Quote: Kristi Salinas

.... I was given the option of seeing a specialist. My vet states that cataract surgery does not completely correct the vision.

I cannot imagine a situation more pressing for specialist consultation than this. This is not something that GP vets are up on the current treatments for, nor should we expect them to be.

I am so sorry. What a thing to discover.

 Quote: Kristi Salinas

I think the vet was just letting it all sink in and in fact she was pretty surprized herself. ... I already have a referral ...

NOTHING against your vet, because again, this is why vets specialize, but this is why you need a specialist. This is so common in your breed that for the vet to have been surprised or not actively checking for it it points up why Melissa is urging you to follow up on that referral.

And shame on that breeder. This is just one more example of the tragedies of casual breeding. The registries are in place and there is zero excuse for this. Shame on her.

QUOTE: All buyers of Siberian puppies should insist on seeing the eye registry papers or eye examination results of both parents. This eye examination should be current and completed within one year of the breeding. If the breeder cannot supply the proper documentation, look elsewhere for a puppy. Juvenile cataracts cannot be underestimated in this breed. END
from http://www.siberianhuskyhealthfoundation.org/health_cataracts.asp

I have started using a new vet because she is aholistic vet and because she is a lot cheaper than the others I have used who order and charge for everything. It was her first time to see the dog. However she offered the referral but she was somewhat hesitant I think because the optho she uses often tells her that there is nothing wrong. At least that is the impression I got. She is a pretty cautious lady, actually. She was happy to make the referral and did it right away. I asked after reading up and realizing that cataracts might not be the only problem. Sever cataracts can cause glaucoma. Basically, she needs to see the ophtho. However, if everything turns out OK then that is great and if things are in watch and wait mode I have the holistic medicine treatments to consider.

As for my pick of dog...well, I now that AKC gives a disclaimor about the breeders it advertises but I guess that still made me think she was OK. Yeah, I learned my lesson.

When I got my golden I was much more nformed and cautious. There is a golden in my neighborhood that reportedly had to have hip surgeries at 4 months of age. That freaked me out and I shelled out a lot more cash without regret as I got one with multiple health certifications in parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and with multiple champions in his blood lines as well. The breeder was terrific. She was very open about her breeding program and had me fill out a lengthy application and interviewed me for quite some time. She did share with me that one of her dogs has hemagiosarcoma (very lucky to be cutaneous.) She was very honest about the cancer risk for goldens.

I am learning and, like I said, I still a very sweet albeit less than perfect little husky. Cheaper is not always better although price wasn't really the reason I picked her. I am not sure there are that many truly high quality huskies in the south compared to the number of husky breeders that are less than particular about their breeding program. There is probably a good reason for that.

Interestingly I can't seem to get in contact with the breeder. So, for anyone out there, avoid getting Siberian from Crystal Young of Denver, CO. Statistically speaking there should be other offspring with juvenile cataracts from her litters. I wonder if she knows...

We have an appointment with Dr. Bonney, canine eye specialist on July 2nd.

I am trying to quell my general distrust of allopathic medicine. It is not all completely rational.

Wish us well!

Congenital cataracts, not juvenile. Per vet, they were there at birth very small and I just have a very observant vet who managed to pick up on them.

Slowly progressive, no further care unless problems develop. Come back only when I feel that I need to.

That's very good news.

Out of curiosity how does she know it's congenital and not juvenile? I'm sure there is a difference in how they appear but I wasn't sure what the usual progression is.

Great news! That's what I have, and exactly what the doctor said; no one ever noticed it before one super-observant doc found it. Present at birth, no doubt, but causes me no issues and probably won't until I am quite old. Weird that I wondered that when you first posted this.

Glad she doesn't have to go through what my poor old dog did. YAY!

The eye vet said that the diagnosis was made from the location of the cataract.

I am glad for my girl. The last thing we need is a blind ball of energy. (Or a post eye surgery ball of energy.)

What I can't find is info on the likelihood of inheritance. I think it is less clear ni most breeds and that infection and toxins can also play a role.