beast, a black and white husky with bright blue eyes (well, she did have). She's a real hunter. Loves running wild off the lead and playing fetch, both of which will now be off the menu.

DH thinks we should remove the eye and see how she copes, but this is another major Op, and when we got the first eye out it was horrendous, she had a bad bleed and her whole face was matted in blood. I am thinking it would be kinder to PTS. I don't think it's fair to put her through another major Op, just to buy another 4 years (till her life expectancy), which would be a life of no sight and effectively no communication, as she can't speak!

That's the predicament....very grateful for any views.

OP posts:
lionsleepstonight · 02/02/2017 20:56

I was in the same situation. For some reason I couldn't bear the idea of both eyes removed. He was an old dog who'd had a good life and I decided to pts.I have never regretted the decision as I didn't want my dog to suffer or have a reduced quality of life.
My vet said it's pretty common for owners to choose pts over a second eye removal, something about a human need. He did say my dog would adapt quickly to being blind, but I felt it kinder to pts.
This is the hardest part of being a dog owner. Do what's best for you dog. Not you or your husband.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 02/02/2017 20:57

I would not put her though a major operation.

It will be very difficult fior her to adapt to a sudden loss of eyesight.

It's a very hard decision, sorry you have to go through this.

Original poster
Huskylover1 · 02/02/2017 20:59

Thanks so much for replies. birdlady I am so sorry for what you have been/are going through, that sounds awful!

I think our dog would cope, being blind. But is coping the same as really living? In her short periods of blindness, she's managed to map a room most of the time, but she does take a few knocks as well. At the moment that causes a real problem, as a knock can make the pressure shoot up in her eye. With no eye, it wouldn't matter so much (apart from the pain of the knock, iyswim)

But she is majestic to me, and the two sewn up eye scenario makes me want to howl. She loves running around the village green, jumping over the shrubbery like a show horse (!), running on the beach, playing fetch....all of which now stops. She's not food motivated, so wouldn't even have that! Aargh!

Add to this, that I look after dogs in my home for a living, and many of them would barge into her.

Thankfully we have no other dogs here this weekend, as we were meant to be away on a lovely mini break at the hotel we got married in....which obviously we have had to cancel.

OP posts:
KellyBoo800 · 02/02/2017 20:59

I am so sorry that you have to make this decision. I do think the kinder thing to do is to PTS but I will be brutally honest here and say that I'm not sure I could do that unless the dog had the surgery first and wasn't coping well (same as what your husband is saying).

But I know that if I did that, it would be almost a selfish option, with my best interest and not the dogs. I would want to feel like I had exhausted every option before making that decision. But that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Sorry, not much help. I do think that PTS is the best option all round but I do understand why your DH is hesitant.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 02/02/2017 21:03

If you think she'll cope and if shes enjoying so many things than maybe it's worth s shot.

UnbornMortificado · 02/02/2017 21:04

What a hard decision I'm so sorry Husky.

Bird that sounds horrendous. I have a friend who went blind later in life (diabetes related) he has adapted but it took a while. I know everyone copes with stuff differently though Flowers

Original poster
Huskylover1 · 02/02/2017 21:06

Here she is, she's shattered from the past few days!

OP posts:
Nannewnannew · 02/02/2017 21:16

Oh my goodness what a beautiful girl! What an awful dilemma for you and your husband. I think that maybe it would be kinder to have her PTS when the time comes. I'm so sorry for you and your beautiful dog. She will live on in your heart but hope that she has a bit longer with you until that dreadful decision has to be made. Love and best wishes to you all. X

Yura · 02/02/2017 21:18

Reading your post, I would tend towards PTS. If her main joy is running and jumping, it doesn't seem to be fair to take that away from her. Humans can be ok with coping as they find other joys, but dogs live today.
The surgery means pain and shock today - I don't think I would do it. We've done this with another dog and another issue, and I'm still regretting putting him through surgery (leg amputation - worst mistake ever).

Autvet · 02/02/2017 21:23

Hi, I'm a vet ... I just wanted to say that I see lots of blind dogs that have coped incredibly well with life... we tend to humanise them to a degree I guess - unlike people vision isn't their primary sense... and they can cope extremely well ... I do feel for you Flowers

GoesDownLikeACupOfColdSick · 02/02/2017 21:26

Awful decision OP, I really feel for you. I would ask vet for an honest opinion if that would help - but if she suffered with the first eye, I think PTS would be kinder. Really sorry, you sound like a wonderful dog owner

Floralnomad · 02/02/2017 21:28

Only you know your dog but if it were my dog I'd be having the op and at least giving it a shot , I know a couple of blind dogs , one that went blind very young and one that went blind at 11/12 , that both live very happy fulfilled lives as far as you can tell - they go for walks , meander about at home and enjoy their food , what more does a dog want .

kali110 · 02/02/2017 21:33

I'd agree with your dh. I'd see how she was after the op.
If she wasn't coping, or enjoying life then i'd pts.
Animals adapt surprising well without their sight.
Have a lookat what the results of the op are if you do decide,so it won't be so much of a shock to you once she's had her eye removed.
Sorry you all are suffering like this, it's never easy.

Original poster
Huskylover1 · 02/02/2017 21:36

I agree that if they go blind at 11/12, it's not that much of a deal. Well, it is, but you know what I mean. But she's a super athlete. A real beast. Runs and jumps and hunts. All stops now. She's not one for "pottering", it's not who she is.

OP posts:
SallyGinnamon · 02/02/2017 21:42

What a lovely girl you've got there. If the vet says it's worth a try I probably would.

ver0ver0 · 02/02/2017 21:43

This situation must be so hard for you all :-( if it was my dog, I'll give it a chance...and pts if there's no other option... poor doggy...

Ummmmgogo · 02/02/2017 21:49

Pts. Huskies are not a pottery breed. Sorry op xx

AvaCrowder · 02/02/2017 21:53

What a beautiful animal.

I've known blind dogs, but their eyesight has deteriorated rather than lost. They get by until they go deaf too.

I'm would be inclined to spare her the op. Poor all of you.

Serin · 02/02/2017 21:57

If it was our little Lhasa Apso, we would have no issue with having the OP, BUT he doesn't need that much exercise and he is not a sight reliant dog to start with. His breed relies heavily on sound and smell.

I don't know what I would do if we had a big, strong, athletic husky. Sad

Difficult decision OP, My heart goes out to you. Flowers

IrregularCommentary · 02/02/2017 21:58

You poor things. What a horrible choice.

I think if it were my boy, I'd pts on balance. With no sight at all, the quality of life won't be there.

I'm so sorry, how unfair xx

BarbarianMum · 02/02/2017 21:59

I don't think there is any particular reason that a blind dog can't be a happy dog, with your help. I don't think animals suffer the mental anguish associated with losing your sight as a human as they don't conceptualize in that way. And I think a dog can learn to use scent, touch and hearing to navigate in familiar surroundings. They can still do long walks too but you can help by adopting regular routes so they/you can learn them.
I wouldn't put down in this situation.

LEELULUMPKIN · 02/02/2017 22:09

I have been a dog owner/lover all of my 47 years and have had to go through this many times. Obviously this is a decision only you can make BUT if I were in your shoes (and I have been there) I would let her go.

I am currently in a similar situation with my own girl and I have already decided when enough is enough will be. I have seen similar cases where the owner has not been able to let go and the poor dog has been in a pitiful state.

If you do decide to pts I would VERY much recommend having the vet come out to you and having it done where she is comfortable and in familiar surroundings. You can cuddle her on the sofa or where ever she likes to sleep and it really is as if she is just going to sleep.

It has made it SO much easier to say goodbye for me knowing they were not scared and surrounded by love. It does make it easier to cope I think.

I'm thinking of you OP, it's the hardest decision you will ever have to make if you choose to share your life with such wonderful animals. Grief is the price we pay for love, but so worth it.

I know all my girls are playing happily together at Rainbow Bridge, I wish you nothing but love x

Mummybear1984 · 02/02/2017 22:16

I've got a 9 year old schnauzer who had both of her eyes removed last January as she went blind due to diabetes. It was the toughest decison I'd ever made but after the initial healing she's back to her old self. She copes with 2 young children and lots of toys in her way. She goes up and down the stairs and has a happy life. I'm so glad I didn't put her to sleep.

MbwaKali · 02/02/2017 22:18

I can't believe how many people are saying put to sleep. I've had two dogs who went blind - and both had very happy lives. They learn their way around the house and garden just fine, enjoy walks, eat, sleep, just like any other dog.
Please consider the operation, because it really isn't the worst thing that can happen to a dog :)

TooSmittle · 02/02/2017 22:25

I have to say I agree with your DH, I would be inclined try it and see how things work out. I remembered seeing a halo device for preventing blind dogs from bumping into things so went off to Google and found myself reading about the lady who runs a charity for blind dogs in Canada who coincidentally has a husky/beagle mix who went blind after being shot. From a very quick look I saw she says "you would never believe he was blind if you saw him run around". The quote is on this page:
dogtime.com/dog-health/general/10669-living-with-a-blind-dog
which also links to her site.

I know every dog is different and only you know your dog best, I just wanted to offer a different outlook for you to consider. I really feel for you. You sound like such a loving dog owner and i have no doubt that whatever decision you come to it will be the right one, and made with love.