cataracts
// 2007.07.13The princess has the loveliest eyes you've ever seen, yes? It's one of the reasons I'm nervous about her surgery next Monday, to remove a cataract. (I don't know which eye yet - she has cataracts in both, and they'll be doing ultrasound once she's under anasthetic to determine which eye is worse, and that's the one they'll be doing).
My logical mind knows that the princess will be fine (better, in fact, since her eyesight's been getting quite bad lately) and that the excellent team of docs working on her are some of the best in the biz, but my heart is saying that they're going to operate on my baby's eyes, and she'll be alone, and so scared. I'm such a wussy pug mommy. :(
Merry will be in a "cone" or "Elizabethan collar" for the next month or so - so expect lots of cone shots in the Merrylog for the next little while. I will mix it up occasionally with shots from before her surgery, as I've got thousands I've never posted here. :)
Will post later in the day on Monday to let you all know how the princess is doing!
omg! How did you know this was happening? Did she not find her ball or something?
I and my pug aine will be praying that all goes well!
Hang in there!! Aine and Nan
1 : nan : July 13, 2007 10:50 AM
Merry has been "losing her ball", getting skittish in dark areas, near doors and stairs for the past few months. Once I noticed it, we got her in to the vet, who recommended an excellent Opthamologist for Merry. We met with him and found she actually had two eye issues:
* bilateral pigmentary keratitis, in a very early stage (now being treated with cyclosporine daily, and likely for the rest of her life, since apparently this issue is not being caused by any external factor on Merry but is likely genetic). Luckily, we caught this before it became an issue for her sight.
* bilateral cataracts, also relatively soft and early-stage. This is what she'll be undergoing surgery for - though they only do one eye at a time, and you have to wait a year in between one eye and the other. Many folks apparently choose not to have the 2nd eye done at all - but I imagine we might, depending on how she does post-op. Luckily we're covered by pet insurance, and I've always made sure we had a TON of coverage for stuff like this.
Thanks, Nan, for the well wishes. :)
2 : Angie : July 13, 2007 10:59 AM
Best of luck to Merry! (and yes, she has the most beautiful eyes:) You must have great pet insurance; my Coco's wouldn't cover a dime toward the cost of her eye surgery- she had ingrown eyelashes causing damage to her corneas. She now has to have eye drops and ointment twice a day for the rest of her precious pug life (btw, she's 16 months). Coco can get skittish in dark areas too....we have to sleep with the light on sometimes because the poor baby gets scared.
3 : Stephanie : July 13, 2007 12:25 PM
awwwwwww BLESS the pug babies! Oh that is so scarry. Btw - as soon as I read the news I ran over to Aine and I put her little paws together to say a pray for Ms. Merry. She was licking me by the time the prayer was done. Hence we know it will be all okay! *hugs* You have the best doctor and insurance so we know it will definately be okay.
And as always, Aine will be more than happy to volunteer as interim model if need be. Granted she is not as beautiful as Merry the Pug SuperModel - but she could act as an understudy and would gladly work for treats ;)
bilateral pigmentary keratitis - what is that exactly? Is it losing the pigment in their eyes or something?
Hang in there! Nan and Aine
4 : nan : July 13, 2007 1:04 PM
Good luck to the princess!!
5 : Diane : July 13, 2007 5:08 PM
two of my babies have pigmentary keratitis, and they get tacrolimus drops twice daily. we are all praying for the princess and know she will od just fine. by the way, there is another device a little more comfortable than the eliz collar, it's an inflatable round collar, so much more comfortable and not nearly as cumbersome as the hard plastic. blessings to both of you........... nadine and pugs
6 : nadine : July 13, 2007 5:57 PM
two of my babies have pigmentary keratitis, and they get tacrolimus drops twice daily. we are all praying for the princess and know she will do just fine; the great physician will hold her in the palm of his hand, and the doctor will have an angel on his shoulder the whole time he is operating. by the way, there is another device a lot nicer than the eliz collar, it's an inflatable round collar inside a cloth covering, so much more comfortable and not nearly as cumbersome as the hard plastic. blessings to both of you........... nadine and pugs
7 : nadine : July 13, 2007 5:59 PM
Good Luck, litle princess. Lucinda
8 : Lucinda : July 14, 2007 10:48 AM
Good Luck, litle princess. Lucinda
9 : Lucinda : July 14, 2007 10:48 AM
By the way, if you can't get it shipped from the manufacturer directly, try Googling "bonafido soft e-collar" and maybe you can find it from another e-tailer who will ship to Toronto.
10 : Harmonie : July 14, 2007 12:37 PM
Hmmm, seems my first comment got lost (maybe it was the link I included). I was saying that I wish the best of luck to Merry, and you too of course Mama Angie. And perhaps you could try the BonaFido soft e-collar rather than a traditional plastic lampshade collar. It's flat and padded, so it doesn't restrict the field of vision, which Merry might find comforting now, when her vision is already limited. I got one for Bijou before she was spayed, and she adapted to it very quickly. Healing thoughts and licks coming at both of you from Bijou and me!
11 : Harmonie : July 14, 2007 5:00 PM
Peggy's new rescued brother, Madden came to us with very bad teeth and he too will also have surgery this week. We all worry about our babies and will say a prayer for Merry. He also has pigmentery keratitis. Madden came to us from a county shelter and was rescued by his Puggy angel just hours before he was to be put down. He is six and the best behaved gentlemen. Please say a prayer for all the special dogs that aren't rescued in time.
12 : Lady Margaret of Highpoint AKA Ms. Peggy Pug : July 15, 2007 3:04 PM
Good luck Merry! We'll be thinking of you:)
13 : Olive : July 15, 2007 3:57 PM
My lil puggie, Zoe, had surgery on her knee a few years ago. So I know how frazzled you must be. Don't worry! She'll be fine. And I'm sure she'll look so cute in her collar. I ended up trading in the vet's collar and went to Petsmart and a snap on one. Way easier to use.
Good Luck!
14 : MEL : July 15, 2007 4:21 PM
Aww poor Merry, i will tell you that she is my pug lucy's idol. She is just like Barbie and has everything.
I and my two pugs Lucy & Riley an my rottie Cage will be wishing her luck and praying for safty.
Xoxo~also
Best wishes
Here at Lucy Lius couture.
15 : Karelle : July 15, 2007 7:43 PM
Blessings and prayers for you and the beloved Merry.
16 : Allyson : July 16, 2007 1:00 PM
Kaptyn and I will be thinking of beautiful Merry next week. Best Wishes
17 : Susan : July 16, 2007 1:00 PM
i have a pug named hank&honey there brother and sister had them since 2000 now they both have a brown film coming over there eyes he snaps at the air and goes and hide now are these cataracts
18 : donna : August 9, 2008 2:52 PM