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not regularly update this blog any longer, much of the information is still relevant (though some of the links may be out of date).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, January 16, 2012

Weekend in Chicago

01/16/12 - We had a great family weekend in Chicago this weekend!  We drove up on Friday and back on Sunday.  Though it was really cold, we enjoyed the time away.

Here's a picture of Leigh and Reo in their harnesses and car seat on the drive:


As you can see, Reo really makes herself comfy on long drives.  :)

Instead of a hotel, we found a doggie-friendly condo in the Wicker Park neighborhood (which was just two blocks from our friend's place!), so it was perfect.  Reo did so well - she navigated the brand new surroundings like a champ (further solidifying in my mind that her vision is quite good, as there was no way she could have gone around furniture, table legs, kitchen island, etc. if she was blind!).

Reo refused her breakfast Sunday morning, which was quite a surprise.  I ended up forcing down her Medrol and L-thyroxine, which she didn't mind too terribly much.  Typically she refuses to eat when she has stomach aliens (as I like to call them), but she had no strange belly sounds yesterday.  This made me realize that she hasn't had any stomach aliens in quite a long time (a least a couple of months?), which was a revelation.  I wonder if stomach aliens are somehow related to low IgA number - poorer digestion and water absorption?  Interesting.

All of the dogs were happy to be home last night to familiar sounds and smells and their beds.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I get Reo's EI-1 panel results back tomorrow!

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