Taffy the Laffy Samoyed Pictures, eyes
Taff has been diagnosed with rapid onset "Juvenile Cataracts" or "Early Development" cataracts. Taff is almost 3 years old.
Cataracts can be inherited in Samoyeds, good breeders screen their dog with a CERF eye test annually, to read more about CERF testing click here.
For More information on Cataracts in animals see
American College Of Veterinary Ophthalmologists site below
http://www.acvo.org/publicframe.htm
To show how fast this can come on I hunted up some pictures.
below are two pictures of one of the other dogs with Taff when he found us
Above is one of two dogs, possibly female, who were originally with Taff when he found us on 10/16/04 but later disappeared, the blue may be cataracts in eyes, these pictures were taken with a flash. This could be one of Taff's littermates? Mother even, as they were both much larger than Taff. Makes me wonder if Taff has genetic inherited cataracts?
Above pictures taken the night all three showed up in Oct. 2004
Above is Taff on 12/22/06 taken with a flash, note yellow eyes
Above is Taff taken 01/09/07 taken with flash, note blue in eyes
18 days later, this is almost beyond belief!
Taff's eyes without flash 12/30/06
Taff 's eyes with out flash above 01/09/07
Taff's eyes without flash same day as above but natural light from an angle. You can hardly see the blue with the bare eyes in natural light unless you get the light at the right angle.
Check back for updates, we have been referred to eye specialist who we will see-01/23/07 We will post more info as we find out more.
At the present time I do not believe he has much in the way of impaired vision, he seems fine.
Here is Taff on Day 21 since we saw the blue appear, both photos taken with flash, the one eye appears to have some light getting through as it is yellow when I use the flash, the other is getting cloudier, you can almost see it in the daylight. It still appears his vision is not effected to any degree as he runs up and down steps? He has no redness, swelling or drainage from his eyes.
Jan 16th, It appears the one eye is not reflecting any light at all but the other does not seem to be getting any worse and still reflects yellow under flash from a distance, maybe the rapid onset has stopped.
Jan 26,2007 you can see his left eye is not getting any light in at all, the right one is, but at an angle you can see above it has some cataract blue showing too. He is now showing signs of definite vision impairment. Taff has been diagnosed as having cataracts in both eyes, one is more advanced than the other, he is currently getting eye drops for the next 30 days when we return to the eye specialist.
Above are pictures in natural light, you can see the blue now in both eyes.
Taff had successful cataract surgery on March 8, 2007, but could not get a replacement lens implanted due to complications, he can see from that eye again but is farsighted, we are so happy he has regained his sight:)
Here is Taff's eye 3 days after the surgery, his eye was shaved and his skin is a mottled pink and grey his eye looks great and he definitely shows signs of vision in that eye. Taff is on several eye and oral medications 4 times a day.
Taff's eye is healing fine, but his collar has a boo-boo so it is duct taped:)
Here is Taff one month after surgery, his eye appears to be fine and his vision is much improved:)
Update: May 3, 2007:
Taff has been released to resume normal activities except tug of war and anything that involves head shaking, he is off all meds he vision has been restored in his repaired eye and the cataract in the other eye has not changed but we will be watching it, he still has vision in that eye.
UPDATE: 12/26/2007
12/26/2007 Taff was operated on today to remove the cataract in his right eye that you can see above, the operation was a success and he was able to get a replacement lens, once again we are grateful to Dr. Keller and her staff for restoring Taff's vision.
We would like to send a special thanks to
Rachel L. Keller DVM and her staff at
the Animal Eye Clinic of Pittsburgh LLC
who's excellent and skilled care restored Taff 's sight.
You can visit their site below
Thank you all sincerely-Mary, Charlie and Taffy