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not regularly update this blog any longer, much of the information is still relevant (though some of the links may be out of date).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




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Uveitis and blood work

06/26/12 - Reo and I went back to the vet yesterday.  Her eye condition seemed to respond to the antibiotics (oral and eye drops), and the scary blue cast to her cornea has disappeared (whew!).   Dr. V was also able to measure her intraocular eye pressure on this visit, and she was normal in both eyes (both eyes were 13 mmHg).

I read online that uveitis is of unknown cause in about 75% of cases, which is not very satisfying.  So, I suppose we'll just be happy that it was solved by a course of antibiotics, and we'll watch closely to make sure no changes come about.

When we went to the vet on Friday, we did a chemistry panel and CBC.  I am very happy to report that Reo's chemistry panel (liver, kidneys, cholesterol, etc.) was normal!  This is good news, and means that she's tolerating her Medrol therapy well.  She had some highs and lows on her CBC - certain blood cells were either elevated or reduced - but Dr. V was not worried about any of the fluctuations.

We also pulled blood for another EI-1 panel from NVDS, as well as another "baseline" panel from UTenn.  I never followed up with UTenn for further testing after deciding to pursue treatment according to Levin/Plechner.  UTenn diagnosed Atypical Cushing's in Reo, and suggested melatonin and flax lignans.  I decided not to pursue this treatment for Reo, and go with Medrol therapy.  As I posted about earlier, HERE, Levin has published a small study about treating Atypical Cushing's dogs with Medrol, to good success.  Even though it's been more than a year since our initial adrenal panel and ACTH stim test from UTenn, I will be interested to see how Reo's baseline results have changed!

Stay tuned... 
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