I think Eevee is blind after spay...

J

Jinee1

Forums Regular
Hi everyone,

I am sooooo scared. Eevee was fine until this afternoon, eating, running and playing and all. But all of sudden, this evening, Eevee is bumping into things, can't find the water bowl, can't see the treat unless it's in front of her nose, walking around the house near the walls, stepping onto everything in her way including her water bowl.

I'm suspecting she's blind due to lack of oxygen during anesthesia during the spay. I did a quick research online and there were a lot of cats and dogs who became blind after spay/neuter. Apparently some of them gain their sight back after few months and some don't.

We are taking her to the vet first thing in the morning to confirm. We are totally devastated!!! I thought spaying a dog was a routine thing and Eevee was fine for 5 days. Why all of a sudden is this happening?

My husband I'm divided. We have 5 and 10 year old girls. My husband says he cannot let me care for a blind dog when our kids are still young and requires my attention. I would like to keep her and take care of her. How difficult/different is it taking care of a blind animal? Besides that she can no longer play fetch with us or go running with us, is her quality of life be good enough for us to keep her? Is the quality of life for her so bad that we need to put her to sleep? Any advice is appreciated. I can't stop crying.... I feel soooo bad for getting her spayed...
 
I have never heard of a dog going blind because of a neuter or spay surgery. You said she had trouble coming out of it, I wonder if she wasn't processing the anesthetic they used or if she has an underlying condition that wasn't discovered prior to surgery. I feel so bad for you all. Surgery is never completely without risk but seldom do you have devastating outcomes during a spay on an otherwise healthy animal.

As for blind dogs, I have know a number of them and all of them were able to navigate really well. Of course you can't have them off lead in an unprotected area but they do learn where things are. In fact, I knew a schauzer named Rosie that if you didn't look at her eyes you would never know that she was blind. Her daddies changed the decor in their house on a regular basis and she took it all in stride. When my old girl Meaghan lost her sight at the tender age of 15 she would listen to her own footsteps and navigate across the deck and down the 6 stairs to the dog yard.

I am more concerned that your little girl has had a downward spiral since the surgery. I'm wondering what the spay clinic gave her and how long she was under. When Rhiannon, our Belgian, had her teeth cleaned she almost died. If it wasn't for IV drip that we flushed her with - I insist on IV's whenever my animals are being put under - she wouldn't have made it. It wasn't anything that the clinic did wrong just she was not processing the anesthetic well - a known risk in Belgians.

My prayers are with you and your family as you go through this, especially your little dog. Healing thoughts sent your way.
 
OMG. This is just devastating. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow. I hope to hear a good prognosis. Sending you lots of hugs and doggie kisses from my boys.
 
If she did lose her vision, I would definitely suggest reading up on the threads about Mia (blind & deaf Sheltie) and talking to her mom (Mbfrench).

I remember you mentioned before that she may have a liver shunt due to blood tests? Could that be in some way related to the sudden blindness?


Good luck and keep us up to date!! Kisses for eevee
 
Oh my I am so sorry to hear this. :(

I would think if it was related to the ansethesia, the signs should have been there right afterwards not show up 5 days later after recovery. :confused2: I really hope your vet can get an idea of what is going on tomorrow. Sending good thoughts and prayers.
 
This is so devastating. I am having a hard time finding the right words. I am praying for you and your poor little pup. There is a sheltie forum member who has a blind sheltie. Hopefully she will read this and respond. Again, how awful.
Maybe her sight will come back.
 
Jinee1 said:
Hi everyone,

I am sooooo scared. Eevee was fine until this afternoon, eating, running and playing and all. But all of sudden, this evening, Eevee is bumping into things, can't find the water bowl, can't see the treat unless it's in front of her nose, walking around the house near the walls, stepping onto everything in her way including her water bowl.

I'm suspecting she's blind due to lack of oxygen during anesthesia during the spay. I did a quick research online and there were a lot of cats and dogs who became blind after spay/neuter. Apparently some of them gain their sight back after few months and some don't.

We are taking her to the vet first thing in the morning to confirm. We are totally devastated!!! I thought spaying a dog was a routine thing and Eevee was fine for 5 days. Why all of a sudden is this happening?

My husband I'm divided. We have 5 and 10 year old girls. My husband says he cannot let me care for a blind dog when our kids are still young and requires my attention. I would like to keep her and take care of her. How difficult/different is it taking care of a blind animal? Besides that she can no longer play fetch with us or go running with us, is her quality of life be good enough for us to keep her? Is the quality of life for her so bad that we need to put her to sleep? Any advice is appreciated. I can't stop crying.... I feel soooo bad for getting her spayed...
Click to expand...

I had a miniture poodle who went blind when she was only 7 years old. Dogs are amazingly adaptable. She was just fine as long as we didn't move the furniture around. She was healthy and happy living with our family until she past at age 13. Take a deep breath, talk to your vet and then...do what you have to do to take care of your beautiful sheltie girl. Lots of love....
 
Jinee1 said:
My husband I'm divided. We have 5 and 10 year old girls. My husband says he cannot let me care for a blind dog when our kids are still young and requires my attention.
Click to expand...

Tell your husband to hold his horses until you know what is going on before he gets all medieval on doing your time management for you.

Hopefully it's something temporary that your vet can address.
 
I understand how frightened you must be. I hope your vet can give you some answers about Eevee's sight. I agree with everyone...dogs who lose their sight adapt remarkably well. Since Eevee is young, she'll be even more resilient. Don't give up hope, and please don't give up on Eevee. She needs you now...you're her security and her home.
 
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