Doggie Public Service Announcement -- Canine Glaucoma

[eeneR 3]

Friday I took my little girl to the Vet to have her eyes checked out and few other things. Her eyes were a bit blood shot, and looked cloudy. The vet did a Glaucoma test on her, and low and behold she came up with a very HIGH pressure reading in one eye and above normal in the other. They had to do an emergency IV drip with Mannitol to try and bring the pressure down to try and save the one eye that was reading above normal and to attempt to save any vision if there was any left at all in the other eye.

Other then a little bit of redness and cloudiness, that really didnt look all that bad, there were no other real tell tail signs of a problem. But that right there is the issue. By the time the symptoms are there odds are it is already too late. We are not sure, but odds are she has already lost vision in the one eye. We are working on treating (no cure) the other eye.

Many breeds are infact prone to have this problem which is genetic. In Shibas it tends to surface around the age of 6 (Nikita is 7) I was not aware of this, and feel horrible. Had I known I would have been screening her for this over the last few years. Cant change that now. What I can do is share this with others so that they may be able to save a pets vision even if only temporarily.

In addition to Shibas, The American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Shar Pei are prone to glaucoma, although any breed of dog may be affected. Most reputable breeders do screen for this. In my case my girl is a rescue that didnt come from good breeding. There are more then just the above effected by this, take the time and do a little research. If you notice any redness or discomfort in your pets eyes, do not hesitate to get them to the vet. It doesnt take long for the damage to take hold

There is not cure, only treatment, Nikita will be blind in both eyes with in the next 2 years. This is genetic and one of the MANY reasons why going to a reputable breeder instead of your local pet store is important. Yes they may cost a bit more, but that is because they breed the dogs with the intent to keep the lines clear of these defects. A few hundred bucks more on a dog in the beginning will save you THOUSANDS in the long run in pet care. When I rescued Nikita I was aware of this, to this date I have spent at least $3000 dealing with genetic defects. I will continue to spend what is needed to keep her comfortable, as long as she is playing and is happy, that is all I want.

So again, I know I have posted this before DO NOT BUY DOGS FROM ANY PET STORE. For that matter dont buy pure bred dogs from people who do not screen for this stuff.

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[DeNReN 0]

Poor pooches

On a up note however...they say that a little of the magical herb helps with glaucoma....so maybe its time to get a doggie bong

[bisqit999 0]

I agree with you about going to a breeder is you want a pure bred dog. This way you can see the parents and the rest of the litter. Ususally its cheaper than a pet store though. I paid about half of what the pet store wanted for a boxer.

I hope for the best with your dog. It's a shame. It seems they get old way too fast.