Back to my glaucoma story. It all started when Tiffy and I went to volunteer for the Basset Rescue back in December. There was a very sweet female basset named Tabitha there and she had had her eye removed because she had glaucoma. Apparently, unless glaucoma is identified within 24 hours, you cannot save the eye. I am guessing that the pressure builds up and puts such a strain on the optic nerves that several things happen, the lens becomes crushed and the detaches and then the fluid build can then restrict the duct opening and the pressure cannot leave the eye fast enough. So, Tabitha's foster mom, the woman who started the rescue, Francye told me her eye was so enlarged they had to take the eye. I did what most people do, I felt sorry for Tabitha. So, you know how things just get into your head but you are not really consciously thinking them? Tiffy, back in May was treated for "trauma to the optic nerve" she was given a topical ointment and spent the day at the Rescues vet's office. But other than that, nothing mentioned. Her left was just big after that. I didn't think much about it, and went on with my business. Once she ran out of ointment, I didn't ask for a refill or do anything for her eye? Strange huh? So, after seeing Tabitha, I Googled cataracts because I thought she might have those - that article led me to an article about glaucoma and WOW - once I saw and read the description, Tiffy fit it to a T!
We go see my regular vet, and he confirms my diagnosis and then tells me he will see her in two weeks, and here is some medicine. I didn't like his "treatment" plan so I went to the rescue's vet and got a second opinion, then they referred me to a dog ophthalmologist. Did you know there was such a field? There is, and in Round Rock! Dr. Yu-Speight is an Ophthalmologist and can work on humans or animals - that's cool!
Being very blunt with Dr. Whitehill, my second opinion, I said I didn't want Tiffy's eye removed. I know it's purely vanity which she doesn't posses one ounce of, but I didn't want her to look like Tabitha - there I said it. She is cute and chubby and is just adorable and I don't want people to look at her with pity! I already have Cooper who runs around basically with 3 legs, Tucker whose mental health is questionable and then to have Tiffy with one eye? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I was going to do what I needed to do to get that dog a prosthetic eye! And I did!
Tiffy is going in on Wednesday and Dr. Yu-Speight will be replacing her iris with a silicone ball. She will stay overnight until Thursday and I then I am planning on taking a 1/2 day of school coming home Friday afternoon to be with her. She will have a couple of stitches in her eyeball to hold in the prosthetic and will have to wear the "cone" for a couple of weeks. She will also have drops for her new eye and she is already on drops for her good eye to help slow the process of glaucoma, if she is a carrier for the glaucoma gene! I will find out on Monday, if she indeed has genetic glaucoma or it could all be caused by a tumor. Dr. Yu-Speight told me there were three kinds and I cannot remember the third one - but genetic, caused by a tumor and something else. I guess there are pros and cons to all of them. If it is genetic she can at any time get it in her good eye!
I will have more to this story and will be documenting her recovering and I promise to keep the cone on her the entire two weeks! She is going to hate that!
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