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not regularly update this blog any longer, much of the information is still relevant (though some of the links may be out of date).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.




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Season's Greetings!

12/28/11 - I hope all my readers had a wonderful holiday with their families and fur babies, and are looking forward to the new year!

Reo has been doing very well lately - she loves having me at home all day (all the dogs do!), and I love it, too!  I've noticed Reo is a lot more mobile, and it's only increasing with time.  She goes upstairs by herself a lot these days - she likes to lay on the couch in Sean's office from time to time.  It used to make me nervous because I was worried she'd fall (there are many steps!), but after watching her so many times, I know she's confident.  She inspected each Christmas gift extensively, and navigated the maze on the floor of gifts, discarded wrapping paper, and dog toys.  She's doing so well!

As another vision tidbit, I've noticed that she goes after her Medrol and L-thyroxine tablets first in her meal.  she sees them and eats them first!  It's so cute.  I'm not sure if she thinks it's her tasty Dasquin tablet (which I crumble up for her evening meal), but she definitely selectively goes for the tablets first, as if they were a special treat!  Makes me smile every time.  :)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Dress up

12/20/11 - I've had the Min Pins in the office with me so far this week, which is a nice treat for both me and the dogs (poor Tula must stay home and be a good guard dog Doberman!).  One of my co-workers has brought her daughter in as well (as she's off from school for the holidays).  This little girl loves my little dogs, and this week she had some crafty supplies, and put them to good work on the Mins!

The first picture is Leigh and Reo with their office "bling" - some bead necklaces that coordinate with their existing collars!


The next picture came from today's crafty concoction - she made ribbon "hair" for Reo, secured by another ribbon, of course!  Who says that small dogs are not patient and gentle with children?  :)



I think this new hair made Reo feel sassy - she actually left it on for quite a while!  The ribbon crafts were extended to include hula skirts, as well, but they were not photographed.  ;)


Friday, December 16, 2011

Vision improvement

12/16/11 - Yesterday was a good day for Reo!  We noticed a drastic improvement in her vision, for some reason.  As you know from reading this blog, her vision is excellent outside/bright lighting, but sometimes she struggles in dim light, or at night.

Typically Reo is fairly cautious going up/down the stairs (okay, it's mostly from me training her to go slow because I was worried she'd fall).  I got home yesterday from work, and she FLEW down the stairs to greet me!  She used to do this thing where she used her front paws as a "slide", and went down the stairs with only her back feet.  It was always sort of funny to me, but this is what she did yesterday!  Just as fast as she used to do - and I have not seen her do this since before she lost her sight back in March.  I was surprised, but Reo was clearly pleased with herself, nubbin' wagging a mile a minute!

Sean told me she had had a good day (she lazed in our bed after I went to work until midday), and was in a good mood.  I took all the dogs outside.  Again, Reo is typically cautious going up and down the stairs to the deck, walking, and taking the steps one at a time.  Yesterday, both out and back, she was at a full run and lept up the stairs!  Again, something I have not seen since she lost her sight!

After dinner, I took out the ol' cotton ball and tested her sight, even in the dim lighting of the living room.  She was en pointe, and followed it up, down, side to side, and when I dropped it.  Very sharp, and nearly as good as Leigh (who can't resist for some reason when I have the cotton out - she likes to follow it around, too!).  Reo's reward was to kill a bunny fur ball cat toy, which is her favorite!  She loves ripping those to shreds and pulling all the fur out.  Crazy dog.

I'm not sure the cause of the dramatic change all of a sudden, but she seems to be doing just as well this morning.  I hope it's here to stay!  :)

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Hormone replacement

12/13/11 - Some discussions I've had lately about supplements have made me want to write this post.  I've been contacted, and have posted on message boards concerning which supplements to source for SARDS dogs, and the correct dosages.

It's no shock that many SARDS dog owners have their dogs on supplements to help maintain/preserve some vision, keep the immune system healthy, slow the ageing process, etc.  But the most important part of Levin's and Plechner's treatment protocols is the low-dose hormone replacement.

Make no mistake, if your dog has adrenal exhaustion/Plechner's syndrome, no amount of antioxidant or mineral supplementation is going to get your dog healthy.  The ONLY treatment that will work is low dose cortisol replacement (methlyprednisolone/Medrol), and likely simultaneous thyroid hormone replacement (L-thyroxine/Soloxine).  Many people and vets shy away from long-term hormone replacement, but please keep in mind that the prescribed doses are not therapeutic.  They only help the dog's body replace what it can't make naturally.

A rough analogy would be your human doctor telling you that you are deficient in Vitamin D, and prescribing that you take a Vitamin D supplement.  Your body needs Vitamin D to function normally, but your doctor only wants to to consume/supplement a certain amount each day.  If you take more than you should, then it becomes therapeutic, and you can suffer ill effects due to too much Vitamin D.

I think some folks out there have tried Caroline Levin's protocol on their SARDS dog using Cell Advance, Magnesium, and Phosphatidyl Serine and proclaimed it "didn't work".  Well, if one ONLY did this, of course it would not work.  If the dog has adrenal exhaustion/Plechner's syndrome, the root cause is malfunctioning adrenal glands, and improper hormone synthesis.  This problem requires hormone replacement in order to be corrected.

Whether you choose to follow Caroline Levin's or Dr. Plechner's protocol (or do a mish mash like I did for Reo), it's up to you.  But please don't mistake anything that I've written on my blog - it's the hormone replacement that is the key to success - the most critical component of your dog's treatment.  The supplements are a great support, but only when done in conjunction with hormone replacement.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Home sweet home!

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!  ;)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Going pulse-less

12/03/11 - Today I leave for a trip to Germany for work.  I'll be gone for 5 nights, and Sean and I decided not to pulse Reo's Medrol dose.  During my last trip, Sean felt that Reo didn't really need the pulsing, and she had some symptoms like PD/PU as a result of the increased dosage.  So, we'll see how she does without while I'm gone.

Reo has been doing super well lately - her mood is off the charts on the happy scale, which is of course great to see.  :)  Unfortunately, there is a lot of rain in the forecast for the next week, which means no dog walks for any of the Pins in our household!

Business idea - indoor dog park!  Not indoor doggie daycare, aka, the concrete jungle, which is no fun for people or dogs!