In the past few weeks, we’ve gone through hell with Rita and her eyes. If you’re a pet lover and/or if you know a pet lover, please check the list of dogs who are more susceptible to glaucoma. There’s a list here. Glaucoma is not curable but we feel if Rita’s problems had been detected earlier, we might have been able to save her vision for at least a while longer. The only way for early detection of glaucoma in dogs is to test the intraocular pressure. It’s very aggravating that the tool for checking for glaucoma isn’t terribly expensive (it actually costs less than the surgery to remove the eyes) and so many vets do not have it. Both dachshunds and chihuahuas are on the list who are commonly diagnosed with glaucoma. I got my first dachshund in about 1975 and there’s only been a few years between then and now that I haven’t had a dachshund. We’ve been to vets in Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Texas and have never had one check our dogs’ pressure.
By the time symptoms are seen by the naked eye, the dog is well on their way to being completely blind. On June 16 I had Rita to the vet to check her eyes. He glanced at them and said “They look fine to me.” On June 29, I took her to another vet and he gave me meds for her eyes and wanted to see her again the next week. On July 6, I took her back to him and he told me he was afraid she had glaucoma and wanted to see her again on July 27. In the meantime, we read about glaucoma and got her to Austin yesterday to see an eye specialist. She’s already gone completely blind.
I’m kicking myself for not knowing more about glaucoma, for not noticing the symptoms sooner and for not knowing enough to find a vet who could check the pressure in her eyes.
There are three fairly large and popular veterinary clinics here and none of them are able to check the pressure in dogs’ eyes. I don’t get it . . that is so common and such a devastating disease. I am a bit angry about it.
We had been told that we would have to go to Austin, Texas A & M (College Station) or Fort Worth to see a vet who can check the pressure. We went to Austin. The diagnosis, as mentioned, is that she’s already gone blind. The glaucoma is very painful so we’ve been given drops to hopefully lessen the pressure. We will have to have the pressure checked once a week, then if we can control the pressure with meds, we can go to having it checked every two weeks, then monthly, then every six months. If we cannot control the pressure with meds, we will have to have her eyes removed.
I cannot drive to Austin or Fort Worth by myself because of bridges. It’s 3.5 hours one way to Texas A & M. That’s 7 hours on the road plus a vet visit. I called vets in Abilene and found one who has the tool to check the pressure. I haven appointment next week to get him to check her.
The good news . . though I still cannot stop crying . . the vet told us that dogs use their sense of smell and hearing as much as they use their sight so losing one of the three major senses is not nearly as devastating to a dog as it is to a human. Blind dogs can live wonderful lives.
I’m sure Speck is probably blind, or very close to being blind, and has been for quite a few years and he’s totally deaf. He gets along just fine.
As far as Rita’s sight loss, in the last few days, when I’m sitting in the recliner, my feet are obviously hanging over the edge and several times, she’s tried to jump into the recliner and jumped right into my feet. She sleeps on the sofa and she’s having a hard time judging the distance when jumping. We’re working to get her to sit and wait for us to pick her up and put her up there and we’ll make or buy a ramp for her. Several days ago Vince put her food bowl down and she was having a hard time finding it. She still goes to the door when she wants to go out. She still runs to the front door when she hears someone outside. She goes into the kitchen when it’s time to eat.
So . . we face a hurdle but in the end, I think of friends who have lost spouses, loved ones who are facing cancer treatment and I know we are blessed and, as much as we love Rita, and as much as she’s a part of our family, she’s a dog and we’ll get through this, learn from it and . . life goes on.
Please ask your vet about checking your dog’s eyes and if they don’t have the tool that does it, put a little pressure on them to get the tool, and try to find a vet who can do it. Treating glaucoma before it’s too late can definitely prolong your dog’s sight. I wish we had known more about it.
Dottie says
I’m so sorry about Rita’s diagnosis…..hoping that the meds will help keep the pressure down in her eyes. Thinking of y’all…..
Deborah says
I’m so sorry Rita is uncomfortable and will be praying the drops help her. Please stop blaming yourself for any of this. You have done the very best you could with what you knew. That’s all any of us can do. Hindsight is 20/20. She is very lucky to have you and Vince caring for her!! But I agree Vets should be checking this and will talk to mine Thursday!! Thanks for sharing your new knowledge. Deborah
mjcw@earthlink.net says
So sorry you & Rita are going through this! My last Cocker Spaniel got Glacoma in one of her eyes, my vet, at the time was like yours and not very versed in eye diseases in dogs….my poor girls eye was bulging and my vet gave me some salve and had me bring her back 2 days later, no improvement of course so she finally referred me to an eye vet…20 minutes up the road! Her eye pressure was off the charts, at that point the most expensive eye drops did not change her pressure so it was, put her to sleep or remove her eye and she was in such pain! I had to make that decision right then & there, she had just turned 15 and had full blood work/chest X-ray done previous month she was otherwise pretty healthy….we had her eye removed she was feeling so much better about 3 days later, she still had a little sight in the other eye so we continued the drops….she lived to be 18, she was the toughest dog I have ever known! I have another Cocker Spaniel now, new town, new Vet….I have her eye pressure checked at least 1 time a year. Good Luck with Rita’s treatments!
obed101 says
I am so sorry. Dogs are amazingly resilient. They adjust to whatever is dealt them without whining or complaining. We have seen several blind dogs who attach themselves to a seeing companion. Yes, they do know these things too.
Whatever happens now, you really have to know you have given her an amazing home, and you know she would never have made it out there alone.
Diana says
So sorry about Rita’s diagnosis. We have two border collie , cattle dog mixes. One is almost a year old, Will def ck with our vet at his one year ck up. Hugs to you and Rita.
Ranch Wife says
That’s incredibly frustrating – especially knowing that glaucoma is common in Chihuahuas – vet’s ought to be on top of that. Still. I know that Rita ended up with you because God knew you’d give her the best home and love. All of your critters are lucky to have found their home with you and Vince.
Cathi in Texas says
Rita is lucky she chose you & Vince to adopt her. Pooe little thing.
Cilla Tyler says
My agility champion Dachshund developed glaucoma at age 4. Ended her agility career. ER eye specialist relieved the pressure in one eye by (while under anesthesia) inserting a needle to remove fluid causing pressure then inserting needle with antibiotic. No more pain for her. Now the other eye began to cause pain so we opted for removal. She couldn’t see anyway. She was fine after that. No pain and could navigate here and strange homes like she was a bat. I didn’t baby her (even tho my heart told me to but my brain said no….she would be fin) and she was fine. She lived 10 more years like that. She would find stairs in other’s homes, go up yet could not come down. She loved stairs. Agility years? Perhaps. Rita and Speck will keep each other company.
Elaine says
So sorry to hear this……sending hugs Elaine
Lee Young says
Sorry to hear of Rita’s diagnosis and blindness. Not being a dog owner, glaucoma in them is all new to me, so thank you for sharing. We did have a kitty that was blind. She managed quite well. She loved to be out in the sun for awhile each day, and thankfully our back yard was such that she could not get out, and as she couldn’t or wouldn’t jump or climb (trees or fences) we never worried about her being outdoors.
Jan O says
So sorry for what you’re going through with Rita. Years ago we had a black cocker who had glaucoma and lost her sight. She did fine until we moved to a new home where she didn’t know her way around. The veterinary opthalmologist told us that black cocker spaniels are so susceptible to glaucoma that they’re used for medical research. He also told us that glaucoma is very painful and one way dogs indicate they’re in pain is by panting when they’re not trying to cool off. We didn’t realize our Heidi had been suffering. I know you’ll give Rita the best care and she’ll do fine.
montanaclarks says
So sorry to hear about Rita’s eyes. We do love our pooches and I’m glad Rita has you and Vince!
Penny says
I am so sorry about Rita and so very sad. Hugs to all of you!
Jean says
I am so sorry about Rita’s eyes. Bless you – the information you provided may help save another dogs eyes.
Jackie says
Thank you so much for this great information. We have a cairn terrier – one of the breeds on the list – and will discuss this with our vet the next visit. We had two previously and one of them went blind later in life. She wasn’t in any discomfort because it took us a while to figure it out. She’d lived in this house her whole life and we never move furniture around. She knew every inch of the house and yard and defended it while her whole 10 pound self. That said, I’ve never seen my vet use anything to examine my pups eyes so this will be a convo that will be had! thank you!
Terri says
I’m so sorry. Poor Rita, and you all also. Thank you for sharing what you’ve learned.