<< Laughing >> That'll teach you!! I've got my fingers crossed that everything goes well.

Thanks,I wont be able to report back untill fri night(no laptop) when we get back. We are staying over thurs night just incase anything post op goes wrong we are not 300 miles from the hospital.

Fingers crossed here too. We'll have to see if there's a mac guru around here to see how we can get pics up for you. Take care and good luck.

We need to all send our positive energy to Robin...I'm so excited for her!!

We arrived at the hotel about 7pm and then went directly to the hospitalwhere they told us we could checkrobin in tonigt.I declined,not wanting her in a strange place,and cage, Because of the UTI she has been fighting for a week, they want her there at 8:30 am for a test.This will sether surgury back an hour or so. More news as it becomes available.

Thank you John for keeping us up to date. Best of luck to Robin!!

Obviously you were able to "steal" the laptop for the duration - good, great, excellent!!
Keep us informed, please. If you have pictures to post send them my way and I'll be glad to post them for you.

Well people,no pics and no operation. We are back home and she still has her cateracts. They had to do some cardic pictures because she has a murmer.Fortuneately its nothing but a slight leak in the top valve ,which is no big deal and (I guess) pretty common in older dogs.She also has a condition where her eyes twitch left to right every now and then (only a little bit) They need to find out where thats comming from,either a small brain lesion (not so good) or a thyriod problem (easily treated and no big deal) Did some testing and scans,didnt really find anything on her brain (except that she has one),the thyroid test will take a couple days to process.The UTI is gone,and the Horners will probably fix itself in 5 months or so,unless they find the sign of a mini stroke,and again the emg for that has yet to be red because the specialist that does that was not there today.

So now we are rescheduled for sept 15 or 22,after all results are in.This place is very thourogh and  we were really impressed with the level of professionalism they displayed.They all spend an inordinate ammount of time explaining things and telling us just exactly what is going on. As it turns out Dr Lorimar (the eye surgon) actually built the facility 10 yrs ago and now only does cataract surgery because he wants to.He has done penguins and polar bears and has done more animal catarct surgerys than anybody in the world over the last 25 yrs. The facility is rated  as being #1 in the world for eye and joint surgery as well as kidney transplants in dogs.They have had dogs shipped in from as far away as chili for cataract surgery.So,I guess we have the right people,but of course that comes with a price! Nancy and I decided when we went into this that once we start it has to be a "money no consideration" thing and we are ready for that.

 As I learn more i will put it up!

Well bummer for Robin, and wonderful that you are going to a place that is top notch. They are dotting their I's and crossing their T's which I'm happy to hear, obviously they are expensive, however they are more into giving you a happy and healthy companion, then getting your money. Thank you again for sharing.

John, I can only second what Renee had to say. I'd have liked to have had everything go perfectly, but if it doesn't I'd rather have someone be able to explain why than to have them "try" ...
I second Renee also in that sounds like the best of the places you can be for what you need. The fact that they care says a lot to me!

John, you've been awfully quiet since you got back. I can understand the disappointment, long trip, expectation and all, but you can still talk to us ....

Nothing really going on,had to take the aussie to the vet today,her anual fall alegys have kicked in and somewhere she got an ear infection,so we have a bunch of pills for her.

Blue pearl called and told us that Robins appt with the neoroigist is sept 23 @8am and if that goes well she will have the cateract surgery.I just hope this is even a good idea.She's been blind for 8 months and has totally adapted both indors and out.We know her sense of smell and hearing has developed exponencially (sp?) and I'm a bit worried that sight will make her so aware that she will start roaming or even worse,running. She never has,but I dont think that means anything because she is still a husky.

This afternoon I am packing up things for robin and myself to leave tomorrow for sterling hights.Tuesday morning it either happens or it doesnt.Wish it was easy to put pics up here.

Robin and I got home about 830pm tonight.Dr Lorimer is very pleased with the outcme and gave me 2 thumbs up when he came out to see me when he was done. She handled the anesetic with no problems.She only "sees" about 40% right now,both because her lids are stitched partially shut and the retna transmitters and recievers in her brain have not had to work for so long,it will take a week or so for them to get up to speed. She got corrective lenses that will allow her to see clearly and focus within  4 inches of her nose. Right now that is messing up her depth perception,like use with a new set of bifocals! She goes back in 2 weeks to get the eyelid stitches out and further evaluation,but he is confident her vision will be as good as it ever was within a couple months.
Its really funny how aware she is now. She does steps ok now and pitter pats on grass like she's never seen it before! The old Robin is comming back already,I just caught her trying to bust the lid off the cat food bucket! When she came down the ramp of the truck the first thing she did was prance right over to Camillia and nip her on the ear to show that the dominant alpha bitch is back! She no longer sweeps from side to side with her head when she walks to avoid running into things .Her face is pretty ugly from the surgery but she is eating,drinking,and pooping,so I guess all is well! Tomorrow in the daylight will be a real show I bet!

edit) I was going to take a couple pics tonight and get them up,but I dont know if the flash would be OK,so I will get some tomorrow.

Oh, hey that's excellent news. Glad to hear she's able to see a bit now and that *she* is coming out.
It's always Scarry for me when someone's dog goes under - there's always that chance (with any surgery) that things will go south.
If you need help with the photos send'em my way...

Thanks,I will! I do have a 30sec vidio I shot with my i-phone when she came out of thier Bldg and saw daylight the rirst time,I'll try to play it back w/o looseinh it!

YAY!!!! That's awesome news. So happy for you all. Can't wait to see pics.

That is great news for you and Robin! So glad to hear that she can see again!

Yea for Robin - so glad everything worked out for you!

Posting pics ...

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The one with the grey cat was sun night before we left. They are best buds.

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I took these this morning. It actually looks a little gruesome , but she was sizeing up the black barn cat that has been taunting her for 8 months. Moments after the pics she chased him up a nearby tree!

Considering that it's the day after, John, those pictures don't look bad at all.  I was getting the impression that the eyelids were essentially sewn shut and they don't seem to be too badly closed up.

Glad that everything is going along well!!

I'm so elated for her, and she does not look bad at all. I was thinking the same as Al, that they were sewn shut.

They only have 4 stitches in the outside corners.I think the idea is so she cant open the lids past where the lenses are untill those stitches disolve.I may have another situation developeing though.I dont think she remembers the "bounderies", such as they are (were).she is very puppy-like and is exploreing everywhere.She rediscovered the chicken truck this afternoon,but did turn and come back when I called her.that could be a problem because its electrified,both because of the pre-blind Robin and the cyotes we have. I really dont want her to get a 20 joule poke just yet! I guess tomorrow we will explore some more!

Indeed John, you may have to do a refresher course with her. Keep us posted please.

Another pic ....



The reflection from her eye - the one facing the camera still looks odd - then I realized what I was seeing!

Catching treats! That's great ... if she can see well enough to catch them that means she's doing really well!! Very good news there!!!

I'm not sure what % she sees now,but she is acting her old self,caught 2 out of 2 treats tonight from about a foot.She is actually getting a bit obnoxious ! We were camping for 4 days and I did not even tie her after the first night,she was never more than 10 -15 feet from me!Gets in and out of the truck by herself now too (not really so good). She quit wandering and exploreing saturday and just follows me around like old times! She gets follow up blood work on wed,and stitches w/ pressure check on the 7th!The cloudyness is only in the left eye and is not related to the cataracts and does not affect her vision.It is (I was told) a condition that is common in older dogs.Our pre-robin bitchons had it when they got to be around 12 and it never bothered them.i will get the name for it when we see the vet on wed.The above pic was taken around 9 pm tonight.Thanks Al!