I was in Burlington yesterday with three special girls -- Darla, Widget and Aurora -- for a full day of veterinary medicine. Darla was scheduled for her double surgery ... our ophthalmologist would be doing a laser procedure on her left eye, which had developed glaucoma, and our surgeon would be removing a small mast cell tumor on her knee.
But on Monday afternoon, when I tested the pressure in Darla's left eye with our Tono-Pen, I was shocked to see it was at 36 -- definitely glaucoma territory. We had been giving her glaucoma meds twice a day for the past several weeks, and we were used to seeing pressures in the teens because the meds had it under control ... or so we thought. I tested her again a few hours after her evening dose of meds, and was relieved to get 16 and 17. But the spike to 36 was alarming.
I mentioned this to our ophthalmologist's tech Patty C. when we checked in early yesterday morning. She pulled out their Tono-Pen and registered 68 and 70. Uh oh. Darla also now had no menace response (i.e., when you suddenly bring your hand or an object up to her eye, she doesn't blink in response). This meant she was functionally blind in that eye.
I was in a complete dither at that point. Our ophthalmologist, Dr. Sarah Hoy, came in and duplicated Patty's findings. Sarah then sedated Darla's eye and used a needle to draw fluid out, which instantly lowered the eye pressure. Sarah wanted to see if after a couple of hours Darla might regain a menace response. She didn't.
I was so upset at all this I didn't even think about taking photos, and left the camera on the chair in the exam room. The photo at top was from her previous exam in January.
If she's already blind in that eye, it's too late to do any surgery. Even though her retina and optic nerve still looked good yesterday, it can take a while for those to start atrophying.
Sarah wanted to start Darla on some systemic medications to lower her eye pressure, while we continue the topical meds, and see if over the next several days she will regain the menace response. Sometimes it does come back, and the surgery might still be possible.
I was worried about putting off the mast cell surgery any longer, but Darla's team of doctors -- ophthalmologist, internist and surgeon -- huddled and concluded there was little risk in postponing the mast cell surgery for a week. Better to do that than put her under two separate operations (which was the reason we had waited to schedule both of these together).
So we have rescheduled her for next Wednesday. We will probably know by Friday if the menace response has returned, and I will continue to check her eye pressures.
All in all, a terrible development.
I'll post updates on the other two girls next week.
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Oh dear. How incredibly frightening. We wish her, you both and the rest of your 4 legged family the best.
Posted by: Ev | March 15, 2014 at 11:55 PM
Darla, we are sending love and healing light to you sweet girl. You know that you are loved beyond words...
Posted by: Chloe | March 14, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Bad news indeed, and doubly upsetting because you were monitoring her so carefully, as you always do. Did they say if they thought something was wrong with your Tono-Pen, or why the readings were so skewed? I'm sure dear Darla is going to be fine...
Posted by: Amber Lipari | March 14, 2014 at 06:54 AM
Sad news indeed. I'll keep my fingers crossed, and whatever happens, we know she'll be safe and loved.
Posted by: Rebecca | March 13, 2014 at 05:51 PM
Darn it anyway....that is terrible news. Hoping and praying for a good turnaround this week. Thank you both for your amazing gifts to these precious ones.
Posted by: Linda | March 13, 2014 at 01:04 PM
Remember to take a deep breath and move forward one step at a time. No matter what happens with Darla, know that she is light years ahead of the game because she is loved and cared for by RDF.
Posted by: Mary H. | March 13, 2014 at 11:58 AM
I am sorry that her eye problem is that bad. I know you all love her very much! Keep us posted on your blog, ok?
Posted by: Nancy Towne | March 13, 2014 at 10:56 AM
I'm so sorry. Thinking of you all and especially Darla.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | March 13, 2014 at 01:46 AM
I'm sending lots of healing thoughts your way for Darla. I sure hope the meds work and the menace response returns, but if not, I know that you will do whatever is necessary to make her comfortable. The care you give Darla and every one of your precious babies is second to none. She's in the best hands :)
Posted by: Ann | March 12, 2014 at 11:28 PM
This really sucks. Darla is so special to all of us and I know she's won your heart....
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | March 12, 2014 at 06:15 PM
Positive thoughts coming from Louisiana to Darla and everyone. Maybe the new med will do the trick. Either way, you'll handle things as you always do! Thanks for keeping us posted.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | March 12, 2014 at 06:05 PM
Steve, what a sweetheart you are! (And Alayne too).....
I'm thinking all good thoughts for Darla. She's being well taken care of.
Posted by: Penny | March 12, 2014 at 05:50 PM
Marla, Darla's right eye continues to be fine, so this won't make her blind if she loses her left eye. Steve
Posted by: Steve | March 12, 2014 at 05:30 PM
Oh no, I'm sure this was a terrible shock, when you thought everything was under control. I'll keep hoping that the menace response returns and surgery will still be an option.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | March 12, 2014 at 05:19 PM
I know Darla is very special to you Steve. I can't remember though....does she have good vision in her other eye? Can anyone answer this?
Posted by: KCMarla | March 12, 2014 at 04:19 PM