Glaucoma and Cataracts

Abnormal Eyes
Call me paranoid, but upon coming across shibas in the forum who have lost sight due to cataract and glaucoma, I suddenly felt so alarmed when Mya's right eye started having abnormal discharge.  I never had to clean up the eyes of this self-cleaning dog, and yet I found myself having to wipe her eyes 3 times a day. 

Brave Nunu
Noticed it on a Wednesday and thought I'd give it a day for her immune system to take care of it but since the next day it was worse, and some advice from the shiba peeps made me realize it could be crucial, she was brought to the BSF on Thursday.  Findings:  a speck on the outside, most likely dirt, a crystal-like formation inside, massing of veins in the cornea.  Did some flushing with saline solution and Mya was such a brave and nice girl! She sat still and allowed us to squirt stuff in her eyes, and allowed Dr. Farah to examine her eyes so closely that they were literally nose to nose.

Eye Infection/ Irritation
Next day, brought her to VIP upon hearing that they have a tonometer, an instrument that is used to measure pressure in the eyes.  Unfortunately, when we got there, we were told the machine is out of commission and has been sent out for repair. So it ended up as another check-up.  Dr. Marga examined her eyes and did not see any opacity to suggest cataracts, but saw the eye discharge which alarmed her because it's greenish. Had to give antibiotic eyedrops for a week.

20/20
A week after, we were able to have her eyes examined by an opthalmologist who looked at her eyes closely with human grade hi-tech opthalmic gadgets that allowed her to examine up to the optic nerve. Findings: normal!  Then she went on to examine her eye pressure by palpation. Result: Normal! 

Thank you, God, for the good news. Will still be on-guard against these just to be sure...

Some things you want to be alert about:
1.  Eye Discharge
2.  Eye Pain - manifested by sleeping more
3.  Photosensitivity
4.  Eye feels hard by palpation
5.  Cloudiness

Any of these signs need to be checked out as glaucoma can happen overnight.  Though there is no cure, there are ways to delay the progress.  Cataracts can be delayed as well, though there is such a thing as cornea or lens replacement which costs an arm and a leg. 

To all shiba inu owners, the books don't mention glaucoma as one of the breed's hereditary problems, and eye exams done to qualify sires and dams for breeding do not screen out for glaucoma, but watch out because it does happen. So far, the ones affected that I know of are in the U.S. but it is said that it is "rampant" in Japan. (according to a Japanese contact from shibasightline forum)  Please correct this if it isn't so.

Best Resource and Support Group:  shibasighline@yahoogroups.com

Mya Underfoot

Though her cat-like manner makes me think of her other than canine many times, there are things she does that remind me she's canine afterall. One I always see is her denning instinct.  Every morning, she keeps us company at breakfast and after her 2 pieces of scrambled egg, she always settles under the table and sleeps. So I'm pretty sure she's not just waiting for scraps to fall.

She has been given the name "Mya Underfoot" because she is very good at putting herself in the likeliest of places to be accidentally stepped on. But just a slight touch to the fur on her tail can send her jumping up in no time.  And then she's back again! Funny girl!

Conversations with Mya

The shibanunu is quite a good listener, but  there are some topics that she finds most engaging...

1. her harness- as in "where's your harness?"
2. her leash- as in "where's your leash?"
3. Pup Culture
4. "Walk" which I dared not to mention to avoid funny whimpering noises that might follow

PS. Don't mind the chopping noises from the background.  That's the sound of Mya's lunch being prepared.

Ladies at Morning Coffee

Weekend morning coffee made extra special with good company...

She patiently sat on her chair, looking on while I was eating my ensaymada.  But of course she was rewarded (actually, more of bribed) with small cheese shavings

Shibanunu Meet-Greet-Walk-Play

After a year in the making, Mya finally gets to meet her first shiba inu pal, Samu.  He is also a red shiba inu and is a year older than Mya. Here are a few photos of the 2 shibas interacting.

Checking each other out

Mya inviting Samu to play: "Pounce on me!  Pounce on me!"
Samu: "Uhmmm...not today, Mya."

Mya: "Then I'll pounce on you instead!"

                                         

Mya, he's just not that into you!  :D

After a being rejected a few times, shibanunu keeps a watchful eye for any sign of play opening from Samu.  And in turn, Samu keeps a watchful eye for any sign of an impending "play-attack" from the nagging Mya.

"Don't even try."

It was a fun and tiring day for both shiba inus.  Mya got to practice adjusting her very rough play style to her playmate's preference and Samu got to see that chaos can be fun too.

Both shiba inus in Ezydog Quickfit Harness.  I think Samu is liking it.

Favorite Part of the Day... Walk-walk!

First Shiba Inu Encounter

The shiba inu paw-rents took so long in planning Mya and Samu's "playdate".  About a year in the making?  But like what usually happens when it comes to human adults organizing coffee-dates or let's-catch-up-dates, this one happened when it was quite unplanned.

What was unexpected too, was the aloofness of both parties toward each other.  At least, that was how it was relayed to me. Rear-sniffing here and there, some circling, and that was it.  I was probably being silly, half-expecting a reaction like those in the cartoons when they would see another one of their species for the first time.

Getting a good sniff... a real good sniff!

But for now, it's good...no scream...no growl... Let's see what happens tomorrow.  Mya has been kind of the "life of the party", always taunting other dogs to play, while from an outsider's point of view, Samu is of the reserved character, at least in the beginning.  Like a traditional dignified Japanese man.  Then Mya would be a... geisha?  Let's see if this girl can bring out the playfulness in the serious pal.

Respectable Elizabethan Nunu-Collar

A much needed surprise upgrade! A kind soul took pity on the impoverished look of Mya's old lamp-shade collar and gave her a new one which fit her perfectly. No need for home-made extensions anymore.  Good bye to daily masking tape re-touches! Yes, I can sleep better now as Mya will not wake me up in the middle of the night anymore with her shiba shake sound aggravated by e-collar extensions flapping. Dr. Leo is curing the canine hot spots gone not so wild, as well as the humans' sleep deprivation.  Check out the before and after shots.

Mya seems to know she looked sad in the old collar.

BEFORE UPGRADE

 And she also seems to know she looks much better now.

AFTER UPGRADE

Unrelated to the topic...Here's a simple pre-walk photo. Enjoying the lowered sofa- no legs for now while renovation is on-going.