Male Boston with cataract

by Kay Mathias
(S. Fulton, TN)

My 10 year old Boston male has a cataract in one eye. The local vet says there is nothing I can do unless I want to spend the money to have it removed. We are not financially able to have this done. Has anyone treated their dog for cataracts with any luck or is he destined to be blind in that eye?

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Male Boston with cataract

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Jan 24, 2011
 cataracts and surgery
by: DeAnn

Having gone through the surgery with one Boston and living with one without the surgery for over 10 years I would say don't spend the money and put your dog through the surgery. Especially at their ages. Chances are the surgery won't work. Dogs adapt very well to cataracts and yes they will be pretty much blind. You can medicate, pad your house to help them and they can live very full, happy lives. Mine did. If things complicate and get really bad, your better off just removing the eyes. It sounds horrible but it's less expensive and they recover quickly. I think mine was so relieved to have me stop sticking medicine in her eyes and just let her live. I tried to fix the one Boston and just made things worse for her. The other lived with cataracts without much problem until she got really old. We put pads all over the house and didn't move things around. She got around fine. That's my take on it.
Nov 24, 2010
 cataracts
by: Patty

Hi Kay, my 13 year old Boston Joe Joe, has cataracts too. I've taken him to an ophthalmologist and he's a good candidate for cataract surgery. They must have healthy retinas, good blood flow to the eyes and clear drainage "tracts". HOWEVER, Boston terriers are at risk when they have cataract surgery - more than any other breed. Interocular pressure can build up and they have to have drains put into their eyes if this occurs. There's only one facility in my New England area that does that and it's Tufts University. So, Joe Joe could lose his eyes from the surgery. I've thought about having one eye done but I'm so scared. I don't know what to do. I just want him to be happy during this last span of his life. I need advice from someone who has gone through the surgery.

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