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not regularly update this blog any longer, much of the information is still relevant (though some of the links may be out of date).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




Sunday, February 12, 2012

NOT phasing out PS


02/12/12 - As I mentioned in my previous post, I dropped Reo's dosage from 100 mg/day to 50 mg/day last week.  That same day, even before her first PS dose in her breakfast, we noticed some decline in her vision - thinking there was no possible way it could have been from the reduced dosage (since she got 50 mg that morning as she always does, just not the other 50 in her evening meal).  We also noticed some watery discharge from Reo's eyes, which is new. 

We went the whole week with Reo at 50 mg/day of PS, and didn't notice any chance in disposition, clarity/confusion, etc., but her vision seems to be poor lately.  I truly don't know if it's a result of PS (since the onset of declining vision seemed to overlap with the drop in dosage, and it seems unlikely to me that PS would have such a direct effect on vision?), but I bumped her back up to 100 mg/day on Saturday (so there was 5 days of a decreased dosage), just in case.

Her watery eyes continue, as well as greatly decreased vision lately, unresponsive PLRs to normal light (flashlight), but do respond in sunlight.  I'm not sure if she has allergies, or really what is going on at the moment, but this seems to be a long period (for Reo) of struggling with sight.  Otherwise, she's doing great in terms of disposition, etc.  

Hopefully it's just another "blip" like we've encountered before, but gets better soon.  This seems to be the longest period of time she's gone with diminished vision, so I'm a little concerned.  We're also in the midst of packing up our house for a cross-country move - I'm sure this could be a stressful situation for her, too, even though she is navigating the house just fine and not bumping into things/getting lost (which makes me wonder if her vision is really diminished or if she's faking!!).

We had an hour-long walk today, and she did really great, but it was the first time in over a week that the dogs got a walk because it's been pretty cold!

Anyway, I won't be tinkering around with the supplement dosages any time for the foreseeable.  We're in unchartered territory, but we need to stick to what we know has worked for Reo!  Additionally, after speaking with Caroline Levin, I am considering pulsing her Medrol dosage, to help her get through this time of stress for the move.  

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