A month ago, I posted an item on some groundbreaking veterinary research about blindness in standard Poodles. The research uncovered a type of blindness that may be unique to this particular breed called Early-Onset Photoreceptor Dystrophy. It begins as day blindness with reduced night vision, but then progresses to total blindness within one year of age.
After learning about this from our vet, Dr. Brenda Culver at Montana Veterinary Specialists in Helena, I contacted one of the researchers, Dr. Kristina Narfstrom, to let her know about our blind Poodle sisters, Molly and Priscilla. Dr. Narfstrom is a Professor of Veterinary Ophthalmology at the University of Missouri, and I thought she might be interested in having additional subjects for the study, since the initial group numbered fewer than 10 dogs.
Dr. Narfstrom told me that they would be delighted to include Molly and Priscilla, and asked me to have our clinic send blood samples from the girls to the Animal Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the university. She wrote, "Actually, we suspect that there are many more of these congenitally visually impaired standard Poodles around and that we might not really know the real prevalence of the condition."
So I had scheduled a trip to Helena today for their blood draws and to get the studded snow tires put on the truck and horse trailer. Also along for the trip was blind Widget, who was getting her blood drawn for a recheck on her liver enzymes as a follow-up to her frightening xylitol episode over Thanksgiving.
In the photo at top vet tech Heather A. is pulling blood from Molly while vet tech Lynn M. holds her still. Here they are with Priscilla:
And not to be outdone, here's Widget getting her blood drawn:
Widget wasn't too sure why she was back in the vet clinic, and she protested that she had sworn off sugarless gum for the rest of her life. But then she started trying to lick Heather in the face, and it occurred to all of us that Widget seemed unusually interested in the gum Heather happened to be chewing. Hmm.
Love ya Miss Widget and glad the big chewing gum disaster is past!
Posted by: Lisa | December 10, 2008 at 09:34 PM
No, Widget! Stay away from that sugarless gum!
Posted by: Katie | December 10, 2008 at 05:28 PM
The girls look so good. I was reading a few of your blogs from earlier in the year before I discovered RDR & I was amazed at the condition the girls were in when they first arrived & how wonderful they look today. Sounds like Widget was probably saying to Heather, do you know what that gum can do?
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | December 10, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Shirley - what is the smartest breed?
(RDR - glad all are doing well!)
Posted by: Julien Sharp | December 10, 2008 at 02:44 PM
The Poodle girls look so good. If you ever get a chance you should watch Dog 101--did you know the Poodle is the second smartest breed.
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | December 10, 2008 at 12:47 AM