Reo is our second Miniature Pincher. She is a sassy little red thing, and also a champion show dog, obtained from the same breeder as our first Min Pin, Leigh (the black and rust in our profile pic!). Reo and Leigh are only 3 weeks apart in age, and have raised their puppies together. Needless to say, they are best friends. We added Reo to our household in 2006, about 1 year after adopting Leigh. In both adoptions, we sort of gave these ladies a retirement, post-show career and/or post-breeding.
Reo and Leigh are so different. Leigh is gentle, soft, sensitive, relaxed, and highly attuned to her people. Reo is sassy, petulant, independent, petite, and sweet. These two dogs are the perfect juxtaposition in our household, complementing each other perfectly. Through being together, Leigh has become more outgoing, and Reo more affectionate.
These dogs are our life, Sean and I having no kids of our own (nor plans for the future). We take them everywhere - they've been to about 20 states, which is more than the average American, I'm sure! They are excellent ambassadors, not only for small dogs, but also for Min Pins, who can get a pretty bad rap. I can't tell you how many times we have been complimented on our well-behaved dogs - from the dog-averse, to dog-enthusiast, to dog trainer, everyone is impressed with our Min Pins (yes, I am exceedingly proud!).
I began keeping a journal (just in Word format) shortly after Reo's diagnosis of SARDS. And now, I begin the chore of retyping it all, and making it more narrative (instead of a list of bullet points). I will present this blog in chronological order, so you can follow our story from start to finish.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about our experiences - I believe strongly in this treatment protocol, and am quite happy to do whatever I can to help other dog owners get their dogs healthy!
Check out some pictures of Reo here!
(And, here are some pictures of Leigh, too...)
Thank you for your interest in SARDs, Reo, and our story...
In March 2011, our Miniature Pinscher, Reo, suddenly went blind and was diagnosed with SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome). We were given no hope for vision recovery, but through research, perseverance, love, tears, and a lot of luck, we brought our dog back from a serious illness, and restored some functional vision in about 5 months! This is our story, our journey...and we hope that by sharing our story, we can help other dogs diagnosed with SARDS!
BLOG DISCLAIMER
**DISCLAIMER** Please note: I am not a veterinarian, and the purpose of this blog is solely to educate, provide resources, and share Reo's story. In this blog, I will present research and information on the theories of SARDS to which I subscribe, along with my own narrative. If you think your dog may have SARDS, or adrenal exhaustion/Plechner Syndrome, please seek veterinary care right away!
If you are just beginning your SARDS education, I suggest you start with the blog post from August 22, 2011 entitled "SARDS Resources". If you'd like to know our trials, tribulations, and joys from the beginning, start with "But first...Reo!" and click chronologically on from there.
If you would like to read my suggestions as to how I would approach treatment for a newly-diagnosed dog, check the November 16, 2011 post "If I had another SARDS dog" (and then read my blog more fully for appropriate context).
Though we have decided to suspend Reo's retinal protection supplements in September 2012 (see September 16, 2012 post "Decision for Reo") due to the fact that she had very little remaining vision, I am still strongly supportive of our treatment approach, and know that it changed Reo's health and longevity in a positive way. Feel free to comment and ask me any questions - I am happy to help if I can!
Update: Reo became an angel on October 21, 2014. She had a profound kidney infection, causing acute kidney failure, and she was unable to recover. The contributing factors to her decline are covered in my February 16, 2015 blog post "Farewell to Reo".
Though I do not regularly update this blog any longer, much of the information is still relevant (though some of the links may be out of date). Feel free to join the conversation at "SARDS Dogs United" on Facebook.
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