Elfin

This is part of what we were discussing today. Is the initial "depression" period due to psychological issues, pain, or owner attitude toward the dog, or a combination of all of these, do you think? We tryed to act very nomal around him and kept asking him to get out of bed and got the kids to play there games in front of him and just talk to include him. But once he decided to get up and start moving it only took 3 days and he was back to his own self and you wouldnt have known by the wayhe got around that he only had 3 legs infact he still outran the others So in your case, you had a positive attitude toward him. Do you feel that made a difference to his attitude? Do you feel that his initial "depression" could have been linked to pain?

This is part of what we were discussing today. Is the initial "depression" period due to psychological issues, pain, or owner attitude toward the dog, or a combination of all of these, do you think?

I am so sorry. Part of her will always be with you. We are thinking of you. Run free little girl.

Following a discussion at work today, do dogs suffer depression after an event such as loss of a limb or sudden vision loss? What role does the owner's attitude toward the dog play in the mental well-being following the loss of a limb or sudden vision loss? Would love to hear DOLers thoughts.

I would be interested in trying the Lamb and Rice. Where can I buy it near inner SE suburbs of Melbourne?

You explained just fine; I didn't read it properly. It sounds like your vet was concerned about uveitis (inflammation inside the eye), which causes the pupil to be small. The atropine dilates the pupil (and also tasted revolting). The vet would have probably put dye in the eye to make sure there was no damage to the cornea. We would probably use a strong cortisone drop (such as Prednefrin Forte) to reduce the inflammation, and perhaps an oral NSAID such as Rimadyl. I am still not sure why the vet gave you Amacin and antibiotics, especially if there was no discharge. I am glad she is no longer squinting. The Atropt can take a few days to wear off. All the best, N

I just re-read this.. I missed the bit where you said the eye had been sore. Anisocoria does not cause pain, so I would be concerned about it being something else. The vet may have given you the Atropt if they suspected uveitis (but uveitis presents with a small or mid-dilated pupil) Was the pupil dilated BEFORE the vet put the Atropt in? (This is how I read the initial post) Is the white part of the eye red? It the cornea cloudy? Is she squinting? Is there any discharge? Sorry, I should have read your post more thoroughly.

Atropt (which is atropine) will also dilate the pupil. Amacin is a combination of antibiotic and cortisone. Unless there is a sign of infection, I am unsure as to why you were given systemic antibiotics? One enlarged pupil is called anisocoria. It is usually idiopathic (ie. we don't know what caused it), and resolves without medication. It can take up to 6 weeks to do so. It get an exact diagnosis of the cause would require an MRI, which can be a little pricey!! If in doubt, see a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. All the best with your pup. ETA: One dilated pupil, along with an eye that is red, blue and painful can also mean glaucoma, but that is not what you are describing, and would be pretty much unheard of in a 6mth old Kelpie.

No sight improvement as yet Elfin. But I think we are both getting more used to things. I walk him with his sister on his blind side so that he bangs into her instead of other things. Specalist (at your clinic ) really is as baffled as I am about the whole thing. Thankfully we have almost certainly ruled out SARDS or a brain tumour. Pupils both react to light. The specalist could see nothing internally and certainly nothing externally that would have lead to blindness in the particular eye. Next step is the light test to see if the retina reacts but that is a week away. Let me know when you are coming in; I will make sure you get the extra special DOLer treatment!

puggy, did you find out the cause of his sudden vision loss in the one eye? I hope he is improving.

Georgie-boy, I am glad your dog is so much happier. All our clients comment on how much happier the dog is after surgery. The sutures would have been for the entropion surgery, as extra-eyelash surgery (if done by TCE) does not use any sutures. We always use dissolving sutures around the eyes, as trying to take out non-dissolving sutures that close to the eye can be tricky on a wriggly dog!!

We normally have two post-operative checks that are included in the surgery fee. The first is 7-10 days after surgery to make sure any swelling has resolved and the wounds are healing well. You local vet could probably do this. The second is at 3 months, at which stage any "new" hairs should be apparent, as the life-cycle of the eyelash is about three months. I would recommend a specialist doing this one, again for equipment reasons.

Depends on how many eyelids are involved (the more lids, the more time it takes to do. Four lids can take two hours). Roughly anywhere from $800-$1200. If you need the surgery done again, it is discounted.

Surgical treatment of distichiasis is fiddly and time consuming and requires very high magnification (ie. an operating microscope). Most general vets do not have an operating microscope, which is one of the main reasons for referral. Using the TCE method, we cut out the base of each individual hair root, so that it cannot grow back again. At any one time up 10-15% of the hair roots are inactive (ie. do not have a hair growing from them), and therefore cannot be seen. We cannot cut out what we cannot see, even with very high magnification. Therefore, in 10-15% of cases, a second surgery is required. In 20 years, I have only seen a handful of dogs that needed a third surgery, and I have never seen one needing a fourth surgery. TCE is the preferred method of extra eyelash removal as it seems to provide the best results. ETA: We do about 5 extra eyelash surgeries a week.

I wouldn't agree with these statements. http://www.animaleyecare.com.au/aec/extralasheseyecond.html All the best with Kyran.

I vote Deerhound You know you want a big scruffer...

I have three giant breed dogs. People constantly say to me "...oooh, you must have a big garden...". I live in an apartment. We walk twice daily and the dogs also come to work with me. We go to the beach 2-3 times a week. On weekends we are either showing, lure coursing, or up on our property in Central Victoria. Yet if I had a dollar for every time I was told that I was cruel having 3 large dogs in an apartment, I would be able to afford a big back yard!!

No date as yet... still working on the numbers... I promise I will let you all know when I get a date.

I can personally recommend Dr Richard Woolley Cardiology Specialist at Southern Animal Referral Centre (248 Wickham Rd, Highett, ph 03 9532 5261) Excellent vet and a lovely, caring man as well. It is obvious he really loves his job, and will patiently answer all the questions you have. (And he has a big new fancy colour ultrasound!) He is helping the Deerhound Club of Victoria begin a DCM screening process for our dogs and has a good knowledge of sighthounds. I could not recommend him highly enough. ETA: contact details

my dogs have had raw. chopped broccoli for years. ;) Phew...! Thank you :D

I have been using broccoli in my veggie slops... now I have just been told that broccoli can be toxic to dogs? Please tell me that's crap.

Take the pup to a veterinary opthalmologist. Get a definitive diagnosis. If your pup has been visually impaired since birth, it will cope extremely well, as it does not know any different. www.animaleyecare.com.au/aec/copingwithblindpet.html

If it only in one eye, it is highly unlikely to be PRA. PRA will present as night-blindness, dilated pupils, very green pupils at night (tapetal hyper-reflectivity). Almost always occurs in both eyes. If you honestly feel it has vision loss in one eye, at under two years of age, I'm betting juvenile/congenital cataract. See an eye specialist.

p

I will give it a go, thank you!