Please keep Reece in your thoughts :(

[aly]

I'm starting to really freak out here. Some of you know that Reece has had some juvenile cataract problems. He saw the eye specialist a year ago and was ok'd for surgery in his left eye (the worse one). I had wanted to clear up his yeast infections and allergies before he had the surgery (the doctor agreed that was better) so I waited. I had an appointment scheduled for next month to go ahead with the surgery. Now all of a sudden, Reece's left eye is almost completely red It looks scary. I just called the eye specialist and they are going to squeeze him in tomorrow. They said it could be glaucoma - in which case they would not do surgery because there is too much damage already. He's already lost most of his vision. If we can't do surgery, I'll have a completely blind dog by Christmas. I'd say he's lost 80-90% of his vision already. It is pretty bad. I don't want him to be blind. He's just 5 years old. He's the happiest, sweetest dog and he deserves to be able to see so he can run around and play with other animals like he used to love doing He does try to play still, but its not like he used to.

[PJ's Mom]

Oh no. Poor Reecie.

Good thought heading his way.

Are you going to see Dr. Shiffrin?

[aly]

Originally posted by PJ's Mom


Are you going to see Dr. Shiffrin?

Yes, have you been to him?

[PJ's Mom]

He's Peej's eye doctor. He's very busy, but he's excellent. He will take as much time as you need to answer your questions and he's very thorough. I think you'll like him. Peej has to see him every couple of months, and I wish he was his regular vet.

Tell him Peej says hi.

[lv4dogs]

Good luck to Reece & you!

[robinh]

I'm praying hard for Reece! But if it does happen that he goes blind, he still has lots of good years left.

My sisters old cocker went blind and he lived for 4-5 years (until he was 10 and cancer took him). He just followed his fursister everywhere. They wrestled and played together all the time. Worked really well for them.

Give Reece a hug for me.

[Ginger's Mom]

Prayers and positive thoughts are on the way for Reece. It may by hard for you, but either way he really can live a happy life.

[luvofallhorses]

Poor Reece. Positive thoughts and prayers for Reece and you. ((((((((hugs)))))))))

[Daisy and Delilah]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Reece. Sounds like you're going to a great doctor! Get well Reece and Mom!!

Love, Terry, Daisy, and Delilah

[lbaker]

Whatever you and the Dr decide I know dear Reeceman will deal with it with his usual big, strong heart. If he does end up blind in the next few months I'm sure Lolly will step right up to help, happily and willingly. Dear Aly, be strong and don't let your own emotions worry your four-leggers.. you know how they can't help but pick up on your feelings - they love you (and so do we).

[aly]

Thanks so much everyone for your well wishes. I'm trying not to panic, but can't help imagining the worst. His eye sight has been horrible lately but I wasn't worrying because I was counting on the surgery to help him. Now that might not be an option, so I'm just worried and sad I took some pics of his eye. I'll post them in a few.

Originally posted by PJ's Mom
He's Peej's eye doctor. He's very busy, but he's excellent. He will take as much time as you need to answer your questions and he's very thorough. I think you'll like him. Peej has to see him every couple of months, and I wish he was his regular vet.

Tell him Peej says hi.

Ah good. I have seen him a couple times, but I was always worried about Reece at the time and couldn't quite focus on much. He seemed pretty good though. My dad kept him talking for a long time since they graduated from the same university.

[PJ's Mom]

Since he's squeezing you in, be prepared to wait. The last time he squeezed Peej in, we had to wait an extra 30 minutes or so. Make sure you take your time with him. it won't take long before he puts you at ease. I know he will do whatever he needs to do to help Reece.

It's hard, but try not to worry. He's in good hands. (((hugs to you and Reecie.)))

[ChrisH]

Poor Reecie. Prayers and positive thoughts on the way.

[Glacier]

All paws crossed. i hope that Reece's sight can be saved.

I have a completely blind dog. Preacher lost his sight entirely about 2 years ago. His condition is inoperable and there's nothing that will restore his sight. If Reece does loose his sight, he will adjust much faster than you will. I mourned for Preacher. He never missed a step. Most people can't tell he's blind until I tell them. He gets around just fine. He plays occasionally. (he's an older dog so he doesn't play much anymore). He loves his walks and in some areas he can even go off-leash safely. He digs, howls, and acts like a sighted husky in most ways. He still takes great pleasure out of destuffing every toy he can find.

The only real accomodation we've had to make for Preacher is that he no longer goes in a pen. The younger dogs are always digging new holes and Preacher would trip in them. He has a trolley tie-out now. He knows exactly how far it goes and where everything in that area is. His food and water dish always go in the same place and we don't rearrange the furniture anymore!

Hope you get good news from the doc.

[ParNone]

Hi Aly!

Many positive thoughts headed Reece's way.

Keep in mind that dogs adjust to blindness much better then people. It didn't stop Maddie from playing or running around or yanking out some of Oz and Murph's dog hair. She was very adept at using her other senses. Most people upon first meeting her, wouldn't even realize she was blind, because she toodled around so good and would look directly at your face when you were talking to her.

I even took her hiking with me and you still had to watch her, when she was free on the ground. Cuz as soon as those feeties touched the ground, she was off exploring. Totally fearless. Not a care in the world.

Never stopped her from greeting me whenever I came through the back gate either. She might be in the 3rd spot behind Oz and Murph, but she still came running around the corner to see me. She always used the patio, brick path, house and fence to know where she was in the yard. Amazing what they'll figure out.

Oh and like Glacier, I always kept the water and food bowl in the same place, along a wall, to make it easy for her to find.

Hang in there...
Les...