Hey all...

I know I don't post much about my kids, and yes I KNOW we need updated pictures, but I thought I'd take a minute to post about Hailey just in case it helps someone else.

Since we got her, we've noticed a few things:
1. She runs into walls more than any other dog I know.
2. She seems to whack her head on everything.
3. She doesn't respond to a lot of visual cues and responds MUCH better to voice commands (but she's still dumb as a box of rocks, lol-- poor girl).
4. She has created her own doggy-door out of our sliding screen door. She's popped the screen from the frame and goes through a flap she has created.

Anyway... as she slowly learns tricks, we didn't think anything of her not being able to learn "Catch it!" (Literally throwing something up in the air and having her catch it). We thought she was just dumb (cause for other reasons, she really is even though she's the sweetest dog in the history of the world). However, I started noticing that when I said "Catch it!" and threw the treat in the air, she wouldn't look at it. She sort of stared straight forward and then moved her head/mouth to try and catch it. That got me thinking... she isn't looking. She's listening and timing things. That's when I realized she was acting like a blind dog.

Since it doesn't affect her super much, I didn't make a separate appointment. However, we went recently for a minor skin infection (before we reinforced the koi pond fence, she was getting in and getting wet-- it caused some surface skin infections) and I asked the vet.

Turns out my hunch was right. Hailey has fairly bad cataracts in both eyes (pretty much confirms my BYB theory, I think, on her). She can still see, but directly in the center of each pupil are large shaded spots where she can't see. The vet showed me. It was pretty cool to look at-- looks like ice crystals in her pupils.

So what to do? It's not bad enough that he'd suggest surgery, but we could go that route. We honestly wouldn't though unless it were affecting her quality of life a ton and right now it's not. We do need to have the vet check it everytime she goes in for an appt now to make sure it's not getting worse though.

Anyway... that's what's up with this poor little girl. She seriously has more issues than Koda by FAR, a result of some pretty irresponsible breeding if you ask me. But, she's well loved and cared for and we wouldn't trade the sweetest dog in the history of the world for anything

Just thought I'd share. Here's a picture of the little princess for good measure:

Sorry to hear that Tori! At least she has you guys to love and take care of her hopefully it doesn't get worse, she's adorable.

Aw poor Hailey

She's Beautiful Tori. I am so sorry to hear about this. If you don't mind me asking who were the breeders? I realize I have no idea where your two came from!

I'm sorry to hear that Tori. I'm glad it doesn't affect her too much in daily life - isn't she a trooper?! She's really cute too.

It's amazing how dogs can adapt to changes like that! I'd freak out if I couldn't see clearly! I hope that her cataracts don't get any worse. That picture of her is adorable! I bet she's an awesome, furry pillow.

I understand exactly where you're coming from Tori. Demon has cataracts too and has since he was about 8 months old. We took him to a specialist and everything but decided that since he's a happy pup and not suffering from it, we'd hold off on surgery as well. I'm glad Hailey isn't suffering too much from it as well.

mheath0429 wrote:

She's Beautiful Tori. I am so sorry to hear about this. If you don't mind me asking who were the breeders? I realize I have no idea where your two came from!

They were both rescues from private families. Koda was a rescue referral. A family contacted the rescue we were working with wanting to surrender Koda, but the rescue we were working with at the time had a horrible leader and turned these people off from even using them. After the rescue had told us Koda would be ours, the family backed out, and this was the 3rd time we were losing a potential adoption. So I got the contact information for Koda's owners and left them a message that told her about John and I. After leaving her the message, she called me in tears saying we sounded just like her and her husband when they were younger and Koda was ours if we wanted him. Koda was our first dog and first husky. He had been a stray for a few months, picked up by a shelter at the tip of someone who wanted him, that person never returned and his former owners were next on the list. They had him for about 3-4 months when they had to surrender because they had two other dogs that Koda didn't mesh with.

Hailey we got after having Koda for 2 years. We tried to go through 3-4 other rescues but they claimed we were too far to adopt to or didn't have a fenced in yard (even though we were raising Koda just fine without one) and we refused to go through the same rescue we got Koda from (told you that guy was a dick). So my SIL called me saying she was at a local animal shelter and there was a husky girl there that looked perfect. We went and she was the sweetest thing. After a week or two, we were allowed to go pick her up (she'd been at the shelter for over a month) and the day I was supposed to get her, the previous owners came back to claim her. This had been over the holidays and I guess the owners were on vacation and the person pet sitting didn't tell them that the dog had gotten loose and was missing. They came home to no dog, went frantic calling shelters within 20 miles of their house and found her (she was 15 miles away from home). However, the shelter guy liked us so much that when he got another call that day, he called us. A family down the street wanted to surrender their husky (Hailey). She was kept in an outdoor pen her whole life with a cocker spaniel and kept getting loose. The shelter picked her up more than a dozen times. Even took the family to court to have her taken, but the family won. Well, this time they wanted to give her up. So we went to take a look at her. John walked into their house, Hailey came up, licked his face, and rolled on her back. We took her home that day. The family didn't want her.

Anyway... we have no papers, but they claimed they had Hailey from a puppy and bought her from a breeder. They were hispanic and didn't speak great English though so we really have no idea when or where she came from. We just assumed.

Long stories, I know, but that's how we got both ours. Adoptions. And free.

It's sad to hear Hailey has cataracts, however, Hailey has a great home with you now and is well taken care of and completely loved! I know you will do anything and everything in her best interest to give her the quality of life she deserves!

Awww, so sorry for Hailey but sounds like she just thinks it's normal and adapts. Good thing that she's with you now!

Love the pic - what a pretty girl!

Aww so sorry to hear abiout Hailey's eyes.

I know that she will do real well with you guys taking care of her.

Great stories Tori. I'm glad you have them

Hailey can and will adjust superbly as time goes even if she loses all her sight. Just won't be able to rearrange the furniture to often.

I have a very high interest in your situation as much of what you said I've noticed with BIko. Since I've had him I've been telling Beth that his eyesight isn't near as good as Adobo's. He has more then made up for it with a superb nose tho. Often times Adobo will spot something off in a distance but then when we arrive near what she saw she can't find it, then Biko takes over and sniff out what ever had her attention.

Posted from Pet MD:
Health

The Siberian Husky, with a life span of 11 to 13 years, may suffer from minor health problems such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, ----->> cataract, and corneal dystrophy.<<----- To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run thyroid, hip, and eye exams on the dog.

http://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_siberian_husky#.UEEyZ8FlSSo

Hailey is a beautiful girl.
I'm glad you are her human mom, Tori.

Sorry to hear about Hailey's eyes at least now you know and can plan for her future and future care if you were to do something about fixing the eyes. I NEED to take sierra in for her eyes but i know they are not cataracts, well thats what 2 vets have told me so we need to go to the eye doc to figure out what is up. We are all just in-tune with our pups and the slightest things we tend to pick up on, when our guts start thinking something is up most of the time something is up, its what we all do/feel that make us all the great dog/ husky owners that we are. she is a super sweet girl and is lucky to have you caring for her now! now please post more pictures!!!

Poor girl! Well as long as it doesn't get too bad! One of my mom's old dogs is completely blind now and the poor thing runs into things all the time. But he's so old, we figure surgery would be too much for him.

BTW, for others who want to have their dog's eyes checked. AKC dog shows often have eye clinics and for around $25-35 you can get your dog's eyes checked. You just have to check in the show's premium (give info about the show) and see if they are having a clinic.

Maybe Koda can be Hailey's service dog in time helping her out.

Tori, boy do we know the cataracts problems. We have 2 cats with them. One is far worse since she is 16 and diabetic. She had been doing amazing though, despite the vision problems. Her health problems cause many more issues than her eyes. We honestly think we will lose her before She loses all eyesight
My biggest recommendation is that you maintain routine as much as possible for her, as well, try not to move any furniture. We had a world of problems when we moved her litter box. But Hailey will be fine if you guys can Just adapt as her eyesight deteriorates.
Hope this helps.
Kelly

Just catching up on this! That really sucks Tori BUT it's not affecting her life, she's happy, and has loving fur-parents and an awesome brother!

I have a co-worker whose husky went blind at about 8. He's always telling me how shocked he is that he's done so well. Knows his way around the house and does great on walks. Only thing is that he can't be around other dogs b/c he gets very defensive. Can't blame the poor boy. Plus, he's been an only dog all of his life.

Hailey is just adorable!!! You MUST post more pics of her and Koda!

Koda wrote:

Since we got her, we've noticed a few things:
1. She runs into walls more than any other dog I know.
2. She seems to whack her head on everything.

My Husky does this all the time!