Straydog UPDATE posted MONDAY 6/9/03 at ~10:00 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

MONDAY JUNE 9 2003

Kennel mates, Julie and Jed, both see the eye specialist in Arlington (Texas)

     Volunteer Shannon and I left Straydog at about 6:45 this morning and we arrived at the Animal Eye Clinic 92 miles away at just 8:30. Jed was scheduled to go in first, so I walked Julie around the grassy areas beside the parking lot while Shannon took Jed into the clinic. After Julie (who's diabetic) went potty several times, I put her back in her crate in the van, opened all the windows and went inside. (The temperature was still in the low 70s.)

     Jed was on the scales in the waiting room area when I got inside, and a few minutes later we were led into an examination room. The vet tech ran a bunch of tests, and then the doctor came in and examined Jed's eyes, both of which have been discharging a lot of gooey liquid for while. The doctor said Jed is suffering from follicular hyperplasia, "an immune-mediated condition related to chronic ocular irritation. Allergies may cause or contribute to this condition." Dr. Paulsen also said that the sandy dust that is almost constantly blowing around our kennels could have contributed to the condition. The doctor prescribed some topical anti-inflammatory medication called Cyclosporine, which we are to administer twice a day for a month and then once a day till the medicine is gone.

     

     When the doctor was finished with Jed, we took him out to the van and got Julie for her scheduled re-check exam. (Julie, who is diabetic, had cataracts removed from her eyes and new lenses put in to restore her vision over a year and a half ago, and she has re-checks every three months.) Dr. Paulsen wrote in the "Recommendations and Comments" portion of the paperwork he sent with us that "the post-operative uveitis appears to have completely resolved and excellent vision is present in both eyes. Plan to gradually taper the topical medication. Recommend close observation for redness or irritation (squinting, sensitivity to bright light, tearing) as the medication is tapered. These signs indicate recurrence of the uveitis and would require continuation of the anti-inflammatory medication."

     By 9:30 we were on our way back home.

The balance of the day has been routine, but it's getting hotter outside

     Emily continues to improve every day. She stays in the kitchen kennel most of the time enjoying the air-conditioning, though she doesn't enjoy having to continually wear the E-collar to keep her from messing with her knee surgery stitches.

     Little Lassie has been okay all day today--no more seizures--, and all the other dogs and pups are doing fine.