post cataract surgery - now blind not eating

[Jewel2108]

I have a 5 year old peek a poo who's eyes were gettng white looking. Jewel probably had 90% of her vision.  I took her to a EYE specialist vet who said she had retina degeneration which prematurely caused cataracts and she would be blind in 3 months. Jewel went under surgery and was completely lethargic for days after. The eye vet said it was systemic and not the eyes (although she had just had surgery) so I took her to the ER clinic who said she was dehydrated. Four days  post surgery she still is not eating, lethargic and now is acting completely blind. I take her back to the Eye vet who tells me her eye is functioning just like before (so I guess it is all in my mind or my dogs). I take Jewel to other vets who are not eye specialist and they all say I have to take her back to the eye vet. Jewel starts eating a little better - still no dog food - and is completely blind now. Now I am three weeks post surgery and Jewel is back to eating nothing and completely blind. My eye vet doesn't care, says she is the same she was before and isn't trying to find an answer. I can't continue to put her through tests or I will kill her. Before surgery she acted like a puppy running through house chasing the other dogs. Now she just sleeps  - maybe has barked twice and now won't eat. I don't know if it is depression, the eye drops she is still on. I am trying to get another eye vet with the same clinic to see her but he cannot until next week. I wish I had never put her through all this.

[Doreti]

My 5 year old Boerboel went blind a month ago and at the same time lost his ability to chew. He is always hungry and tries to eat but with great effort can only consume some fluid. I substituted his chunks with canned dog food, mashing it in water but still he consumes less than a third of what he needs with great effort. He loved to chew on a hoof but now he ignores it - he ignores any titbits I offer him. Otherwise he acts very normal - likes to go for a walk and runs where it is safe. He went from a good-looking dod to an old dog in a month's time.
I wonder if there is a correlation between the blindness and the disability to chew. The vet told us there is nothing wrong with his eyes. The problem must lie deeper - maybe in the optic nerve.

[Ghilly]

What kind of eye drops does the vet have her on?  Are they cyclosporine drops?

Ghilly

[tazz1]

I was reading about when dogs go blind and I read that constantly trying to show them how to get around and not moving anything helps them find their way.  Also you may want to try and be with her as much as possible and keep trying to reassure her you are there and maybe even trying to hand feed her.  I don't know if you work full time or your situation but it may be the fact she is so frightened because she is blind.  Anyway it may be worth a try to take maybe your next free weekend and constantly be with her her and try to be reassuring etc.  Hope this helps.  Also it may help if you used a dropper to try and give your dog some water by mouth.  

[TwoBitsMom]

I am so sorry to hear about Jewel. You have really been doing your best to try and help her. It is such a shame, that the eye surgery has caused so many problems. I don't really have any knowledge about this type of thing, but hopefully one of the Community Leaders will read this post, and be able to offer some advice.
All I can say, is you are doing the right thing to get her into another eye specialist. I hope that vet, will have some answers for you. Is the appointment early in the week...?  
Please let me know how things go.
In the meantime, do the best you can to get Jewel to eat and drink.
And check back to this post often, as others may reply....
Connie