Woo poses for her close-up
Hello readers! I hope you are enjoying this series of interviews with special needs anipals. My latest interviewee is @Woo100, who has an important message to share with doggie readers.
Hi Woo! Could you tell our readers a bit about yourself and your family, please?
I am a 9-year-old JRT (Jack Russell Terrier). I was born in Nottingham, UK, and I have lived in a small town in Lincolnshire since I was eight weeks old. I live with my owner and a (very excitable) four-year-old Chocolate Labrador called Grace. I am very friendly and get on well with most dogs and humans. My favourite thing is walking in our local woods or playing chase with Grace in a nearby field. I am called Woo because of my barking style; I throw my head back and go woo-woo-woo-woo very fast!
Woo out and about
It was sudden. Glaucoma develops in a matter of hours in dogs, is very painful and needs prompt vet treatment. My owner noticed I was unable to open my eye to the light (photosensitive) and took me the same day to the local vet. He didn’t really examine me very well and he diagnosed conjunctivitis and gave me gel. The condition did not improve and I was taken back a day and a half later as I seemed very unwell, and was given eye drops. Two vet visits later I saw a different vet (same practice); she said the lens had moved, my eye was very bloodshot and looked blue (sign of glaucoma). The lady vet referred me to an eye vet at the AHT (Animal Health Trust) in Newmarket, Suffolk. I was rushed there as an emergency but it was too late to save my eye. There are two types of glaucoma; primary which is genetic and secondary which happens because of an infection or problem in the eye. Glaucoma is caused by pressure building up in the eye. The vets do not know if the lens moving caused secondary glaucoma, or if glaucoma caused the lens to move! The ‘architecture’ of my remaining eye is not good, but my present eye vet does not seem to think I have primary glaucoma.
That must have been an awful time for you and your owner. Thank goodness the second vet realised that something was seriously wrong.
The news that the eye would have to be removed was a big shock for my owner. It was decided that a little plastic ball should be put in the socket as opposed to a false eye, which the eye vet said could cause problems in cases of
glaucoma; also, as she said, they are less popular in the UK. As I am insured, it wasn’t a question of cost.
My owner was naturally upset that my pretty little face now looked different, but as she said, no matter what the vets do to me, I am still her little Woo!
Has it been difficult to adjust after losing an eye? Are there any special precautions that you and your owner have to take?
I was kept in the animal hospital for two days so I had recovered from the anaesthetic when I went home, but was a little unsure on my feet. I had to adjust to having one eye. I still sometimes walk into things (mainly lamp posts!) on my “blind” side! When I meet other dogs they seem to take great interest in my face as though they know something is not quite right about it!
The main concern now is keeping the other eye healthy. My eye vet checks the pressure regularly and I have been on drops to keep the pressure low as a precaution. I recently had an operation to remove a little bit of tissue; I had
tiny little stitches in the eye and I was in an Elizabethan collar for three weeks.
Woo with her stylish Elizabethan collar
At the moment, I am on eight eye drops a day (two different types) and antibiotic tablets. I am very good about having eye drops, it is only the anaesthetic ones at the vet I don’t like (they sting a bit). Hopefully, the vet will let me go back to my “normal” three drops a day soon! Eye drop time gives my owner a chance to look at the eye and make sure there is nothing unusual going on. She is obsessive about finding any redness! I just have to make sure I do not get any scratches or anything in my eye. We have no idea how long we can keep the eye healthy but we take each day at a time.
You are so good to put up with all those eye drops! I hope you get treats afterwards!
Yes I always get a little treat!
Finally, do you have any advice about glaucoma for our doggie readers?
As glaucoma can effect any breed (especially some of the large breeds like Labradors) it is very important that any eye condition gets PROMPT vet treatment; if caught in time it may be possible to save the eye. Do not wait. Get to the vet ASAP. Glaucoma can happen within hours in dogs, not years as in humans! If your local vet doesn’t have specialised eye equipment or is not qualified (in the UK, eye vets have an eye certificate) it is important you get the dog referred as soon as possible. We discovered (too late) that if you can find a local eye vet it is possible to consult them yourself; you do not need a vet to refer you. Not all general vets are aware of the urgency of the situation! Glaucoma is a very painful condition and it needs specialised treatment.
Thank you for highlighting this condition.
And thank you Woo for telling our readers about your experience. I hope your other eye stays healthy for a long time to come.
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Wow. That’s some good information to know…
I know eyes can be very tricky. Humans must be very aware of their pets’ eyes and take them to the vet if anything seems amiss. And keep at it, apparently, it it’s not getting better!
Mom had a corneal ulcer from a contact lens scratch years ago, and when she went to the dr. the next day, he said she should have gone to the Emergency Hospital the night before! She could have gone blind very quickly had she not received treatment promptly.
Thank you for sharing your story, Woo!
=^..^=
Excellent article friend. I didn’t realize that disease could deveope in such rapid order. I am guessing the same might be for cats. My peeps are going to take extra care in keeping an eye on my vision.
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