So first off, HI.  I know it's been forever since I've posted.  Life is just crazy busy-- John and I are trying to finish the house addition and we're both working insane hours.  Just a ton going on.  I still lurk but obviously I'm not an active poster anymore.

Sadly, I come bearing some news that isn't great.  About two months ago (Nov 2014) Koda scared the ever-living crap out of us and had a seizure.  I thought I posted about it, but I can't seem to find said post. so I'm guessing I never did.  John heard a noise from the other room and we came out to see Koda on the floor, his whole body tense (like his entire body was stuck in a cramp).  He was breathing heavy, his eyes wide and dilated, and he was somewhat convulsing.  It seems more like he was struggling to get out of his hyper-tensive position and failing.  This lasted about 3 full minutes.  In that time, I was able to get our vet on the phone.  They talked me through things and got us an emergency appointment right away.

Koda seemed to come out of it rather slowly, but once it was fully over, he got up and walked around like normal.  He seemed totally normal.  We fed Hailey and took Koda to the vet (only 5 mins away).  Once there, they checked his vitals and we went in with one of the vets (the normal one we saw was not in).  He explained that seizures can happen and that what we should be mindful of is seizures occurring in short/close clusters or one lasting longer than 10 mins.  As this was his first, and he was acting totally normal, we kept an eye on him for 24 hours and when no further seizures happened, we hoped all would be well and it'd be a one-time thing.

Well, Koda hasn't had any since, but starting a couple of weeks after that, we started noticing some odd behavior.  For those who know Koda, he's fearless (to a fault).  He was a stray the first few months of his life and it gave him quite the ego.  The only thing he's ever been frightened of is a turtle the first time he saw one (go figure) and baby gates (one accidentally fell on him and Hailey while they were sleeping so they both think gates randomly come to life).  Well, a few weeks after the seizure, Koda started fearing things in the house.  He would be more hesitant to jump down off the bed, the couch, etc.  He would randomly twitch or get frightened by "nothing".  Now, more recently, he gets so afraid of jumping off the couch, he sits there and cries even if it is meal time.  He's been afraid to walk around Hailey to get to his food bowl.

At first we thought he was just being a drama-queen.  We had done some major traveling over the break and I was gone for several weeks.  However, the more I studied his behavior, the more it seemed like his eyesight was going.  It seemed like he was starting to see shadows of what's there instead of actual objects.  Like his depth perception was gone.

So, for his annual checkup, I mentioned it right away to the vet (this was this past Thursday 2/12/15).  I asked the vet to check his eyes because I thought he was losing his sight.  Koda is only 7, so this would be extremely young.  The vet was curious why I asked and I explained what had been going on.  He seemed surprised that I jumped to his sight as the problem, but when he looked that quickly changed.  He said that the vascularity in his eyes was irregular.  He said this would caused an interruption in Koda's depth perception and would definitely explain his symptoms.

The sad part... he said as far as he knows, there is no treatment for this and with all likelihood, he believes Koda's condition will just continue to deteriorate. He gave us a referral to see an ophthalmologist in order to more precisely diagnose Koda's condition and hopefully suggest some sort of treatment option.  While he can't say for certain (seems he thinks the ophthalmologist will), he believes this to be a result of Koda's seizure.  The timing is right and it would have taken a few weeks for things to degenerate enough that we'd start to see symptoms.

So... a novel, I know... but that's our story.  My fearless, 7 year old boy is gong blind and right now there is nothing we can do about it and the prognosis isn't good.  John and I are heartbroken over this.  Watching Koda scared to move about the house is gut wrenching.  We're trying to pick up the pace on the renovations so that we can get the house to a normal state.  That way, if Koda's eyes will only deteriorate, we can try to give him time to learn the new layout before he loses his sight completely.

I'll try to update once we know more from the eye doctor, but that's where we are now.  Wish I had better news to be popping back in with, but that's what's new with us.  Miss you all and thanks as always for being a great husky family.

Love,
Tori, John, Koda & Hailey

Tori - while we haven't "met", I am so sorry to hear of this.

Oh Tori, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope the ophthalmologist will have more answers for you guys. *hugs*

Thanks, Ladies. I still can't believe it sometimes. He still plays outside like normal, but he's a totally different dog in the house.

If I were you, I'd be going to a neurologist and holistic vet too, so learn about alternative treatment.

I'm so sorry for you, but I hope it can be easily managed. Poor guy is probably miserable.

If you don't mind, I'd love to ask around about a good opthamologist In your area. I'm sure the husky community will know some fantastic people.

mbarnard0429 wrote:

If I were you, I'd be going to a neurologist and holistic vet too, so learn about alternative treatment.

I'm so sorry for you, but I hope it can be easily managed. Poor guy is probably miserable.

If you don't mind, I'd love to ask around about a good opthamologist In your area. I'm sure the husky community will know some fantastic people.

You're welcome to post on FB and ask around. We are open to all suggestions. I hate seeing him like this

I second the neurologist idea as well. its a shame you aren't closer to Cornell, from what I've heard they have an awesome college of vet medicine. I can poke around my epilepsy circles and see what's in your area. If you could, I'd bring you down here to Shadow's neuro, she's incredible.

As I said via text, I'm so sorry you guys are having to go through this. It breaks my heart every time someone else pops up with seizures and associated issues

Hugs to you and Koda. I do hope you might find some alternative and better news down another path, although I have no suggestions outside of those already made.

Really sorry to hear about your pup My aunt's dog went blind fairly young as well, around 8 or 9 but she lived a long happy life - she had a Pekinese, and her dog went through very similar behavior - timid, scared, whining, just really unsure about things. However as time went on she started to adapt to things, she was able to get around the house fairly well just had a harder time in new places. So hopefully when you finish the house and things have their place you see some improvement in that. Sending prayers your way and hope there is some turn around for you!

Just caught up Tori. I wanted to say definitely check out the ophthalmologist.  Different situation but some similarities for the depth perception / eye sight failure so I wanted to over some insight to hopefully let you know eye sight lose is recoverable and they become happy again.   My first sibe Butkis lost an eye to glaucoma.  The first day we noticed the pressure he was slow moving and sluggish like a sick dog. He did not want to jump on or off the couch. We had a mid morning appt with the regular vet who recommended a opth. and we got in that afternoon as reg vet thought surgery was in order.  By afternoon you could tell Butkis was a grumpy gus so all behavior was out the window. He would flinch and kind of walk into things ie door jams etc. During the Opth. visit they gave drops to lower pressures to make him more comfortable. (Doubt you need that) but he was able to give us ALOT more insight than the reg vet. The microscope they use is way better and they see so much more. We chose surgery to remove his eye. ( and biopsy to see if his other could be impacted.) His eye was removed and not "seeing" helped so much. Yes the pressure and pain was gone but he did not sleep in the corner after surgery which was a hiding / security technique he used for the first two days until surgery.  Not sure how much the whinny dissipated due to pressure and pain relief versus adjustment to the scare. When he got back we notice his bad depth perception and as the opth. said during check up uh he has none now.  What we saw was he slept with his back to something for the first several months but got used to it and eventually sleep right in the middle of a room again.  He banged his head on the same kitchen table we had for years at first but eventually did it less even though during excitement he would conk him self forgetting it was so close.  First several weeks he would walk into the garage and head for the door but end up overshooting it by two feet. But that too was something that stopped.  Now yes he had one eye when he lost the other at 9. But by the time he was 14 he was loosing the eyesight to old age in the other eye and they believed all he saw was shadows.  He progressed just fine just missed the throw biscuit alot. He did just fine going into his 16 year when you could tell he was just letting old man time kick his A..

On another note our dog play dates include Atreyu who lost his eye to macular (sp) degeneration I believe. Until recently he had cataract clouds and a different drug took those away even though he is still blind.  He does great playing at the meets he goes to our mushing demos and he even does walky dog. At a meet he checks in more that other dogs seems to rely on mom saying I'm here but does awesome.  

So in summary he should adjust and the scaredom and whine sessions should simmer down.

Hopefully once he gets the ghost shadows that are sneaking up and scaring him under control he will do good. Have you thought of a blindfold when he gets too scared? The question is just a pure thought of my own nothing I have heard from vet or opth.

Good luck keep us apprised!

I've read of a few instances where a seeing dog will act as a sort of a seeing eye dog for a companion...maybe intime, Hailey will step up for Koda?

Tori, I too haven't met you, but you're all in my thoughts.

My best friend in high school, her mom lived in Glenville. went to college in Utica, lived in Herkimer for a short time. My sister currently lives in Unadilla, my dad still lives in Freeville. Ahhh, memories, lived 15 miles from Cornell growing up. So I have to agree with Mer, if you can find a way, imho, Cornell is the number one vet school in the US!! And I certainly remember those back country roads, so I do know that it is a few hours away, but if you don't get the answers that you want, try and contact Cornell.

I wish Koda the best. Miya has her paws crossed for him and that he turns around soon.

Hugs

So sorry to hear about Koda. Sending prayers and warm thoughts to you guys.

I'm sorry to hear about Koda. I hope everything will get better for him. Sending prayers to you guys.