Vision Correction

[ArkRescue]

I have a relative that adopted a dog at a shelter with my assistance 4 years ago. The dog was 1 year old (approx.) at the time of adoption. Eric had apparently had some traumatic life experiences prior to ending up at the shelter and has nervousness and fear issues but he is a wonderful companion dog.

Eric has a vision problem so he was taken to the vet, then to an eye specialist. Eric is almost blind and needs surgery that will cost almost $5,000 to correct his vision. Thankfully the relative has the money and is going to get his eyes fixed because as they said, he's ONLY 5 YEARS OLD and felt it would be cruel to force him to live the rest of his life blind since as a small dog he could live another 10 years. I agree and I'm glad they have the money to help Eric.

I wonder how many of us would be able to do the same (or would be willing)? Pet insurance probably wouldn't cover a $5k surgery I bet?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I love my pets, but I would never spend $5K on vision surgery.

 

[ICit]

I wouldnt think pet insur. would cover it.... its a joke any way!

I would have to think long and hard.. .but for 5000... I may not. I would look at spending that if it were life saving or something.... Like if the eye had cancer that would spread...

 

[RareBreed]

I love my pets, but I would never spend $5K on vision surgery.

If I were single with no kids. then maybe I would. But my "people" come first when it comes to things like that. Dog would just have to learn to adapt to being blind.

 

[TurboK9]

Sure, it'll give the owner the warm fuzzies that they really really really love Fido, but Fido isn't going to care. For Fido, nothing really changes. He's a companion animal. He can be blind as a bat and it won't matter. He's going to be happy as long as his owner spends time with him, plays with him, pets him. There are fine, happy, great dogs out there missing limbs, eyes, ears, blind, deaf, dumb as a box of rocks... When are we going to stop humanizing animals and realize that although noble, such an expense is misguided and a huge waste of money?

He can't read, he's a dog. He doesn't need to hunt, etc he's a companion animal. His sense of smell and hearing along with whiskers, etc more than make up for lack of vision from a human perspective. This is nothing but a vet making $$, IMHO.

 

[ICit]

Sure, it'll give the owner the warm fuzzies that they really really really love Fido, but Fido isn't going to care. For Fido, nothing really changes. He's a companion animal. He can be blind as a bat and it won't matter. He's going to be happy as long as his owner spends time with him, plays with him, pets him. There are fine, happy, great dogs out there missing limbs, eyes, ears, blind, deaf, dumb as a box of rocks... When are we going to stop humanizing animals and realize that although noble, such an expense is misguided and a huge waste of money?

He can't read, he's a dog. He doesn't need to hunt, etc he's a companion animal. His sense of smell and hearing along with whiskers, etc more than make up for lack of vision from a human perspective. This is nothing but a vet making $$, IMHO.

!!! stop talking about my dogs like that!!!

you are right... we do treat them like humans... (guilty!) but I do know when to draw the line. Two of my dogs will have top priority of vet treatment procedures over the other two.... they are working dogs and serve a purpose... I have taken them to have their eye certified, I have spent big bucks on one of them at the cardiologist to make sure her heart was ok....

Not that I dont love my other two dogs.... but I would have to be practical about what I would have done to them as they are just pets... and I do live in and with reality as most people I deal with do not!

 

[ArkRescue]

Part of the owner's exercise program is walking, so Eric goes also, so I guess they also want Eric to have his sight for the walks

Sure, it'll give the owner the warm fuzzies that they really really really love Fido, but Fido isn't going to care. For Fido, nothing really changes. He's a companion animal. He can be blind as a bat and it won't matter. He's going to be happy as long as his owner spends time with him, plays with him, pets him. There are fine, happy, great dogs out there missing limbs, eyes, ears, blind, deaf, dumb as a box of rocks... When are we going to stop humanizing animals and realize that although noble, such an expense is misguided and a huge waste of money?

He can't read, he's a dog. He doesn't need to hunt, etc he's a companion animal. His sense of smell and hearing along with whiskers, etc more than make up for lack of vision from a human perspective. This is nothing but a vet making $$, IMHO.

 

[TurboK9]

!!! stop talking about my dogs like that!!!

you are right... we do treat them like humans... (guilty!) but I do know when to draw the line. Two of my dogs will have top priority of vet treatment procedures over the other two.... they are working dogs and serve a purpose... I have taken them to have their eye certified, I have spent big bucks on one of them at the cardiologist to make sure her heart was ok....

Not that I dont love my other two dogs.... but I would have to be practical about what I would have done to them as they are just pets... and I do live in and with reality as most people I deal with do not!

Well, think of this though... the hounds, you use them for scent tracking... imagine if they were half blind, and could see only enough to avoid walking into trees... they would be far less apt to be distracted by visual stimuli, and to make up for the lack of vision, the brain would alot even more to the sense of smell. Your dogs would be smeeling in 3D and stuff.

IMHO, if it doesn't involve pain, I don't screw with it, working dog or not. One of the best bite dogs I ever saw was a 3 legged Mal named 'Bogus', deaf as a post too. Made it tough to call him off, the handler had to circle into his field of vision, LOL. Dogs adapt... in ways that we have forgotten how to.

 

[ICit]

Part of the owner's exercise program is walking, so Eric goes also, so I guess they also want Eric to have his sight for the walks

I know many dogs that dont have their sight and do well on walks and love them.



Where is FF??? her dog just lost sight and has adapted well.

guy I work with has a blind dog... and is like he has never known any different.

I think its more the people who may not be comfortable, or not understand it.

 

[TurboK9]

Part of the owner's exercise program is walking, so Eric goes also, so I guess they also want Eric to have his sight for the walks

Humanizing. Eric isn't going to admiring the world through sight. Eric admires the world through SMELL. He's a dog. His brain alots about 40 times more capacity to his 250 million some odd scent receptors... A dogs olfactory processes in the canine brain take up a portion of their brain mass far in excess of their vision, as does their hearing.

Besides, a good leash is $15 and will keep him from getting hit by cars much more effectively.

 

[ArkRescue]

Well if money was plentiful I'm sure I'd pay for surgery. But considering the rescue work I do, and how limited money is, I think I'd end up with a blind dog. I agree with those who say a dog can have a great life even if blind, however if you have the extra money to fix it, why not? I would.

I wouldnt think pet insur. would cover it.... its a joke any way!

I would have to think long and hard.. .but for 5000... I may not. I would look at spending that if it were life saving or something.... Like if the eye had cancer that would spread...

 

[ICit]

Well, think of this though... the hounds, you use them for scent tracking... imagine if they were half blind, and could see only enough to avoid walking into trees... they would be far less apt to be distracted by visual stimuli, and to make up for the lack of vision, the brain would alot even more to the sense of smell. Your dogs would be smeeling in 3D and stuff.

IMHO, if it doesn't involve pain, I don't screw with it, working dog or not. One of the best bite dogs I ever saw was a 3 legged Mal named 'Bogus', deaf as a post too. Made it tough to call him off, the handler had to circle into his field of vision, LOL. Dogs adapt... in ways that we have forgotten how to.

MSP had a BH that was blind in one eye......


I do like the fact mine will pay attention to traffic... thanks..
they look for lots of things at the eye exam!

 

[ICit]

Well if money was plentiful I'm sure I'd pay for surgery. But considering the rescue work I do, and how limited money is, I think I'd end up with a blind dog. I agree with those who say a dog can have a great life even if blind, however if you have the extra money to fix it, why not? I would.

90% of the time.. if its going blind... and you try to fix it.... it will happen again, or happen in the other eye.

Dogs can live without sight... but cant live if they have a bleeding spleen.... I would use the money for a major issue as such.

 

[ArkRescue]

The vision issue is in both eyes not just one. If Eric had other problems they could afford to fix those too (lucky dog).

90% of the time.. if its going blind... and you try to fix it.... it will happen again, or happen in the other eye.

Dogs can live without sight... but cant live if they have a bleeding spleen.... I would use the money for a major issue as such.

 

[TurboK9]

Well if money was plentiful I'm sure I'd pay for surgery. But considering the rescue work I do, and how limited money is, I think I'd end up with a blind dog. I agree with those who say a dog can have a great life even if blind, however if you have the extra money to fix it, why not? I would.

1) Bad investmest with no real return. The dog doesn't care, it's an emotional reaction, pure and simple. 5K for warm fuzzies?

2) No such thing as 'extra' money, which is why those who believe in 'extra' money never have any. Rich people do NOT believe ANY money is 'extra' which is why they are rich.

3) You will never have 'extra' money.

 

[TurboK9]

MSP had a BH that was blind in one eye......


I do like the fact mine will pay attention to traffic... thanks..
they look for lots of things at the eye exam!

"pay attention to traffic"? Leave it to a Smib to get lost on a highway!!

'Guy's been missing for days. Last seen at the Mall, and is believed to be somewhere along 301, maybe in a shopping center.'

 

[ICit]

"pay attention to traffic"? Leave it to a Smib to get lost on a highway!!

... they were drunk... and crossed the road looking for the liquor store.... ok... so they dont know their left from their right....


but daymn... my dog is smart enough not to walk right out in front of traffic.... he knows the drunk will be drinkin his 10oz bud light and can follow the trail of cans till we find him

 

[ICit]

"pay attention to traffic"? Leave it to a Smib to get lost on a highway!!

'Guy's been missing for days. Last seen at the Mall, and is believed to be somewhere along 301, maybe in a shopping center.'

thats in da hood.. and they are gehtto!

the smib you will be talking about would be leaving Betty Russell's, Back Road Inn, Dew Drop or Toots Bar....... or even the Hole in the Wall and may not be wearing shoes :shrug:

 

[ArkRescue]

Well you will NEVER get people to agree on this topic - never. There are people who will go into debt to do everything they can for their pets, and others who would not. And there is lots of variance in-between too ....... ICit knows ......

People like me WANT to do everything, but realize it's not practical to do so.

Ok so for me to be RICH I have to be sure I never have any EXTRA money? Done.

1) Bad investmest with no real return. The dog doesn't care, it's an emotional reaction, pure and simple. 5K for warm fuzzies?

2) No such thing as 'extra' money, which is why those who believe in 'extra' money never have any. Rich people do NOT believe ANY money is 'extra' which is why they are rich.

3) You will never have 'extra' money.

 

[TurboK9]

Well you will NEVER get people to agree on this topic - never. There are people who will go into debt to do everything they can for their pets, and others who would not. And there is lots of variance in-between too ....... ICit knows ......

People like me WANT to do everything, but realize it's not practical to do so.

Ok so for me to be RICH I have to be sure I never have any EXTRA money? Done.

No. You have to drop that notion that any of your money is 'extra'. It is either a necessary expenditure, or it is banked / invested. It is never 'extra' and frittered away. :shrug:

And yes, never shall there be agreement here. There is nothing to agree on anyway. Either you are smart and 'cold', or you are emotional and full of warm fuzzies. And never the 'twain shall meet. :shrug: