…sometimes I really don’t want to be right….

“Tell me it’s NOT Pannus” …I said to the vet.  “You have a good eye for it”, he said:  “Most people would not have recognized it this early in it’s progression”.  “This is my 3rd dog with Pannus”  I added and his response was “well, you do have the right breed for it.”

Three months ago I noticed Jake’s eyes, took a picture of them and emailed them to Dr. Jeff.  He recommended that I observe him and if I feel like I should do so, to bring him in to have his eyes checked.  So, today, I did that. 

He’s not happy about having drops put in his eyes but since it will be his life now, I’m sure it will get to be just another thing to do each day. 

Pannus is a disease seen most commonly in the German Shepherds, but does occur in other breeds. A progressive change occurs where blood vessels and scar tissue invade the cornea. This change usually begins in the outer or lower quadrant of the cornea, and severe cases can involve most or all of the corneal surface area resulting in blindness. If chronic, the affected areas may become black with pigmentation.

 

It is believed that Pannus is an immune mediated disease. That is, some subcellular change has occurred in the cornea which the immune system then recognizes as abnormal resulting in an immune mediated attack in the cornea almost as if the cornea was foreign or transplanted tissue. It is suspected that the German Shepherd has a genetic predisposition to this disease, but the damage to the cornea which starts everything is thought to be associated with ultraviolet radiation.  Today, Pannus is diagnosed worldwide, however it is well recognized that cases of Pannus are more severe and harder to treat in areas of higher elevation, supporting the UV radiation theory. It is hypothesized that dissipation of the ozone layer has resulted in greater exposure to ultraviolet radiation.  

 It makes sense then to treat Pannus with medications that locally suppress the immune reaction. Steroids (such as dexamethasone and Prednisolone) are anti-inflammatory medications, which provide some immunosupression as a side effect. Cyclosporine, is a drug which has immunosupression as it’s primary mode of action, and applied topically alone or in combination with steroids often results in better control of Pannus than the use of steroid alone.  Cyclosporine (1%) is used in the treatment of Pannus. With treatment, the active formation of blood vessels and new tissue often resolves, but the scarring and pigmentation may improve slowly or not at all.  

   

 Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation is also helpful in the long term control of Pannus. Keeping the dog indoor during the sunniest part of the day; providing a doghouse shelter; or trying a specialty pair of canine sunglasses called Doggles may prove very helpful.

Since Pannus is an immune mediated disease, it is managed by treatment but not cured. Ongoing treatment for life is needed to maintain vision.

Doggles: blue-red-light blue-chrome-black-leopard-chrome..  what color to buy…  what color to buy??  Oh the decisions life throws at us!!  I think I like the blue!

Brita’s Health Challenges

Brita’s 6 now.  Just turned 6 last week.  Had she not had surgery for lumbosacral stenosis, she most likely wouldn’t have been here today.  She was going downhill pretty fast in May and by the 3rd week in June she couldn’t jump in the side of my van without crying.  It was surgery or manage increasing pain until it was unbearable and then say goodbye.  Today she shows no sign of the pain she had and has gotten much of her muscle back on her rear.  I thought it would be good to put links to the posts together so anyone else who may be going through this with their dog will be able to see what we went through. 

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Well wishers from Facebook!

Brita’s journey

Day 1 after surgery

Day 2 after surgery

At this point, I went into the hospital to repair the broken hip I had walked on for 2 weeks.  Brita made a speedy recovery and within a few months acted like nothing was ever wrong.  What a blessing to be able to fix her.  And thank goodness for pet health insurance or I would be paying on the $4000 bill for a long time. 

This wasn’t the first surgery Brita had.  When she was 6 months old her lower canines were growing in the wrong way and poking a hole in the roof of her mouth.  Here is her dentist.

So in total, she’s had 3 surgeries – these 2 and her spaying and she’s come through all with a positive attitude – but then, dogs don’t feel sorry for themselves, do they? 

Kobie - Pancreatic Insufficiency

(written in May of 2011)

Kobie was diagnosed with Pancreatic Insufficiency in 2007.  She had lost weight and was uncontrollably hungry all the time.  For the rest of her life any food I prepared for her was supposed to have pancreatic enzymes soaked in to it. I specifically state food that “I” prepared because she was

(1) quite the hunter and
(2) quite the food thief.

 In the yard she would always be chasing after critters and once she and Ari shared a rabbit (I left the picture).  Also one year she discovered the PEAR tree!  I think that year she was addicted to sugar!

Of course, there were no enzymes on the outdoor food and in addition there were no enzymes on some food she had in the house such as eggs she stole by the dozen, numerous “to go” boxes (brought home for me), and then there was the entire pot of a dozen brats that was cooking on the stove and the spaghetti I had prepared for the rare dinner guest!  You get the picture.

It is speculated that she may not have gotten enough nutrients from her food because of EPI resulting in Osteoporosis.  This would have weakened her bones to the point that the humerus bone split when she slammed into the wall.

We’ll never know for sure but one thing is certain and that is that she struggled with EPI always being hungry and sometimes having trouble eating the food with the enzymes. It’s not a disease that any innocent dog should have and it’s sad when one does. 

Click here for info about Pancreatic Insufficiency

Click here for info about  EPI in Dogs

 
One of Kobie’s favorite spots was by the bird cage. 
I used to say that Joshua was a food source for Kobie because he would feed her!

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