Spinner's Surgery: Heartbreak

I just got back to the hotel room with Spinner, and I'm sorry to report that our blind and deaf dog is ... still blind and deaf.  At least for now. 

The eye surgeon was not optimistic when he called immediately after the surgery today.  He had found that her right eye was shrunken in size and abnormally shaped, a condition known as microphthalmos.  It's non-visual.  After cutting the fibrous tissue holding that eyeball in its rotated and down position, it did not 'float' back up to where it would normally be.  We still see white when we look at that eye.

Her left eye did rotate up, although not all the way.  That's the good news.  Unfortunately, the surgeon found this eye compromised by a big cataract.  Aaaargghh!  He could not do cataract surgery because that procedure requires an electro-retinogram to determine whether the retina is firing; if it isn't, surgery isn't an option.  And even if the retina is working, cataract surgery requires a week's worth of pre-operative ocular medications to get the eye ready.

Spinner bumped her way through the doorway and into the hotel room, and then bumped into all the furniture as she made her way around.  I tried a 'menace response' test on her left eye -- by suddenly waving the hand rapidly towards the eye, which in a normal eye results in blinking -- but there was no response. 

There might still be some hope.  She may have some peripheral vision in the cataract eye that will become apparent in the next few days.  The surgeon said it could take a while for the eye and brain to adjust to the re-positioned eyeball, and if so, that's when we may detect some peripheral vision.  We will also have that eye evaluated to see if she might be a candidate for cataract surgery.

But for now ... well, we're clearly heartbroken.  We had hoped to give this sweet dog the gift of sight today.  It doesn't look like we succeeded.  But at least we tried.  And that's all we can do.

Thanks to all of you who have posted such wonderful, encouraging comments about Spinner's surgery.  I wish I could give you better news tonight.

We go back to see the eye surgeon in the morning for a follow-up, and then head to the airport for our flight to Seattle and then on to Missoula.

(I did not post photos of Spinner tonight because her eyes are bloody and look kind of icky.)

Comments

[Ginger & Tobias]

You did all that you could do and if you hadn't tried, you would have always wondered, what if.... give yourself credit. You & Spinner give each other hugs, Tobias & I are sending more hugs because you did so much.

[Nina]

The news is sad.....hopefully cataract surgery will be possible.
The goods news is that Spinner will be loved and cared for no matter what!

[Mandy, Laramie, WY]

That is heartbreaking news. I've been praying this trip would bring Spinner sight. I am still holding out hope that she could have sight in one eye! Even if she does not get the gift of sight, at least she has the everlasting love at the Ranch, which I'm sure is worth more than we can imagine.

[Roz]

Spinner-you are loved!

[Leigh]

Steve you did give us good news...the news is that Spinner is safe, loved and you tried your best...that is all you can do. Spinner is one lucky girl.

[Karen SA/TX]

Oh, that is disappointing. The effort has been great. These experiences add to the depth of our knowledge and understanding, and even perhaps, accepting Mother Nature's ways. Wish it had turned out different. Have a safe trip home.

[Alicat]

Aw that is so sad. :( At the very least, you are giving your all for Spinner and our thoughts are with you guys to have a safe trip home!

[Jean/Nevada]

. . . "But at least we tried. And that's all we can do." . . .
The above line is what separates Rolling Dog Ranch from the other rescues. Money pays for it all but the animals will get the care they need no matter what that particular month's donation amount is. That is why I am SO PROUD to be a volunteer for you & all that you both represent; here's hoping to get new donators.