11/03/12 - Reo is back to normal! She was stressed out over having our friends' dog at home with us for a week. As soon as the other dog went home, she seemed back to her normal routine. Clearly, she was not impressed at sharing her house! She ate normally this week, and is back to her spunky, playful little self. :)
I guess I can't underestimate the effect of stress on Reo!
Also, we have finished up giving her the remaining supplements that I have. So far, so good!
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.
Lynn - Hazel's appetite is overwhelming and so constant - it's like she could eat and eat and never stop. Did this happen with Reo? Did it get under control after awhile? Thanks, Rori
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely! Reo loved to get into the cat food when we weren't looking (grrr!). Even after beginning treatment, it took a few months for Reo's symptoms to completely go away. Hopefully this holds true for Hazel, too! How is she doing otherwise?
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, this makes me feel hopeful. It's been about a month now, started oral medrol today after 3 10-day injections...But Hazel had a seizure last night, and another this afternoon. (She'd had one about a week before we started treatment.) I'm not sure if I should try to find the cause (food...something) and just let the treatment work it out for her, or start her on phenobarbital for it...
ReplyDeleteHazel bounced back, vision and all, after the first day of treatment, but now her breathing is still wheezy...and more than it was before...and the food and water thing is out-of-control. I have to learn to simply say no to her and let her be starving and miserable (I'm feeding her a LOT). Dr. Plechner is grand, told me to try a bit of honey to keep her blood sugar up.