09/16/12 - Finally, Sean and I have decided how we are going to proceed with Reo. You may recall that I've been struggling with whether or not to continue to give Reo the retinal protection supplements, as it seems she has very little vision remaining these days. I have not been sure whether the small amount of remaining vision is worth preserving - she might get around better if she were completely blind. And, I don't want to continue to give her things that her body doesn't need/can't use.
We have decided not to give most of her supplements any longer. We will be suspending the following:
- Lutein (her last capsule was given yesterday)
- Phosphatidyl Serine (have about a month left, will suspend when we use the last of it)
- Magnesium Taurate (have about 2 months left, will suspend when we use the last of it)
- Standard Process Adrenal Support (have about 1 week left; just not sure she needs this any more)
- Sardines (these were given as a source of adenosine, which works in conjunction with the Magnesium Taurate)
We will continue to give Reo the Cell Advance 440, Nutramin, and Prozyme, and keep the rest of her diet the same (Welactin, Dasuquin) as we like the benefits of those supplements for older dogs (and Leigh gets these three supplements as well).
I do have a huge amount of guilt for not being more pro-active for Reo surrounding the time of our big move in March of this year. I really thought that we were "in the clear" since her vision had returned, and I severely underestimated the effects of stress on Reo's vision. Literally, when we started packing up our house, her vision started to decline. She then got a toe infection, and allergens in the air were high. A lot of stress for our little girl (plus lots of stress on the humans, too!), really affected her. I'm working on letting my guilt go, and taking comfort in the fact that Reo is as healthy as she has been in years. She is still such a happy dog, and her health truly is the most important part.
We will continue to get blood chemistry and thyroid tests every 6 months, to make sure that we are on the right track with her care. I envision getting and EI-1 panel from NVDS every year or so, again, to make sure that we are staying on track. If there are any issues that make me think she may be unbalanced, I may test more frequently - we will just have to play it by ear!
I will likely update this blog less frequently, as I hope (?) Reo will be quite stable. But, of course I will share any new things that I learn about SARDS, relevant articles, and updates on Reo's condition. I am also very happy to hear from readers whose dogs have been diagnosed with SARDS, and help in any way that I can.
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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