08/18/11 - Today, I emailed Dr. P concerning Reo's thyroid prescription. Up until Reo's last blood test from NVDS, her thyroid had been low. Now with her most recent test, her T3 and T4 were normal.
Quick note: if you want to learn a little more about canine thyroid function, and what T3 and T4 mean, you can check out this website: Newman Veterinary Medical Services
Since Reo's dosage of L-thyroxine has stayed the same at 0.1 mg twice a day, I was suddenly concerned that Reo might become hyperthyroid. (It is pretty common for me to over-analyze, worry, ask questions, etc. - some might call this obsessing!). I was also slightly concerned that Reo's excessive shedding and skin issue could be due to hyperthyroid. I should mention that hyperthyroid is actually pretty rare in dogs, and usually only a result of too much L-thyroxine (symptoms disappear when dosage is adjusted).
Dr. P said to leave her on her current dosage for the time being, but we could continue to watch her bloodwork and make adjustments as necessary.
Read between the lines: Lynn, relax, jeez...let Reo heal already and we'll take it from there! ;)
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.
Monday, September 19, 2011
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