Tears at What Woman Gives up To Save Her Dog's Sight: 'Worth It'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
A woman has moved millions online after paying thousands of dollars to restore her dog's vision.
Patricia Vo (@patriciaivyvo), a 25-year-old photographer from Arizona, first noticed something off when she saw a tiny cloudy speck—smaller than a grain of rice—in her Yorkie, Chanel's eye.
"I didn't want to worry my mom so I didn't raise her awareness to it for awhile. Then my mom eventually noticed it herself and was super worried that it could be interfering with her vision. I brought it up to her vet and they said it was some lipid or mineral deposits building up due to us feeding her somewhat of a higher fat diet," Vo told Newsweek.
The vet prescribed eye drops to break up the deposits, and they cut fatty foods from the dog's diet—most heartbreakingly, her favorite treat: chicken skin.
A split image of Chanel the Yorkie before and after surgery.
A split image of Chanel the Yorkie before and after surgery.
@patriciaivyvo/@patriciaivyvo
Still, the family remained concerned and took her to a veterinary ophthalmologist. There, she was diagnosed with early-stage cataracts in both eyes, in addition to the existing mineral deposits. Since she was young at the time, surgery wasn't recommended right away. But as the years passed, the cataracts progressed and her vision began to deteriorate.
"We noticed she was slowly losing her vision due to the cataracts building this cloudy film over her eyes. We knew the cataracts had taken over her eyes when she was unable to go downstairs by herself, couldn't hop off our bed by using the little steps we set up for her, when we threw her toy and it was somewhat close to her, she would have no idea where it was thrown. Her quality of life wasn't the same and she would just sleep so much throughout the day and not have much of her fun personality," Vo said.
Eventually, they opted for surgery—an $8,000 procedure to remove the cataracts from both eyes.
A video of the now 7-year-old Yorkie recovering and enjoying a dog-friendly ice cream post-surgery captured hearts on TikTok, where it has racked up 4 million views.
"I'll definitely have to calibrate my expenses to make this work but it is definitely worth it to me since she's still very young and deserves the chance to enjoy more of her life," Vo added.
According to PDSA, cataracts in dogs are a cloudy layer that forms on the lens of the eye, stopping light from reaching the back of the eye and leading to blurred vision or even blindness. Common causes include aging, diabetes, genetics, or trauma. In some cases, surgery can be performed to remove the cataract and insert a new lens to restore sight.
Vo explained that prior to the operation, her dog required five different types of eye drops—two of which had to be applied four times daily, and another two, twice a day. After surgery, the drops had to continue.
Her dog's facial hair, including eyelashes, was shaved, and surgeons made two small incisions at the sides of her eyes to access the retina.
One eye received a lens implant to help her see up close, while the other was left without one, giving her distance vision of three feet and beyond. The dog also had to attend four follow-up appointments to monitor inflammation, and three weeks after the surgery, the sutures were removed, revealing her big, round eyes—just like when she was a puppy. Vo described that moment as very special.
In reflecting on the journey, Vo said that while dogs can survive without sight and adapt well, she wanted her beloved companion to thrive.
"In the grand scheme of things, she definitely could have survived without her vision and can adapt bc ultimately they just care about how much they love you and want you to be happy. But I wanted to do this for her even if it'll be tough financially for me for a while. She's the most obedient, gentle, and loving dog (compared to my boy dog, Louie).
"Seeing her have the confidence to go down the stairs without hesitation, fight back for her toys from her little brother, not be trapped on our bed while needing to use the bathroom anymore—it's been incredibly fulfilling to see the surgery bring her personality and confidence back. I am confident that with this positive change, her quality of life will ensure that she's able to live longer since she's able to actually enjoy her life and see everything around her and not feel left out like before!"
TikTok users were deeply touched by Vo's dedication.
"There is a special place in heaven for you," one person wrote.
"I had a yorkie and I got him the cataract surgery. He lives for three more years being able to see. Today is his three year anniversary of his passing. I'd like to think this video is from him," shared Leanna.
"It's cool, just a grown man trying not to cry in front of his coworkers at lunch," added Eric.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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