Hi All I'll apologize up front of this is long but I need to unload my frustrations and fears on a group who will understand ...... I have an 11-3/4 year old yellow lab Daisy. She has from a young age (4 months) had loads of issues/chronic problems. I have dealt with them all as they come, and continue to do so now. Always soldiering on along with her, through all her health troubles, arthritis in front/back legs, hip dyslasia, food/environmental allergies and accompanying skin issues/, GERD/reflux, hypothyroidism, did I forget anything? Oh yes - glaucoma in right eye and subsequent blindness (April of this year). The vet's file on her is so thick. So end of October after all summer of Daisy keeping us awake at night howling/barking, I took her to vet and we did a geriatric blood panel to see if it may be senility causing the howling. It was discovered that her tests came back fantastic (huh?) on all levels except her thyroid (usually low - has for years taken thyroid supplement twice daily) had gone too high. So, we cut back her thyroid meds to one a day and the vet suggested that the howling could be restlessness due to high thyroid levels. Needed to wait at least 3-4 weeks to see if any changes. Here we are almost 4 weeks later. Daisy has stopped howling at night (YAY), but now: Since Nov 6 she keeps going "blind" in her one good left eye sporadically. It usually happens in the morning, and usually lasts 1/2 hour to 2 hours. Two - three times a week. It has happened later in day, but almost always is in mornings. So off to vet again last week. He looked at left eye (she was seeing at that time) and said it looked OK. Retina was fine. Didn't see any sign of glaucoma. He wondered if she was having seizure prior to blind episodes. I haven't noticed anything. Just one minute she can see, the next she can't. The vet was interested in the "episodic" nature of her blindness but couldn't really offer any explanation. So yesterday morning she got up and was "blind" from the get go. It went away after an hour or two, but she seemed quiet for the day and well she ate her breakfast, was not that interested in food the rest of the day, or even this morning. She did eat but it took her some time to go to her bowl. Her norm is to eat everything as soon as it hits her bowl, so something is up. Funny she ate her piece of morning toast up with her usual enthusiasm so I'm not sure what her deal is. I worry for her. It is a constant for me. The poor thing just has one problem after another her entire life. Has anyone experienced anything along the blindness issues like this? I am worried this is a sign of a bigger issue, and now the lack of food interest.....concerning. I am holding off getting in touch with vet, as she is still eating/drinking.
Bless her xx Please get her back to the vet, you won’t know what the problem is until you get her checked out. .
Definitely another trip to the vet to investigate the cause of intermittent blindness. Have you kept a diary of the incudences, how long they lasted, appetite etc. even what the weather conditions were as it could help the vet to identify a trend or pattern
Hi and welcome, I am so sorry you are currently having so many health issues thrown at Daisy. Your vet sounds great, and it looks like you have most under control. Regarding the episodic blindness, I know that metabolic disorders associated with thyroid problems can cause this, but the latest blood work was OK? It could be neurological and in that case, an ophthalmological referral might be worth asking for. Either way, I do hope Daisy is a little more herself soon.
Welcome to the forum. It sounds as if your vet has been thorough, but if Daisy stops eating (and definitely if she stops drinking) or seems uncomfortable I would contact the vet again. I hope she improves soon.
Hi thanks for the welcome. My vet is good and realistic as well. I wondered if it could be the thyroid issue getting mixed up in her eye issue, but as Daisy had just lost her sight in the right eye in the spring, (lens luxation to front of eye, glaucoma). I assumed the same was happening to the left eye but it doesn't seem to be. Her latest blood work (done Oct 30) came back with excellent levels. The vet said he couldn't believe how fantastic her blood work was, considering all her issues. BUT the one out of whack thing was her thyroid levels were HIGH. So the vet said to cut her 2 Levothyroxine per day to 1 per day. One week later, her left eye started up.
Like Beanwood I’d be looking next at something neurological. Any pressure along the optic nerve or in the visual cortex (which is at the back of the brain) can cause disturbances in vision. I’m sure that all these issue have been very stressful for you both over the years, and especially now, with a number of them happening together. Your girl is lucky to have a human who has cared for her so lovingly and with such dedication for her whole life.
Well, the hyperthyroidism could be a symptom of something else underlying, especially considering the episodic blindness, lethargy and inappetence. Pop her back to the vet, just to be on the safe side
Welcome I'm sorry to hear of your problems and I know how your dog is feeling well sort of I have to take thyroxin myself and I know how I felt when they did not get the dose right I lost my best friend after 14 years just a few weeks ago Mia had good health up to around 6 month from losing her so I'm very lucky for that
Thanks for your reply and I’m sorry for your loss. It is so difficult! Daisy got over her stomach issues and also had a bunch more tests done but in meantime she has gone completely blind since last Tuesday. Glaucoma is now in both eyes. I’m now grappling with the fact she will at some point need to have the eyes removed. I am not sure I want to put her through that. I’m going to talk with my vet though to help me decide what’s best. I don’t want her in pain or uncomfortable.
