laara
Junior Grey Lover
Posts: 112
|
Post by laara on Apr 16, 2014 16:45:20 GMT -5
I've just come back from the veterinary eye specialist and it's not good news. Back in May of 2011 Slappy was diagnosed with corneal edema and we treated it with eye drops. The fog was originally in both eyes but the left one cleared up, leaving the right eye foggy. As those of you who have met Slappy know, it is very obvious but never really slowed him down. Our vet checked it when we would go in for checkups but said all was well. In the last couple of months the fog has gotten denser and about a month and a half ago his right eye started swelling, and didn't look right. I went to a new vet who looked at it and referred us to the eye specialist. Today Dr. Quinn examined Slappy and said he has advanced glaucoma. He said his eye is so far damaged he called it an "end-stage eye" and we need to remove it asap. He measured the press in both eyes, the left one was 15 which is in the normal range, the right one was 55! I'm so sad, I feel like such a bad dog mom for not pushing to have it looked at when this first started. My poor boy has had some rough times since we got him, losing most of his tail due to "happy tail" just before we adopted him, then the issues with his gut which took me a while to figure out and now this… I'm scared because of the anesthesia but I don't have a choice here. Dr. Quinn was very reassuring and said that he has done surgery on Greys before so we should be good. I will likely be booking the appt for early next week. Please keep my boy in your thoughts. Sorry for making a novel out of this but I'm very upset...
|
|
|
Post by mustlovedogs on Apr 16, 2014 17:19:17 GMT -5
Oh my goodness, poor Slappy First of all, don't feel like a bad dog momma - our pups are usually very stoic about what ails them, and it's usually an advanced problem by the time we see any symptoms. My little Mac needed a full knee replacement last November and was hardly symptomatic before the diagnosis was made (I felt like such a bad Mom too!). Also, take some comfort in knowing our pups are incredibly adaptable - and I'm sure Slappy will be back to his usual self after a rehabilitation period. It took my Mac about 2 weeks with his new knee, and then he was running circles around me (truly amazing when you consider human recovery time!). I definitely sympathize about your concern regarding the anesthetic...but it sounds like your vet is experienced and Slappy is in excellent hands. Keep us posted, and we'll be thinking of you and Slappy.
|
|
daylight
Hound Nut
what's so funny Light?....Joker!
Posts: 1,275
|
Post by daylight on Apr 16, 2014 20:46:39 GMT -5
I am so very sorry Slappy has to go through this. But as mentioned above, it is amazing how very resilient these pups are and how quickly they adapt and cope. You are a wonderful mom, no doubt about that! Just think how you have been there loving him and helping him through the ordeals he has faced. He's one lucky pup to be in your family for sure. Thoughts and prayers are with you all week. Will be anxiously looking for your follow-up post.
|
|
|
Post by micnmike on Apr 16, 2014 21:44:04 GMT -5
Laara, Our Theo is a patient of Dr. Quinn, I have had aprox. 8 appointments with him in the last year that we adopted Theo. He is a wonderful doctor with an amazing reputation. Slappy is in good hands.
I know it is hard not to blame yourself, I did the same. Bill didn't have his papers or med history when we picked him up from GRA and I didn't notice the swirls of cloudiness in his eyes until a week or so after we had him home. Instead of getting him into my vet asap, I kept calling Bill to see what Ostrander vets had written down. When I did get him to my DVM she said that it was beyond her expertise and referred us to Dr Quinn. Dr Quinn did tell me that, left untreated Theo would have eventually gone blind. Now with some adjustments to meds, Theo is doing much better, his eye disease has halted and some of the crystals have even disappeared. I just want to let you know that there is another grey family here that has had lots of experience with Dr Quinn and has a lot of faith in his knowledge, I hope you find a little comfort in that. All the same, we will be keeping greyt thoughts for your beautiful boy. Please keep us up to date.
|
|
|
Post by Heather (& KC) on Apr 17, 2014 6:05:02 GMT -5
My heart goes out to you. Please don't blame yourself. As mustlovedogs says, they are so stoic. Add to that we trust our doctors (vets and human doctors). I know all too well what it's like to question yourself and wonder what you've missed and what more you could have done. Slappy will come through this and will adapt. You're a wonderful mom and Slappy is lucky to have you.
|
|
scarletta
Grey Lover
On FB as "Onyx Can-Do"
Posts: 537
|
Post by scarletta on Apr 17, 2014 9:55:03 GMT -5
So sorry to hear about Slappy. Positive thoughts for a speedy recovery and easy surgery!
|
|
|
Post by angelollie on Apr 17, 2014 18:02:46 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear about Slappy. I can't add anything that hasn't already been said but I know Slappy will be able to compensate for the loss of his eye and continue to live a normal loving life. Does your vet feel that Slappy's good eye is clear of glaucoma?
We'll be sending good thoughts and prayers for Slappy all next week in regards to his surgery. Please keep us posted .... Hugs to your sweet boy.
|
|
troysmom
Hound Nut
Troy & Leopold
Posts: 1,717
|
Post by troysmom on Apr 17, 2014 20:23:01 GMT -5
Sorry Slappy has to go through this. He has a greta family to take care of him and he will adapt to on eye. Hoping surgery goes well and his other eye remains healthy.
|
|
|
Post by newtothis1 on Apr 18, 2014 17:07:27 GMT -5
Poor Slappy and poor you. I know that you feel bad and feel guilty, but as so many people have said on this post, you are NOT a bad Mum. We all would have trusted what our vet told us and getting that second opinion is not something you think off when you are told things are just fine. My thoughts are with you and Slappy and I just now you will give him the best possible care after the surgery and help him out as much as he needs until he has it all figured out.
Please keep us posted on his progress.
|
|
|
Post by beaandbucks2mom on Apr 18, 2014 18:40:00 GMT -5
There is no-one better than Dr Quinn!!! A few years ago, he helped me with my little cocker spaniel....who had glaucoma also and she lost one eye and then about 8 months later lost the other eye. If one of my greys ahd glaucoma, I would insist on seeing him. He is fabulous...you are in awesome hands!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 21:00:14 GMT -5
LAARA, I have no experience in this area with greyhounds so I'm of no help except to say that as posted above, there is some greyt advice based on what others have experienced. What I can say is, don't waste any precious time beating yourself up about perhaps having missed something earlier. As mentioned above, these dogs are incredibly stoic and most often, you never know they have a problem. It's the nature of the beast and it's why we love them so much. We can certainly learn a lot from them, that's for sure. It sounds like you and Slappy are in very good, experienced hands and you are doing everything you could possibly do. Breath deeply (I keep telling myself that and I don't do it so I insist on telling others to do it) and know that he is in excellent hands and all will be well again. Martha p.s.please do keep us updated.
|
|
laara
Junior Grey Lover
Posts: 112
|
Post by laara on Apr 18, 2014 22:45:50 GMT -5
Thank you all so much for all your support and encouragement. It really means a lot to me. I have booked the appointment for May 2nd, that's when we could get him in, for the surgery to remove his eye. Dr. Quinn said he will also look at his left eye while he is sedated just to make sure there is nothing to worry about there. Fingers crossed that all goes well, I will certainly keep you all updated with Slappy's progress. Thank you again for everything!
|
|
|
Post by beaandbucks2mom on Apr 19, 2014 6:56:29 GMT -5
Laara,
One more thing....your dog's other eye will most likely be fine. It was kind of a fluke that my dog lost her other eye....just a series of unfortunate events that the signs of glaucoma in her other eye were missed...and not missed by Dr. Quinn....he's probably the best vet I have ever met...and I've seen a lot...a neurologist for my Little Buck when he had meningitis (she was awesome)...and now a series of doctors at the Cancer Clinic in Guelph to treat Little Buck and his lymphoma (we caught it early)...they are fabulous too...but Dr. Quinn is AMAZING!!!
|
|
|
Post by linn on Apr 19, 2014 9:43:59 GMT -5
I am sending positive thoughts to Slappy. It sounds like you are in good hands with Dr Quinn. Please keep us updated.
|
|
|
Post by GreyPoopon on Apr 21, 2014 16:34:24 GMT -5
I'm sorry about Slappy's eye. I hope the surgery goes well.
|
|