Goldendoodle eye disease

[Heidi & Bella baby]

I was browsing the web a couple of days ago looking for answers and found this site. Grasping at straws, thought maybe someone here could help us.

A few weeks ago I noticed that Bella's right eye may look red. I checked them both and sure enough. It was definitely red. My husband took her the following Monday/ They gave anti biotic med & eye cream. We took her back in the following (this past Monday, and there was no change. They sent us to a specialist in Madison. Saw her the next day. Gave us some more meds & eye drops. Ran some tests like blood history, urine analysis, serum test ( organ function) blasto ( fungal infection ) they have all come back normal . The blasto has not come back yet. She is talking of losing her eye. We asked isn't there another test? Tomorrow she goes back in for an ocular ultra sound & possible aspiration of tissue from eye. also chest x-ray and a abdominal ultra sound. to see if there is something hiding somewhere. She doesn't seem very optimistic though.

Bella is acting perfectly normal. Eating, playing, except that she is not seeing from that eye. We are so very sick about this. She is only 2.5 yrs. such a loving, smart beauty. She loves everyone.

We lost our last dog, who was a boxer husky mix on 12/26/09.

It seems impossible that this could be happening so soon.

Can anyone help??

Thank you

Heidi

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Heidi, I posted this somewhere else where you mentioned the cyclosporine & the azathioprine, I'll post it here again:

Research the cyclosporine and the azathioprine very carefully before making a decision, and that doesn't mean people's opinions in forums, it means on independent scientifically based veterinary websites. Prednisone has side effects  inckluding a risk of liver damage when used long term, and JD does have to have periodic bloodwork done, even with the prednisone. But both of the other two drugs carry a significant risk of developing cancer as well. Since Golden Retrievers are already at higher risk of developing cancer than any other breed out there, I would be careful. I personally consider cyclosporine or azathioprine to be options of last resort and will not consider using them unless or until the prednisone is no longer helping or there is some medically sound reason to switch him. This is my own choice and yours may differ, but be sure that you have all of the info before maing that choice. My general practice vet grossly underplayed the risks of the cyclosporine and has been pushing it at me for years.  Of course, the vet would be the one selling me the cyclosporine and making the $$$. And it is horribly expensive.

[Heidi & Bella baby]

Hi

Thanks , Been busy

Our vet says the cyclosprine has less side affects that the xzathioprine, and that she can taper off of it depending on how well the eye is doing etc.

Are you the one I was talking to about the NGE? Does Jack have to be on meds the rest of his life. or the disease will attack some other part of the body?

This is a specialist we have been seeing, she told us to call any pharmacy with questions.

We are confused and concerned. Not sure what to do.

She was not tolerating the prednisone, she was breathing differently at night. Mike took her in. they thought it could be indigestion. I didn't think so, but they gave us something for indigestion and she is much better now. She isn't ignoring us as much either which is a HUGE plus.she is more like our ole darling Bella.

This is such a crazy time of year to be going through this. It's the holidays and we are both working a lot of over time. We don't have a lot of time together ( he works 2nd shift)

Thanks

Heidi

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The prednisone can cause indigestion and even stomach ulcers, we always give it with an antacid.

Jack will have to be on meds the rest of his life. Some dogs with certain immune-mediated diseases can go into remission and not need any drgus for a period of time, but it's rare. Most need some maintenance dose of some type of immunosuppressant drug to keep the disease managed. Eventually the disease flares up again, that's the problem.

I would follow your specialist's advice as far as the medications go. Hopefully Bella will go into remission and can be weaned off the cyclosporine at some point.

[Heidi & Bella baby]

As of 12/22/12 they have came up with an alternative treatment for Bella. See below

As an alternative therapy to consider, we could try a combination of either tetracycline or doxycycline (antibiotics) and niacinamide (vitamin B). When these medications are used together, they have immune-modulating properties and are generally quite safe, although they can cause some stomach upset.

Have you heard of this or know anything about it??

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I haven't heard of this, but if it's legitimate, it sounds much safer in terms of drug side effects and much cheaper than the immunosuppressant drugs and/or the steroids.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some info on this treatment: http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/Medicine/Tetracyclines-an...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Now that is fascinating. Too bad it doesn't work in atopic dermatitis.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Too bad is right. :(

[Heidi & Bella baby]

Hi

We were able to taper the prednisone for Bella, she just was not the same dog, she wouldn't even lay on the couch by us.we took her back in because she seemed to be breathing differently at night. They thought it was indigestion,we now have incl. a med for indigestion, and she is behaving much better.(much to my surprise) the poor thing I am surprised that she did not vomit if she was so sick she couldn't do anything, but drink water, lay around go out side & ignore us. We felt horrible. She is much better now. Eating more, playin a bit & engaging with us etc. Not 100%, but much much better.

[Heidi & Bella baby]

Hi

The mother board on the computer fried on Christmas Day, we just got a new computer. So I have been having withdrawals.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Bella was tapered off the prednisone & is now on the anti biotic & vitamin B  treatment. Today is the first day she has really shown us our old Bella. During the night she actutually got up on the bed with us. first time inpprobably a month.

As she gets further away from the prednisone she is better. Her eye is about the same and she is not seeing much more than light out of it. Hoping & praying this works and all will be good again.

Heidi

[F, Calla & Luca]

I hope so too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad Bella is getting back to her old self. I hope the treatment helps.