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Cure for my dogs cataracts2007-11-25 3:00:30

My bichon frise is about 12 years old and is almost blind due to cataracts.

The local vet hospital said it would cost $6,000 to fix the problem!

Is there a way to get the surgery done without incurring that kind of expense?

Thanks.

Answers:

I'm afraid that surgery is the only answer. I'm sorry :-(

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I wouldn't have anybody fix my dog's eyes? Maybe there's a cheaper vet. But listen- is the object to b cheap or is the object to have the proceedure done right? I vote : proceedure done right!

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Probably not. It is a pre-exisiting condition so if you bought pet health insurance now it would be excluded from coverage. If there is a vet school near you you might talk to them - they may have research programs or reduced rates for veterinary residents who need to gain surgical experience. Otherwise, you will have to arrange a payment plan or take out a loan.

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I am sorry to hear about your beloved pet.

You did not say where you live. If you live in New York City the ASPCA has an animal hospital. As they are non-profit, the cost is reasonable.

I don't know if you have to be a resident of NYC to get care for your dog. Call them and ask if they can help, or refer you somewhere in your area. (212) 876-7700 ext. 4200.

http://www.aspca.org/site/pageserver?pag.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

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Get a referral to a veterinary eye clinic - they are the only ones properly equipped to perform cataract surgery, which is much the same as human cataract surgery and requires special equipment your general vet will not have. The clinic may be willing to take payments for the surgery. Another option is to have only one eye done, and you can perhaps save some money by not having lens implants. The result will be enough vision for your dog to get around, but as one vet I used to work for would say "He might not be able to read very well and don't let him drive!" There is always the option to let him go blind, as well. Surprisingly, most dogs adapt quite readily to blindness if you take some common sense steps to ensure their safety such as not leaving things laying around and not rearranging the furniture. Dogs depend much more on their senses of smell and hearing since their eyesight is not as good to begin with.