Sudden blindness in a cocker spaniel

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west_meon

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This morning our two year old cocker got up same as normal. We got kit ready for a days beating and he trotted out to the car and jumped in. 45 minutes later when he got out of the car he was unable to see - kept bumping into people and was very bewildered. Both pupils were very enlarged to the point that you couldn't see any iris at all. Rushed him to the vet who said that, ruling out any sever head injury, and all other aspects being normal (temperature ok, blood pressure slightly raised but not severe, eye pressure ok, no internal eye damage) he could find no real cause, but the poor chap is unable to see anything. Otherwise he seems normal and happy, just very confused.

He was on metacam (anti inflammatory) for a scratched eye but that had pretty much healed.

Has anyone else ever come across this? Could it be a negative reaction to the metacam or something else entirely? Eye issues are not listed as a side effect.

Many thanks.
 
Happened to my mate’s Alsatian. Came back a week later with no treatment. We were sympathetic but it was still funny bumping into things.
 
One of our labs had the same happen, turned out to be sudden onset of glaucoma. Pressure in eyes was immense when the vet checked it. Sadly we had to have her put to speed as we wouldn’t let her suffer.
 
I would suggest you ask your vet for a referral to a vets that offers advanced ophthalmic investigations / treatments ie a referral centre where an ERG can be run.
There could be a number of causes, but if bilateral a distinct possibility could be SARDS, which if it is unfortunately there is a not a lot that can be done.
 
Not long ago i put a post up about my terrier that had a problem with his leg

He was in the wars again as went completely blind over a couple of days about a month ago

Took to vet who confirmed blind i asked for a referal to Optivet in the hope something could be done who are based at Portsmouth

They were fantastic and after a thorough examination confirmed SARDS at which point there is nothing further can be done

Broke my heart but his resilience and zest for life are still as strong as ever so were both adjusting to a new life together.
 
west_meon said:
This morning our two year old cocker got up same as normal. We got kit ready for a days beating and he trotted out to the car and jumped in. 45 minutes later when he got out of the car he was unable to see - kept bumping into people and was very bewildered. Both pupils were very enlarged to the point that you couldn't see any iris at all. Rushed him to the vet who said that, ruling out any sever head injury, and all other aspects being normal (temperature ok, blood pressure slightly raised but not severe, eye pressure ok, no internal eye damage) he could find no real cause, but the poor chap is unable to see anything. Otherwise he seems normal and happy, just very confused.

He was on metacam (anti inflammatory) for a scratched eye but that had pretty much healed.

Has anyone else ever come across this? Could it be a negative reaction to the metacam or something else entirely? Eye issues are not listed as a side effect.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
How's he doing?
I doubt it's the metacam as a side effect and good that the eye pressures were checked as glaucoma is one I'd want to rule out.
 
Buchan said:
How's he doing?
I doubt it's the metacam as a side effect and good that the eye pressures were checked as glaucoma is one I'd want to rule out.
Click to expand...
Thank you for asking.
He seems fine in himself, just a bit down - probably more from confusion than anything else. Doesn't appear to be in any discomfort, and no discharge from his eyes at all. Eye pressure was up slightly, but the vet thought that this was solely due to the slightly raised blood pressure, and the rise wasn't severe so not glaucoma. Looking in the eyes, he could see no damage or bleeds, and retina appeared perfectly normal so SARDS seemed unlikely at this point. It is the suddenness of it that is baffling. On Thursday he was beating, and clearly watching partridges flicking out of the heather and bracken, and neatly navigated his way to the car yesterday morning around other vehicles/gates. The vet felt that the eyes may be working normally but the brain isn't registering any input, hence the brain thinking it is dark and opening the iris right up...but no sign of any other brain related symptoms such as paralysis etc.
 
west_meon said:
Thank you for asking.
He seems fine in himself, just a bit down - probably more from confusion than anything else. Doesn't appear to be in any discomfort, and no discharge from his eyes at all. Eye pressure was up slightly, but the vet thought that this was solely due to the slightly raised blood pressure, and the rise wasn't severe so not glaucoma. Looking in the eyes, he could see no damage or bleeds, and retina appeared perfectly normal so SARDS seemed unlikely at this point. It is the suddenness of it that is baffling. On Thursday he was beating, and clearly watching partridges flicking out of the heather and bracken, and neatly navigated his way to the car yesterday morning around other vehicles/gates. The vet felt that the eyes may be working normally but the brain isn't registering any input, hence the brain thinking it is dark and opening the iris right up...but no sign of any other brain related symptoms such as paralysis etc.
Click to expand...
Read this with my 3 cockers siting still for 2mins. Give him a pat from Essex atb
Tim
 
I was caught by the 'I will refer you to my friend who's a specialist in this' routine.
I sat the Cocker down who had the same problem as above, the vet looked into each eye with his scope.
'Yes, not much we can do there; don't breed from him'.
The examination lasted no longer than 1 minute.
£200 pound later, I'm a sceptic for referrals to friends who are experts.
 
Buchan said:
How's he doing?
I doubt it's the metacam as a side effect and good that the eye pressures were checked as glaucoma is one I'd want to rule out.
Click to expand...
Some of the symptoms could be similar to SARDS, but is this likely in a dog just under 2 years old? I know nothing is impossible, but I gather the average age for SARDS to develop is 8-10.
 
With a sudden onset blindness, you'd expect something like retinal detachment - which if the retina is normal is unlikely, or a bleed affecting the visual cortex - or around the optic nerves. The SARDS thing is a new one to me, but I feel that although called "sudden" it's actually progressive, but I'm speculating here. Other options - did they run bloods as a hypoglycaemia could do this. prolapsed lens occurs, but very odd to be in both eyes. Or, he's taken a real whack to the eye (but a closed eye) while beating and the pain is causing severe dilation, so severe that he can't focus. This sis seen in squash players apparently. In dogs we usually see severe pain as a very constricted pupil.
 
They have taken bloods for testing. He did have a biggish scratch on one eye about 8-10 days before the blindness, and hence the metacam and eye drops but only in that eye and it had pretty much sorted itself out before the blindness started. Unless whatever caused that scratch also involved a concussion (and his eye socket/surround did swell) and a bleed around the optic nerve, would the blindness occur after that much delay, and in both eyes? He doesn't appear in any pain, and other than not being able to see he is behaving normally. ref the hypoglycaemia, he is a very active spaniel and carries very little spare weight (we have to fed him 3 times a day to keep the muscle on him).
 
Last edited:
west_meon said:
Is blindness resulting from hypoglycaemia recoverable?
Click to expand...
There was a phase of concern in working dogs that were collapsing and fitting - turn out to be exertional hypoglycaemia. I've had a temporary poor sight when I used to do a lot of competitive running. so it's a bit of speculation
 
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