Dog Doc By Art Colyer Ask Dr. Colyer
Seeing Things Differently
infections or irritations (conjunctivitis or “pink eye”), to progressive, destructive diseases like glaucoma.
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Glaucoma is a disease in which the pressure inside the eye builds up, due to a disturbance in the delicate structures that normally keep the eye filled with just the right amount of ever-circulating fluid. When this balance gets disturbed, the sensitive internal structures of the eyeball lose the ability to properly perform their light focusing, collecting, and transmitting functions, and this, in turn, leads to loss of the miraculous sense of vision.
Many eye diseases can be effectively and completely cured, but glaucoma is a disease that can only be managed for a variable period of time before blindness sets in. Eventually, the eyes must be removed because the ever- increasing pressure is both painful and disfiguring to the appearance of the eye.
It’s very difficult to hear that your pet has a condition that threatens his vision, and many people’s initial response is that they would rather have their pet euthanized than have to live with blindness. I understand this
ye diseases are at least as common in pets as they are in people. At our clinic, it’s common to see several animals with eye problems each week. They range from having relatively minor
response, being someone who truly cherishes all of my senses and all of the pleasures that each one adds to my life. On the other hand, I’ve known many pets over the years—some in my own family—that have been afflicted with blindness, deafness, or loss of limb. These animals continue to move on with their life as fully engaged after their loss as before. This has taught me a powerful lesson about enjoying life with what we have, rather than mourning what we’ve lost.
One wonderful example is Cy, a now 10-year old pug, that was dropped off at our clinic as a stray a number of years ago. One of his eyes was hideously disfigured with glaucoma, but the other had the soft, round, warm appearance dog eyes have that makes people fall in love when they gaze into them. He was amazingly unperturbed by what must have been an incredibly painful condition. Once it was clear that no one was going to claim him, we removed the bad eye, and the full power of his indomi- table spirit was released. He could hold his own with all the other dogs, and he maintained that spirit even as his other eye gradually became non-responsive to treatment. Eventually after another couple of years, he lost that eye as well.
Amazingly, Cy learned to follow his nose and ears to the extent that few people even noticed he was blind. It was remarkable to see him navigate the house and yard, and even run along with the other dogs in a pack as we went out on our excursions into the woods each day. Most people find him completely irresistible, and there is no hint of remorse or self-pity in the way he forges ahead into whatever lies ahead for him. He’s our poster child for living fully despite af- fliction. He is but one amazing example amongst many animals that provides inspiration for those of us who live and work with them every day.
Cy, the irresistable pug
26 March-April 2012 | Honest Horses Magazine
About the author Dr. Colyer owns Colyer Veterinary Service, a contem- porary, small-animal hospital and mobile clinic serving Paradise and Magalia in Northern CA. “No matter how busy we are,” says Dr. Colyer, “our clients continue to appreciate the individual care and attention we provide, and they trust in not only our veterinary expertise, but also our compassion for life.” Visit
www.colyerveterinary-
service.com.
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