I drove Mitch the blind Husky to Helena today to see our vet, Dr. Brenda Culver, for an eye exam. I had suspected, based on the appearance of his eyes, that he had progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA. Brenda and I both like making educated guesses prior to the exam, simply based on visual appearance, and then letting her diagnostic tools tell us how accurate we are.
In the photo above, Brenda is using her slit lamp to look into his eye. Vet tech Jayme J. is holding Mitch still for the exam. The slit lamp is an ophthalmic microscope, so you can see virtually everything going on inside the eye. After just a few seconds, Brenda turned to me and said, "He's got the most advanced case of PRA I think I've ever seen." The retinas were as thin as they could possibly be.
In this photo, Brenda is now using a magnifying lens for a different view of his retina:
Next came the intraocular pressure, or IOP, readings with the Tono-Pen, which would indicate whether he has any incipient glaucoma developing. But his pressures were perfectly normal in both eyes:
So the result is that we've confirmed he has PRA and there isn't, unfortunately, anything we can do to restore vision. But he is one happy boy, as you can see in this next photo that I took of Mitch in the truck just before we left the ranch this morning ... he was pawing at me, trying to get me to put the camera down and love him up instead:
So I left Mitch at the clinic to be neutered, and then drove north out of Helena towards Great Falls. I was headed to the airport there to meet a little blind guy we were flying in from Mississippi today ... a 4-month old Lab puppy named Creighton. He arrived safe and sound, but I'm going to save him for my Sunday night blog post!
Well, okay then ... before I get too much grief, here's a hint of what this boy looks like (and jeez, look at those eyes):
Stay tuned for Creighton's story and more photos!
Finally, here's what our county road looked like when Creighton and I were driving home this afternoon ... the ranch is out there somewhere, about a mile away:
Mississippi it ain't.
Mitch better get used to that camera, boy!
Posted by: Kelly Luchtman | March 29, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Mitch is way to cute!!and I can tell Creighton is also! I received my Economic Stimulus Payment Notice,hope I can spend it on a plane ticket to Rolling Dog to pet every critter there!!!!!Thanks for all you do!
Posted by: Mary Young | March 29, 2008 at 06:45 AM
What a handsome happy guy! Hope he's recovering well from his neuter.
Posted by: yoonamaniac | March 28, 2008 at 01:53 PM
I can't wait to hear Creighton's full story! His eyes look painful, but of course that will soon stop and he will blossom and chase in the summer over green pastures (and still waters?)
Thank you for taking him and of course all you do everyday.
I know the daily grind does not seem heroic but it is.
(Be sure to get away now and then, I just did for the first time in a year and I am so refreshed and ready to tackle the grind again!)
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | March 28, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Mitch's smile is infectious! Thanks for triggering mine. A chocolate lab puppy! NO doubt Creighton will liven up an already lively RDR. Congratulations all.
ps: nothing like Montana, but can you believe we saw some snow on our daffodils in Seattle yesterday?!
Posted by: Margaret | March 28, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Mitch looks like such a happy boy! I bet one of these days he's going to get adopted.
Posted by: Julie | March 28, 2008 at 07:03 AM
Mitch is absolutely gorgeous! I would put money on him getting adopted soon....just wish I lived closer!! Can't wait for Creighton's "unveiling"!!
Posted by: Debbie | March 28, 2008 at 05:38 AM
Mitch has a lovely smile, although he may not be smiling at you when he wakes up. lol
Posted by: Andrew, NZ | March 28, 2008 at 01:58 AM
Oh my goodness...that Mitch is soooo cute! Love his smile. And Creighton looks like a cutie too, from what we can see in the picture! Can't wait for his story - I can't get over those eyes. Welcome to both boys, lucky them to live at the ranch.
Posted by: Sue H | March 27, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Both of these sweethearts are so beautiful that I can't believe that no one would adopt them! But now they have a happy home at RDR! Seeing all of the eye check-ups your brood goes through makes me feel like a kindred spirit. I too have a form of uveitis and go through the same exams and periodic steroid injections. (Ok, I find it funny in a way that I could be treated by Dr. Culver too!) Welcome Mitch and Creighton!
Posted by: Karen | March 27, 2008 at 09:53 PM
he's one marvelous mitch, that's for sure!!
and welcome to creighton - the change from mississippi is certainly going to be a drastic one!! but spring is on its way, at last...
Posted by: maggie | March 27, 2008 at 09:16 PM
I agree...a tease!...c'mon....tell us more, tell us more.
Posted by: Mary Ellen | March 27, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Oh I just love that Husky boy!!! Huskies have such a wonderful smile and Mitch is not exception. He looks so happy!! Look forward to Sunday's blog...your weather looks like the middle of winter not spring!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | March 27, 2008 at 08:10 PM
That photo of you in the truck just melts me, Mitch, you handsome hunk, you !! But please tell your dad not to be such a tease about Creighton :(
I have a feeling he's going to capture some hearts?????????
(Creighton, that is !!!!!! ;) )
Posted by: Bibi | March 27, 2008 at 05:51 PM