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Trouble for Nova
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Linden, MI
Member Since:
11 November 2008
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22 April 2009 - 9:20 am
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I am a total mess today. I woke up to let Nova out and she was all disoriented, running into things. Hopping very tentatively when last night she was zooming down the hall. What is especially heartbreaking is that I don't think it's the cancer, I'm afraid it's her glaucoma.  She had surgery in her left eye last week (she was already blind in that eye), and has had somewhat of a slow recovery, very mopey, I thought she might be in pain. She has a cataract in her remaining eye, and also uveitis, but was controlled with medication. Everything was fine last week in that eye. Now I just called the Opthomologist and was told that uveitis can go from controlled to out of control in a short period of time. I have to bring her in. I can't even get her to walk without slamming into things, I have no clue how I will get her into the car! I don't know how things can go from great to bad in one morning.

I never thought in a million years that the glaucoma might get worse before the cancer.  It is so frustrating to have spent months treating her, having her do so well after surgery, chemo, etc., no lung mets, and now it appears she might be blind! I have no idea how to cope with a 125-lb blind Tripawd, I'm so afraid she'll hurt herself!

I know this topic (glaucoma) isn't really relevant to Tripawds, but I didn't know where else to post. I'm heading off now to the specialist's office 1.5 hours away (after I battle with getting her in the car.)

Sue and Nova

Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!

Member Since:
28 May 2008
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22 April 2009 - 9:29 am
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I know this topic (glaucoma) isn't really relevant to Tripawds, but I didn't know where else to post. I'm heading off now to the specialist's office 1.5 hours away (after I battle with getting her in the car.)


That doesn't matter!!! We are your tripawd family and are here for you and Nova no matter what...I'm so sorry about what is going on with sweet Nova...please, please keep us posted and we'll stop what we're doing right now and say some special prayers...I hope it helps.

Much love,

Heather and Zeus

Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together


Member Since:
22 August 2008
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22 April 2009 - 10:06 am
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If it is uveitis they can often control it with anti-inflammatory eyedrops or oral meds. Even if she does end up blind, she should adapt well!  Many blind dogs use their other senses to make up for the loss of sight, and they will "learn" where the furniture is, etc.  It does seem unfair to have a doubly handicapped dog, but Nova has already proven that she is up to the challenge.

Pam and Tazzie

Northern CA
Member Since:
23 December 2008
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22 April 2009 - 12:11 pm
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Sue,

Heather' right- we are your family and we are here for you no matter what. We will be sending good thoughts your way -

You have our support always.

Seanne and Angel Wrigley

Member Since:
11 February 2009
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22 April 2009 - 2:32 pm
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Aw crap Sue. I hope you get this under control! Is it Dr...Ramsey? in Williamston?

A friend's dog has a brain tumor (and is living way past expectations, doing great...on neoplasene actually) and has been blind for about three months. Honestly, you would never know...the dog goes for daily offleash walks and has adapted beautifully. My friend is in Clarkston, let me know how it goes and if you want I can put you two together...she's probably got a ton of tips on helping a vision impaired dog.

Anyway I am anxiously waiting for an update here. We want our Nova to overcome this and hope it's just a minor blip in the road for her.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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22 April 2009 - 3:29 pm
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We are so so sorry that you both are dealing with this.

No matter what happens, Nova has indeed proven that she can overcome anything. She is AMAZING. And so are you. Be strong and hang in there. Breathe, take every moment one step at a time. It's not easy, but we have faith that you can cope.

We are sending love and thinking of you. Please update when you can OK?

(P.S. We moved this to the "Hopping Around" Forum area, just FYI).

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Linden, MI
Member Since:
11 November 2008
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22 April 2009 - 4:58 pm
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Ok, so here's the update. We drive to the optho and Nova stands the whole time in the car because she can't see, and she is scared so rides the whole way with her chin on my arm whining like "Mom, I'm scared." I'm a wreck, talking on the cell phone with my husband discussing different scenarios and such. This morning really threw me for a loop because she's had glaucoma for awhile, and complications here and there, so I just figured if she ultimately went blind she would handle it in typical Nova style and do ok. But she was scared and shaking and absolutely miserable.  She was so miserable, and I kept trying to see how, if this was the reality and she would have to be this way, how could that possibly be a good quality of life?

I get her to the vet and she stumbles out of the car, walks into a few walls, all while tentatively hopping and whimpering, looking dazed and confused. Lots of sympathetic looks from the waiting room, a dog starts to notice her from 2 feet away, Nova doesn't even flinch until the dog makes a sound, then she gets her quizzical, tilted head look, like "what was that?" I am a basket case, crying, etc. because it's so dang cute, and she's been scared and cowering all day. We get her in and they examine and first say that the surgery worked beautifully in the left eye (YAY!) and the pressure was so low they couldn't even get a reading. But the right eye's pressure had shot up so high, higher pressure than she had ever had in her other eye. This is something that was totally under control for 2 years, now the right eye decides to go crazy out of nowhere. The optho came in and said they wanted her inpatient for a few hours, they were going to try some different drops and monitor her, but it was highly unlikely that she would have vision in the eye when all was said and done. He was very grave about it all. Usually by the time you get them in, the vision is gone, he says. So I go off poking around stores feeling miserable for a few hours. Then they call to tell me that they got the pressures down and that she could come home.

I'm sitting in the waiting room and I hear this fast HOP-HOP-HOP-HOP-HOP coming down the hall and she comes barreling around the corner, right AROUND a chair and straight into my arms. (more bawling) Doctor comes out, shaking his head like they always seem to do for my girl, and says she defied the odds, they got the pressures down and it appeared she had most, if not all vision left in that eye. He was shocked, said that I must have got her in just in time. He put her on the same expensive eyedrops (Xalatan) that I just got her OFF of in her left eye, and said she will likely remain on them for the rest of her life. ARGH. He also cautioned me that this could be something that could cause her to go blind in a few days, to a few years. I'm just glad there is more time. I really was starting to panic about quality of life.  I have had blind dogs before who adapted well, but they went blind over time, they weren't struck blind suddenly. If you would have seen how scared and miserable she was you would have understood what was going through my head. I kept looking at her intently, trying to determine if she was telling me that she was tired and was done, and I swear that's what she was saying, but now she is sticking her big ol head on my keyboard, licking my face, wagging her tail, asking her dinner, like it all was nothing. ARGH!

Thanks to everyone for listening to me this morning, and for your support and encouragement.  I suspect this will not be my last "roller coaster" post.

Carina: It was Dr. Lorimer at MVS in Southfield.

Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!

Member Since:
11 February 2009
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8
22 April 2009 - 5:09 pm
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PHEW!!! Today she can see. Apparently Nova is Wonder-Dog. And mainly, I am happy that she's like "what's the big deal, mom?" and comfortable. That is excellent and let's hope for "years" rather than "days."

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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22 April 2009 - 7:00 pm
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Omg we are speechless, your story just made our heart stop. The thoughts that must've gone through your mind. Wow. We would have fallen apart if we witnessed something like that. You are heroic for reacting so fast and keeping it together.

What a completely crazy ride for all of you! But we are so relieved to hear that she's back to herself again. Cool

You are both so truly amazing! And yes, let's hope for many years of good health for that girl. She's something!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Central Michigan
Member Since:
28 March 2009
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22 April 2009 - 7:33 pm
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I'm so glad she was able to go home!  She reminds me so much of my dane I just lost.. they are wonderful dogs all around. I don't think you live that far away from me... I live just south of Mt. Pleasant.... 

Northern CA
Member Since:
23 December 2008
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11
22 April 2009 - 8:58 pm
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Yeah Nova!

Glad to hear all  is good for you. Now your mom can relax. 

We'll be keeping good thoughts coming your way so things stay good.

Seanne and Angel Wrigley

Linden, MI
Member Since:
11 November 2008
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22 April 2009 - 9:49 pm
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Oh no, she just woke me up crying. Iy's just after midnight and she is blind again.  I have no idea what is causing this. She is scared and walking into things all over again. Cry

Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!

Metro Kansas City
Member Since:
23 October 2008
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13
23 April 2009 - 10:51 am
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Sue,

Is there any chance Nova could be actually be having "focal seizures"? Cortical blindness is an aftereffect of those and that would explain the total confusion Nova has.

Calamity has had a few focal seizures & they scare the crap out of me. She walks around blind & confused for sometimes hours after.

They are not a seizure in the way you may think, you may never even notice the seizure or may just notice a "distant" look as she is having it.

Just a thought,

Janie & Calamity

Janie & Calamity http://www.trix.....gspot.com/

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