It's not as bad as it looks, and now we think we know what's going on. Darla had begun bleeding from her eyes during the process of administering the course of topical medications. At first we couldn't tell where the blood was coming from, because it would just starting running down from the corners of her eyes. Her eyeballs seemed fine, and we eventually determined the bleeding was from the eyelids themselves. But why?
I emailed that photo and others to the ophthalmologist in Burlington, Dr. Vivian Jamieson, and her vet tech Rachel, early yesterday morning. (They were off Monday.) An hour later Rachel called and put Dr. Jamieson on the line. In her 30 years of practice, she said she'd never seen anything like this before. I said, "Well, we always like to give our veterinarians something new and different." She was worried that the bleeding was from the corneal suture sites, but I assured her that the eyeballs looked fine, we saw no bleeding from those locations, and that Darla wasn't squinting and tearing (which are signs of pain and discomfort with the eye). Indeed, once the bleeding stopped -- and it always did, usually about 30 minutes after giving her the drops -- she looked quite normal, and she held her eyes open. They were bright and clear.
After some discussion, she concluded it was probably the glaucoma medications that were causing a reaction of some sort with her eyelid tissue. Now, this is a problem because in the post-op phase there is always the risk of pressure spikes, which is why glaucoma meds are on the roster. And in one test on Darla last week, Dr. Jamieson found that the drainage angles in her eyes were constricted, which meant she was already at somewhat higher risk for glaucoma in the future. Darla isn't pre-ordained to develop glaucoma later, but it does mean this is something that needs careful and sustained monitoring, and that Darla might need to stay on glaucoma meds as a preventative measure long-term if her pressures begin climbing.
In the meantime, we have bleeding eyes to deal with. So Dr. Jamieson decided to have us hold off on administering the glaucoma medications and see if the bleeding stops. The key to being able to do this was our ability to check her eye pressures, which we can do because we have the diagnostic tool, the Tono-Pen. Dr. Jamieson asked me to start checking her pressures within six hours of her last glaucoma medications, and to report our results to her. Alayne took this photo of me testing Darla's eye pressures yesterday evening:
The great news: Normal pressures! I tested her eyes again this morning and we still had normal pressures. So this was a real relief. Rachel told me today they were very happy to hear it and that we should continue to withhold the glaucoma meds and monitor her eye pressures daily.
I emailed Dr. Jamieson last night high-resolution images of Darla's eyes showing the corneal suture sites, so she could see for herself how clean and intact they appeared. I also sent her a photo of Darla as she normally looks, with her eyes wide-open and comfortable.
It appears that Darla is simply having an extremely odd and rare reaction to some eye drops. If she does develop glaucoma in the future, we may be in a pickle, but for now, Darla says, "hold the pickle, just give me a cookie."
Oh Darla, hope your pressure stays normal. What a beautiful puppy you are. You can't be in a better home than Rolling Dog. Alayne and Steve are great parents to you.
Posted by: Clarence & Mis-Fortune Poteet | August 08, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Darla,
We hope that you are having a good weekend and that your eyes are feeling comfortable and not hurting.
Prayers being sent that your eye pressure remains normal.
Posted by: Chloe | August 04, 2013 at 12:04 PM
I'm so glad Darla is ok! You never know when or what kind of reaction medicine can cause. I will send good vibes that glaucoma stays far, far away from Darla!
You look fine in your glasses, Steve. I can't see worth a darn without mine, but I actually take them off to read :)
Posted by: Ann | August 02, 2013 at 10:14 PM
My first reaction opening up the BLOG--"oh no!!" Glad all is okay---after 50 most of us have our granny glasses!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | August 02, 2013 at 01:41 AM
We love you, Darla!
Posted by: Glenda | August 01, 2013 at 07:49 PM
Oh, my. I do hope all goes well for Darla now that you are on top of this new and unexpected problem. Thank goodness Darla has you to "run interference" for her. Give her an extra "kiss" for me and a couple of tail wags from "the boys".
(I call my "granny glasses"--"senility cheaters". One might as well have fun out of these situations.
Posted by: Phyllis Snow | August 01, 2013 at 05:09 PM
Hoping that Darla is done with the drops! Glasses for reading? Is that all? Wait til you need trifocals like me! Good thoughts going out your way.....
Posted by: Linda | August 01, 2013 at 04:36 PM
Scary! :( I think you look very handsome and dignified in your glasses, Steve. Maybe Darla could borrow them but I don't know of anything that could make her any more beautiful! :) :)
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | August 01, 2013 at 03:28 PM
Good Morning....please give precious Darla a ((( BIG HUG )))
from me.....I am so sorry she is having this terrible reaction..... :(
Posted by: Valerie | August 01, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Hang in there, Darla, you have the best Dad in the world and he will take excellent care of you. And to Steve, welcome to the club, buddy! The glasses become second nature after a while... :o)
Posted by: patty c | July 31, 2013 at 09:45 PM
The only reason I'm not worried about Darla is because she is living on Rolling Dog Farm. Thank you Steve and Alayne!!!
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | July 31, 2013 at 09:28 PM
I'm thinking good thoughts for Darla. She's in good hands with Steve!!!!
Posted by: Penny Heinrich | July 31, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Oh dear, things just don't go smoothly sometimes. Good to know her eye pressures are fine for now. She is a very patient girl, putting up with all those eyedrops and monitors; please give her an extra cookie from me. And you look very distinguished in your glasses!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | July 31, 2013 at 05:10 PM
How lucky Darla is to be in your care and have such a wonderful, responsive Dr. & staff. Better days ahead Darla. And to Steve I'm wearing my readers to type this :-) Take care all!
Posted by: Shelly | July 31, 2013 at 04:51 PM
WOW - HOW ABSOLUTELY SCARY. BUT DARLA SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S IN GREAT HANDS BETWEEN YOU TWO & HER VET'S.
HERE'S HOPING THAT DARLA CONTINUES TO DO WELL & WON'T NEED THOSE TROUBLESOME DROPS AGAIN.
Posted by: FELICIA | July 31, 2013 at 01:22 PM