A PSA (Pet Safety Annoucement)

3/6/2014

We adopted Danger when he was a puppy. We couldn't resist him. Mike, Dulce and I went to "just look" at him,and he came home with us that same afternoon. It was love at first sight.

He wasn't so sure about us in the beginning. He was unpredictable and a bit surly. He most definitely has a strong insubordinate streak. But, in time, he accepted us as his pack. We don't have any human children, but our dogs are our babies, and the four of us are very strongly bonded. We're inseparable.

Over the years, Danger has appeared to be the picture of health. He has always passed every test at his annual vet exams and he has never complained or shown signs of illness- which, in part, is why we are so devastated to learn that Danger has glaucoma.

Glaucoma is caused when there is an increase in pressure within the eye due to an impairment of aqueous humor outflow. In dogs, the effects of glaucoma are far more immediate and severe than they are in humans. Often, by the time the condition is discovered, irreversible vision loss has occurred.

Glaucoma is very painful. The buildup of pressure inside the eye causes persistent migraine-like symptoms which do no dissipate. In dogs, Glaucoma is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY that requires immediate attention.

We had never been told about the warning signs of glaucoma or any related diseases of the eye. We didn't notice the subtle changes that had started to happen. We didn't know to take him to the vet until my sister-in-law, who has had previous experience with a glautomatous dog, mentioned to us that she thought we should have Danger's eyes looked at. He had large pupils, and when the light hit his eyes, you could see a haze covering the surface of his eyeball.

Danger's ophthalmologist has diagnosed him with primary glaucoma, a congenital condition. She explained that Danger has probably had abnormal pressure in his eyes since he was born. And, because it was left untreated for the last five years, it has progressed. In what seems like a flash Danger went from having fully functional sight to having lost complete vision in his left eye and a high percentage of the vision in his right eye. It is a terrible feeling to know there is nothing we can do to reverse the damage that has been done, and we can never take back the pain that he shouldered while this disease progressed.

Please, please, if you have a pet who you hold dear to your heart, learn from Danger. Be better than us. If we had known then what we know now, we likely could have treated Danger's glaucoma years ago and delayed the onset of vision loss. Most certainly, we could have spared him suffering.

Please educate yourself. Please seek immediate attention for your furry friends if your companion starts to exhibit any signs including:

Redness of the blood vessels in the whites of eyes
Cloudy appearance at front of the eye
Inflammatory debris visible in the front of the eye- often glaucoma is initially mistaken for allergies
Possible constriction or dilation of the pupil
Possible sticking of the iris to either the cornea or the lens
Possible that the edge of the iris circularly sticks to the lens
Loss of appetite
Change in personality or mood
Failure of the pupil to respond to light
Enlargement of the eye
Sensitivity to light

These symptoms may not be overtly obvious. So keep watch for anything unusual. Your furry friends cannot tell you when something is wrong, and they are counting on you to care for and do what's best for them. More information can be found online or by talking to your veterinarian. If you have any concern your pet may have glaucoma, ask your veterinarian to perform tests with a tonometer. This test should be readily available at your clinicians office and it is not invasive or expensive.

We have a lot of emotions about our experience with Danger's diagnostic process. We are angry that we didn't know better. We are sad that he has suffered a huge loss. We are heartbroken that we didn't stop the pain sooner. But, we are also hopeful that veterinary medicine will continue to progress toward reversing the damage this disease causes. We are happy to see him more relaxed and comfortable now that we have started managing his symptoms with medication. We are confident that Danger will learn to adjust and continue to be the happy and lovable pup we've come to adore. And I am certain that our bond will continue to grow as we work through this new challenge.

17 Comments

tanyamaile link

3/6/2014 11:09:19 pm

So sorry about Danger. It seems like your vet should have caught it, though, with his routine exams. All three of our Border Collies (ages 11-15) have cataracts. Not nearly as severe as glaucoma, but it impairs them. Especially paired with the oldest two who are nearly deaf. Hoping that Danger starts to feel better!

Michelle link

3/7/2014 01:29:46 am

Thank you, Danger seems to be feeling MUCH better. These events are still recent, and we're noticing more recovery and rebound each day. It's hard not to be angry with his vet for not catching this, but we can't hold her any more responsible than we do ourselves. We just hope somebody might read this and know better before it's too late to do more for their pet(s). It's comforting to know other people have pets who are getting on well with disabilities. He's got a lot of years ahead and we want them to be good ones!

Chris

3/7/2014 01:19:48 am

So sorry to hear of Danger's medical issues. With two well loved pups in our house, I can imagine your sorrow. I will be watching my pups and talking to the vet to ensure we don't see the same issue here. Just continue to love him, he holds no emotions towards you for this, so don't beat yourself up over it.

3/7/2014 01:35:43 am

Thanks for your reassurance, Chris. I hope that you never need to treat your babies for glaucoma but identifying symptoms as early as possible is the best chance to stop the side effects before damage sets!

katie metzroth link

3/7/2014 04:58:30 am

I'm so sorry for all ya'll! I'm glad he is at least starting to feel better. Thanks for sharing what I know was a painful thing for you to help others!

3/7/2014 06:14:51 am

We're never going to let ourselves live this down. Sharing our experience is the best way we can feel like we're doing right. Danger is feeling a lot better already. He shocked us last night and was running figure eights around the bushes in the back yard. We have no idea how he was able to navigate them, but he did. It's a good sign for things to come.

Meg link

3/7/2014 06:08:16 am

Dearest, I'm so sorry to hear about Danger's condition. I'm glad that the vet was able to stabilize the pressure and he's starting to feel better. My thoughts and hugs are with all of you, and thanks for sharing this with all of us.

3/7/2014 06:27:23 am

Thank you for your hugs and thoughts. Having him feel better and keeping his pressure down is our main goal. Hopefully, he continues to respond well!

Sarah C.

3/7/2014 06:15:24 am

I am so sorry to learn that your family is hurting. I think it is wonderful that you are spreading the word about a health issue that can affect so many animals, and hooray for Danger feeling so much better!

You will no doubt hear about other animals and families who have gone through similar experiences, which I recognize is not always helpful since every situation is unique, yet I cannot help but chime in with Macy's story. We have two adorable senior dogs whom we adore, but we also foster on occasion, and Macy was a foster to remember.

She came to us after having been dropped at a shelter hundreds of miles away. She was in disastrous pain and was completely blind from glaucoma. One of her eyes was bulging to such an extreme that you worried what might happen if she knocked into something.

We ushered her through two surgeries, not with any hope of returning her sight, but simply to alleviate the pain. I had no experience with blind dogs at all, and immediately I was amazed. She simply took everything in stride. Whenever she was someplace new, she would do a "perimeter check," just getting the lay of the land, and then she would settle in next to me.

Macy taught me so much in the months that she lived with us. I would be devastated to lose my sight, but not seeing did not phase her at all. All she wanted in life was to love her people. She trundled along happily, thrilled to embrace each day and its possibility of adventures. Too often at first, I would focus on my own perceptions and make decisions accordingly, but I soon realized I just needed to think of things from her perspective. The biggest example? It was no surprise that she liked to explore the yard, but I was shocked to find that Macy LOVED going on walks on lead! I had worried that she would just run into everything and feel trapped by the lead, but I could not have been more wrong. Sidewalks, the park, the woods, the city, the country...she loved it all. She pranced along with a glow about her, easily navigating around things without a care in the world.

Macy was adopted by an amazing family, and I am lucky enough still to know her. To say that she is the most confident dog I know would be an understatement. She SHINES with radiance. People cannot believe that she is blind when they meet her. It really is Macy's world, and we are all simply living in it. I will always hold a special place in my heart for her.

Obviously, Danger is not in the same situation as he still has some vision, but I would say that an even bigger difference is that he has long had such a loving home with you. Just as with people, all dogs adjust to situations differently, but your love will help him to live a fabulous life, no matter what comes his way!

(And apologies for the length of this comment. I get a little carried away when talking about Macy, but I tell her story in the hope of sharing some joy!)

3/7/2014 06:25:38 am

THANK YOU! Macy's story is exactly the sort of story we need. Like you did with Macy, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about Danger's condition from my own point of view. All we want is for him to be happy! We are already starting to notice that he is beginning to resume activity now that his pressure is under control. Last night, he was running around the yard playing with his sister. It was really nice to see.

If you have any tips on toys or games, suggestions on training, etc.. we would LOVE to hear about them. This is a completely new experience for us and we welcome the help and stories like Macy's!

3/8/2014 06:50:47 am

Running around with his sister? Wonderful! Dogs can be so resilient, and I am constantly amazed by their ability to handle life with such grace.

I am not an expert, and I do not claim any brilliant insight or knowledge when it comes to what to do. A professional trainer who focuses on positive training (rather than dominance/alpha training) would have a lot of good ideas and suggestions, I am sure. I note here just a few things that I noticed and would have loved to hear early on.

Macy & I had never met until another volunteer put her into my arms in a parking lot. You know Danger so well, what he likes, how he is comfortable, and you already have an amazing bond. So some of this may apply to him, just as some may apply to any dog with limited vision, and some just may not be relevant for you at all.

PAW DEXTERITY: Let's be clear, "paw dexterity" is not a real term; I just found early on that Macy could get frustrated when playing with a toy because once she was no longer touching it, she was not sure where it was. She just did not seem all that connected to her body. (I can relate; I have terrible depth perception!) We practiced playing with kongs and linkables. I would start by sitting with her and holding the kong, then I gave her a kong in a bed with bumpers so that it could not go far when it left her paws, then we were able to move on to a kong on a rug so that it did not roll a lot, and then finally, she was able to enjoy kongs and other toys on any surface. She learned that even though she was not touching something, it could still be nearby, and she could find it. She just needed to take a moment and have some patience. She also really learned how to use her paws to hold on to something and to get a sense of things around her (which explains my term), along with her other senses. These activities were so great for confidence building! She did not seem to have any trouble with the big wide world, but helping her to feel connected to things that were right next to her helped her comfort level a lot.

MEETING NEW DOGS: Macy likes other dogs and always enjoyed meeting new friends in our yard or other open areas, but she did not love meeting new dogs while on lead. This attitude is not uncommon for dogs with limited vision, because as you can imagine, they can have a hard time identifying whether an unknown dog is also on lead or if that dog is loose and just running at them, behavior which could be seen as aggressive. She just did not feel in control in that type of situation, which could made her anxious. The trick was just managing the scene to help lessen any anxiety. We would just refocus her on something positive (read: usually treats), and all was well. To this day, Macy goes on lots of walks and explores the world happily, even though she is still not a fan of meeting new dogs on lead. Her family just knows to take a bit of a wide berth around other dogs if loose leashes are not appropriate, and they always have cookies on hand, because nothing is better than some positive training distraction to help a dog feel happy! There is no way to avoid other dogs entirely, unless the setting is totally rural, so the trick is just setting the dog up for success.

MEETING NEW PEOPLE: Macy loves people and welcomed everyone to the house with a big smile. I just made sure to be very clear with everyone for one reason: a lot of people mean well but just do not know how to greet a dog in a non-threatening way, which is all the more important if the dog cannot see someone well. I would tell people immediately that Macy was very friendly but could not see them, so they should not approach silently, and they should put out a hand below her head level, never above (which is the standard for all dogs, but a lot of people go for the top of the head), and let her come to them. I just took the cues from Macy because it was all about making her comfortable. She wanted to meet everyone, they just needed to be respectful of her space. Macy left our our house two years ago, and my friends STILL ask about her. She is a total charmer (and, by the way, far more friendly than my two dogs who can see clearly)!

PERIMETER CHECKS: It might sound silly as it is another term that I made up, but "perimeter checks" are not uncommon for dogs with limited sight. Macy would literally walk around the edge of a new place, and then explore the center until she was satisfied that she had the lay of the land. After that, she was happy to stay next to me for hours if I asked her to do so. But if she did not get the chance to do her check, she would never settle. If we were in a place where she could not wander freely, I just kept a loose hold of the leash and would walk around with her, and then she would relax without any trouble. Even if she had been to a place before, if it was not one of her regular spots, the check helped to alleviate any anxiety that she might feel being there. Again, this behavior makes total sense from her perspe

3/8/2014 06:50:56 am

3/8/2014 07:08:28 am

[APOLOGIES FOR HAVING TOO MUCH TO SAY! EEP!]

perspective. Macy was walking around and using her nose to figure out where she was and to make sure that there were no threats around her. Your dogs are likely angels, but I also quickly realized that Macy did not need an invitation to jump onto a piece of furniture that she thought might be comfortable for a snooze, so the checks served that purpose, too!

PROXIMITY: Macy did not have any separation anxiety, but I noticed right away that if she could hear me, she wanted to be near me. She did not want to be separated from her pack (eg, I never gardened without her). This behavior is not uncommon for her breed (cocker spaniel), but I also know that it is not uncommon for dogs with limited vision. Macy would follow me around, both for companionship and also likely for comfort and reassurance. She very quickly mapped our house in her head and could run around, including stairs that turned, without bumping into a thing. It was very impressive, actually! Having her close to me was never a problem for me, and since it clearly made her comfortable, I was happy to oblige. Her mama read up on blind dogs before adopting her and often pins a small bell (like a jingle bell) to her pants so that Macy can always hear her when she moves. It's quite charming, actually. I never did anything special to attract her attention, but I do talk to my dogs a lot, and I was always making noise when I moved, so finding me was never an issue. Macy just rolled with the usual routine at our house. As long as she knew where I was, she was just fine!

As you already know, of course, dogs pick up on our energy. Dogs know when their people are anxious, so I always tried to stay positive even while keeping her safe. Danger is in a happy house full of love, a fact which has defined his past and will define his future! Nothing else!

Again, sorry so long! I just love sharing the positive energy that Macy represents!

3/10/2014 01:38:47 am

Sarah, SO much of this applies to Danger! We had a good weekend at home watching him and the way he handles different situations. He's likely more annoyed by us and our attempts at figuring things out than he is by his blindness.

We found a ball with a bell inside for him to play with. HE LOVES IT! I really want to make sure that he is able to do the all the activities he engaged in prior to the glaucoma. We've put tags on the other two dogs so that Danger can hear them jingling as they approach. That was becoming a problem. Dulce and Doc would sneak-up on Danger and he would react dominantly/fearfully by barking and showing his teeth. The tags do seem to be helping, but it's still early to tell. Mostly, we're trying to reassure him that he is safe, so that he doesn't feel scared.

Danger absolutely wants to be with his people. He's very mellow, and relaxed when we're all together. It's already getting easier for us to understand how we need to change our interactions with him, and now that we're accepting what has happened, we're able to be a lot more positive about the whole situation. Thank you and Macy for sharing and helping us!!!

Gina link

3/9/2014 11:55:50 am

Michelle, I'm so sorry to hear about Danger having Glaucoma! It really is hard to tell when pets are experiencing pain or any sort of trouble. I had a kitty who we had to put to sleep at the age of 4 because he got sick with an unknown disease and his lungs filled with fluid. The vet said he wouldn't recover, so we made the choice to put him down. I was upset and asked the vet if he might have survived if I had noticed he was having problems and brought him in any earlier. She said it was hard to say, but I shouldn't beat myself up about it because animals make it hard for us to tell that they're having problems sometimes. Their instinct is to not show weakness to predators, so they'll adapt and find ways to continue on as normal rather than find a way to communicate that they're in pain. It sounds like you guys are lucky to have caught it when you did, even though it's not nearly as soon as we all would have liked. I'm glad Danger is getting the care that he needs. I totally understand what it's like when your pets are your babies, and I hate to think of any pets and their families suffering! Here's to continued improvement for Danger!

3/10/2014 01:47:56 am

Gina, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. Thank you for sharing your story. Your vet is right. It's not fair that we beat ourselves up, but it's so hard not to. Animals are so clever and able to adapt. While we were out on a walk over the weekend, Danger attempted to run across the street after a squirrel. Knowing what we do, there is no way he could have seen that squirrel. The only explanation we could think of is that he used a combination of his hearing and smell to know it was there. It was eye opening for us and made us wonder how long he has been hiding his vision loss. We are very lucky that we were able to have Danger's problem treated with medication and didn't lose him to this disease.

Jennifer Lauren Vintage link

3/10/2014 07:56:23 am

Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear of your wee bub's vision loss and pain. Our cat Monty had a urinary blockage about 2 years ago that could have resulted in his death. It was only when he got to the point of yowling and panting that we realised something was very wrong. We took him straight to the vet and he was operated on a hour later, any later and his kidneys would have failed due to the build up.

It's so important to keep an eye out for the signs that something isn't right. We've since changed his diet (as that's all we can do) and I'm constantly watching him to make sure there are no signs it has returned.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

Tres bien ensemble

A PSA (Pet Safety Annoucement)

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