Would you rescue a dog with a cataract?

[Dappled]

If all else seemed a good fit between your family and a dog, would you adopt a dog from a rescue that had "a small cataract"?

I'm worried about possible progression, possible expensive treatment in the future and/or blindness - especially given that as an "existing condition" presumably no insurance we could get would cover it.

I'm going to be having a conversation with the rescue about it - what questions do I need to ask to be well informed and able to make a good decision about whether we feel able to take this dog on? I've been trying to internet-research on cataracts in dogs but it would be good to hear from people who have had experience of them.

Background info - we've been wanting to add a dog to our family for a number of years, we wanted to wait until we felt our children were old enough and until our very sensitive elderly cat had passed away. Our lovely cat died last summer, we brought in a rescue 2 year old cat last December to add to our other elderly cat who is still going strong (and a lot less sensitive than our other boy - we feel he will cope with a dog). At the beginning of this year we felt the time was right for a dog. We still felt undecided about whether a rescue dog or a puppy from a breeder would be right for us. I'm a bit daunted about the prospect of a puppy (I think we could manage it, however it seems to be something everyone underestimates until they do it!) however am also concerned about a rescue dog with whose background isn't fully known, especially with young children (age 10 and 7) and cats - many rescues won't consider us at all with children + cats.

I've always believed in rescuing animals but have been feeling that perhaps with a dog (especially a first dog) a puppy might be more sensible. I started approaching a few rescues and also a few breeders of the dog breeds we had researched and heard might be most compatible with our family. We are on the waiting list for a puppy with a couple of breeders. However I've just been contacted by one of the UK-based breed-specific rescues that I had contacted, who have a dog they feel might suit us - however has a small cataract.

Dog looks lovely, although I haven't had a phone conversation yet so haven't got full info about the dog and it's background.

I feel it may be wisest to avoid, however would like to be well-informed with that decision.

Any advice or thoughts on this much appreciated!

I would want to ask a lot of questions (Not necessarily that it would put me off adopting)

What breed?
Is there an underlying reason for the cataracts eg diabetes?
Some dogs do not need surgery do they know how fast growing it is?
Is surgery an option and what is the cost of that?
Is it in both eyes?

I am not a medic so there may be better questions or these may not be relevant but I would want some sort of conversation about it.

If I wanted a dog for a specific purpose eg agility etc then I may rethink but if the rescue could reassure me that as a pet dog the cataracts would be no big issue I would go ahead.

Thanks @PollyRoulson, these are all really good ideas for questions, I hadn't thought about the possibility of an underlying condition causing it.

Sometimes rescues offer to help cover the costs for existing conditions like this so that they can get the dog into a home, they're also better placed to fundraise if they need treatment.

Could also ask if can organise a chat with the vet that diagnosed if everything else seems ok, so that you can ask any questions direct to the expert. It may cost a consult fee but would probably be more helpful.

My dog has cataracts, he's diabetic and has about 5% vision left. He's not a good candidate for surgery and the very tough drop regime that follows.

He is just as happy and active as he was before he lost his sight. We don't let him off lead anywhere new with eg water or ditches but he still goes off lead on the beach and local parks.

It wouldn't put me off at all.

Insurance wise, find out if there is insurance that you can take over, we have a rescue lab and took over the insurance she already had due to a collapsed trachea so we know she's covered.

If there are no underlying health problems, I wouldn't worry much about cataracts. I had a rescue dog who eventually went completely blind in his last 4 or 5years, but in familiar places you would never have guessed. He was quite capable of finding his way around the house, garden and even field and woodland walks that he had known before he lost his sight, even off lead. When on holiday and so on strange ground he would walk beside us even when off lead. However if we did an out and back walk, he would run ahead on the return section of the walk clearly following the outbound scent back to the start.

Thanks everyone, these replies are all really helpful. I'm waiting to talk to the rescue, so am still unsure how we will proceed, but I've got lots of questions to ask based on your suggestions.
My main concerns are that potential treatment might be too much for us to afford if it's not covered on new insurance (thanks @Lightuptheroom for your suggestion , I'll definitely be asking that - hadn't even occurred to me that might be possible) and also that if her sight deteriorates a partially sighted dog might get overwhelmed in a busy household with young children (she hasn't been living with children previously).