Hello, I am on another list for blind dogs, so this one is new for me. I have a wonderful, 7 1/2 yr old N/M, white, large mini.. about 26 lbs. JJ is blind from SARDS only in the last few months. I am trying so hard to help him like "life" again. His personality went from the typical poodle one, to a "gray" one. I had a ton of bloodwork recently for thyroid, Cushings, Lyme Disease, you name it. All came out negative, but the stand-in vet did not do an ACTH which I understand, could reveal more information. JJ has typical sub-Cushings type symptoms, such as Dry eye & chapped nose, which is helped greatly by Piloptic 2 twice daily in food. He's disinterested in life, thirstier and snores bad since SARDS hit.

I am changing him slowly over to a home cooked chicken/veggie diet from Kibble (Eukanuba) which may have contributed to poor digestion, and higher cortisol, resulting in his blindness.. I 'll never know. I am reading about the perils of even the best kibble only too late. He is getting "Doggie Paws" food enzyme, Omega pill, phosphotydlserine and a multivitamin daily.

I am taking him for a dental cleaning on Tuesday, and wondered if he could have the ACTH test done while he's under. I think it takes several hours to read the levels, but don't want to stress him either. Any knowledge out there about all this? I even wonder if as much as I don't really want to, if a decent, sighted female would bring him "back" a bit. I am probably being too impatient, but JJ always loved to walk, no matter how many times a day, and now it's an effort to get him out on one. Tonight, I turned back AGAIN, after his protesting, even tho it's the same route he always knew. He gets around beautifully, but is obviously not the dog he was.. I dearly miss him. My family does, too, and they are so good with him. He's the best pet we ever had.. I am so very distraught.

Thanks for listening.. Kathi

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001