Aa
Sudden blindness
My 11 year old female Pekingese has went blind within 24 hours.2 weeks ago she had her yearly checkup and at the time she was having some trouble with her vision.She only has vision in one eye and a slight cataract and now she cannot see at all.She has a small dark spot on the white of her eye.All of her lab work came back within normal ranges,cause i was concerned about the swelling of her belly.Her kidney's came back slightly elevated,But that is due to her age.So at this time she is on Clavamox twice daily,Poly-Dex 3 times a day for her eyes and some ointment just to keep her eyes really moist.We really dont know what is going on.It is going to take a few weeks to see if the meds will help.We have ruled out Cushings,So i dont know what do at this time.I just want to help my little girl.If anyone can offer any advice that would be great.
I had never heard of SARDS until i started researching her symptoms.I am taking her to a specialist and trying to get her in as soon as possible.If there is any cancellations otherwise it will be next month.She lost her other eye due to an injury.Her eye was checked and they said her retina looked fine.But like you said there needs to be special tools used to do that.Thankyou so much for all the info.If you have anymore advice that would be great.God Bless You and Thanks again
Chan
Chan
The problem my dog has with her retinas is called vitreal syneresis. She actually had surgery in 2008, not 2009 like I said in my previous post. I worked in veterinary medicine for about 12 years and had never heard of this condition until we saw the eye specialist.
Definitely see the eye specialist! They have instruments that allow them to see further into the eye than your regular veterinarian does. My Shih tzu has a congenital condition which cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye and fall into the eye, causing blindness. Our eye specialist told us most people don't realize this is even happening until the dog starts to lose vision in the second eye; because dogs can compensate for vision loss (just like so many other illnesses) until it is profound.
We figured out my dog's problem on a fluke really. She has had long term problems with her eyes that we always attributed to these eyelashes she has that grow on the inside of her eyelids. I brought her in because I had removed the eyelashes and the problem which usually resolved with that treatment was persisting. On exam our regular vet was concerned about the pressure in her eyes and the possibility of glaucoma so within a couple days we saw the specialist. Good news was there was no glaucoma (which is very difficult to treat in dogs), but she did have multiple other problems with her eyes including dry eye, cataracts and the retina problem. She had laser surgery to tack her retinas in place in December of 2009 and her vision has been stable since. We were so lucky to have figured out that this problem existed before there was profound vision loss.
Eyes are tricky in dogs. Brachycephalic breeds tend to have more problems because their eye sockets are shallower than other breeds which can lead to all sorts of problems. The retina problem my dog has is congenital and is common in several other breeds. I hope the specialist can give you answers! It's so hard to watch our fur babies suffer, but they really are quite resilient! Despite the diagnosis, I'm sure your little dog will be able to continue to live a happy life! Good luck!!
We figured out my dog's problem on a fluke really. She has had long term problems with her eyes that we always attributed to these eyelashes she has that grow on the inside of her eyelids. I brought her in because I had removed the eyelashes and the problem which usually resolved with that treatment was persisting. On exam our regular vet was concerned about the pressure in her eyes and the possibility of glaucoma so within a couple days we saw the specialist. Good news was there was no glaucoma (which is very difficult to treat in dogs), but she did have multiple other problems with her eyes including dry eye, cataracts and the retina problem. She had laser surgery to tack her retinas in place in December of 2009 and her vision has been stable since. We were so lucky to have figured out that this problem existed before there was profound vision loss.
Eyes are tricky in dogs. Brachycephalic breeds tend to have more problems because their eye sockets are shallower than other breeds which can lead to all sorts of problems. The retina problem my dog has is congenital and is common in several other breeds. I hope the specialist can give you answers! It's so hard to watch our fur babies suffer, but they really are quite resilient! Despite the diagnosis, I'm sure your little dog will be able to continue to live a happy life! Good luck!!
I just wanted to tell you I really appreciate all your help.You are such a sweetheart to help everyone the way that you do and i am sure that Snow really appreciates you trying to help her as well.I am going to discuss a few things with my vet tomorrow.We will be seeing a specialist soon.It just takes a little while to get in.I will keep you posted on what we find out.Thanks again and May God Bless You...Chan
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I see that you posted in the Ask A Vet forum which is a great idea...unfortunately, none of our group of doctors is a certified veterinary opthalmologist. I did find a little information that might be helpful to you:
http://www.helium.com/items/391742-understanding-sudden-acquired-retinal-degeneration-sards-in-dogs
Generally, from what I found, SARDS is found in dogs with sudden vision loss, a normal fundic exam and extinguished retinal function as diagnosed by an electroetinogram. I am assuming that only eye specialists have access to this type of diagnostic.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for SARDS.
Other conditions to consider (and rule in/rule out) would be:
Optic neuritis
Retinal degenerations of other etiology
Retinal detachment
Acute cortical blindness
Unfortunately, since I am not a DVM, I can't help any more than this. I hope that the link helps and that you get some answers. I think I would echo the advice of Dr. Coyner and your veterinarian...it's time to see a specialist.
http://www.helium.com/items/391742-understanding-sudden-acquired-retinal-degeneration-sards-in-dogs
Generally, from what I found, SARDS is found in dogs with sudden vision loss, a normal fundic exam and extinguished retinal function as diagnosed by an electroetinogram. I am assuming that only eye specialists have access to this type of diagnostic.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for SARDS.
Other conditions to consider (and rule in/rule out) would be:
Optic neuritis
Retinal degenerations of other etiology
Retinal detachment
Acute cortical blindness
Unfortunately, since I am not a DVM, I can't help any more than this. I hope that the link helps and that you get some answers. I think I would echo the advice of Dr. Coyner and your veterinarian...it's time to see a specialist.
Has anyone in your clinic ever seen a case of SARDS.My vet and i are still doing alot of research on all of this and any info that you could offer would really be great.Thankyou, Chan
He did check her blood pressure that day.He said that he really didnt know what was going on with her.She has no mense response and her pupils dont react to the light.I have got to help my little girl,I have found info on a condition called SARDs and IMR and from what i have read on it it is not very common at all.My vet had never heard of it until i brought it to his attention.I dont really know where to go now to find her the help that she needs.If you know of anything i can do or if there is anything else that this could possibly be i would really appreciate any help and info.My vet is open to any suggestions as well.He is doing some research on this as well on some medical forums.ANY AND ALL HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.Thankyou so much and May God Bless You.
Chan
Chan
COMMUNITY LEADER
That's true. Get it checked.
The way I see it, if Snowball wants to go out, let her go out. Take her on the leash. It's an important part of dog-things....going out. It's all the smells, etc. It's like us, checking our email....
She'll feel you there, 'down the leash', it will be reassuring to her.
I know what you mean though, you want to keep her with you. She'll appreciate that. You are her provider and her protector. She'll want to be with you right now. It's a strange time for her. I'd be the same with Misty. If something like this happened to her she would cling to me.
The way I see it, if Snowball wants to go out, let her go out. Take her on the leash. It's an important part of dog-things....going out. It's all the smells, etc. It's like us, checking our email....
She'll feel you there, 'down the leash', it will be reassuring to her.
I know what you mean though, you want to keep her with you. She'll appreciate that. You are her provider and her protector. She'll want to be with you right now. It's a strange time for her. I'd be the same with Misty. If something like this happened to her she would cling to me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Did they take the Snowball's blood pressure? High blood pressure in dogs can also cause vision loss.
Snowball is my oldest Pekingese.We have been through so much together.She has always been my perfect child.This is just so hard for me,I still have a hard time with losing Chloe and now my poor baby cant see.My vet really has no idea of what is going on.He wants to try the meds for a few weeks and see if there is any improvement.I am helping her as much as i can,I have been taking her everywhere with me,Cause i dont want her to get upset.She has always been one to stay outside and it is so hard to see her wanting to go out and not being able to let her .I take her out to go potty and then i bring her back in cause i want her to learn her way around inside and i dont want her to get confused.I have read about SARDs and it seems to be the only thing that i have been able to come up with,But when me and my vet talked this evening he has only heard of it and doesnt know really anything about it.I am thinking about taking her to an eye specialist a few hours away from here but there is a wait to see him.I really dont know what else to do.If you find anything out anything on this Please let me know.Thanks
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh your poor girl! This has come as a shock really hasn't it? I wish I could give you some advice, but I don't know enough about this. I wonder if there was some hemorrage behind the eye? And that's why the dark spot is there? Can't the vet say what they think it might be?
I do hope the meds work for her. You must be so upset right now, but blindness, though a sad thing, is something a dog (and owner) can eventually get used to. Everything will have to change however. The way you communicate with her will change to a certain extent.
Bless you and your girl. I hope things are ok.
I do hope the meds work for her. You must be so upset right now, but blindness, though a sad thing, is something a dog (and owner) can eventually get used to. Everything will have to change however. The way you communicate with her will change to a certain extent.
Bless you and your girl. I hope things are ok.
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