12/09/11 - After a ridiculously long and complicated journey yesterday, I made it back from Germany safe and sound! It is always such a happy homecoming to three wagging nubbins! The unconditional love of a dog is a beautiful thing.
Reo did well when I was away. We didn't pulse her Medrol dosage, but Sean reported that she did have some slight PD/PU at about the 3rd day I was gone. I asked him to give her a bump up the next morning, so maybe we'll try pulsing her every 3rd day next time I am out of town. I feel slightly guilty that my absence gives her stress, and I always worry that she's still not stable with respect to her hormones. Time will tell - we'll get another blood panel at the end of this month.
In other news, we have a mouse in the house! A little grey mouse made his/her appearance known this afternoon. Tula and I noticed right away, and she tore into the kitchen in pursuit. Reo was soon after, and I think the mouse went under the stove, because Reo focused her enhanced sniffer there. I suspect the mouse came up from the unfinished basement through a hole in the floor from an old gas line. This is definitely exciting, and I feel sorry for the mouse who decided to share space with three pinschers and two kitties. Poor mouse! ;)
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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