CUVS' Patient of the Month
Cody Stix
July’s Patient of the Month – Cody – is a
shining example of how dramatically specialty veterinary care can improve quality
of life for our pets.
Cody visited
CUVS for surgery to repair a broken leg, but it was cataract surgery to treat
his sudden blindness that really gave him a second lease on life. Cody's mother
Louise was kind enough to share his story with us.
"Even
as a puppy, my poodle Cody was a study in contradictions - he was clumsy, but he
loved to go vertical - jumping from place to place (couch to chair, bed
to chair). So when, on our vacation, he jumped off the cot and broke his
leg, I was devastated, but not altogether astonished. As he matured, however,
his clumsiness got worse. He collided with stationary objects, inside and
out. He even slammed into the porch totally missing the front steps to
the house. That night, when I looked at his eyes, I noticed they were
dusky gray. Of course! He had cataracts.
So,
remembering the very positive experience at CUVS where his broken leg was
masterfully repaired, I took him to see Dr. Eaton, CUVS Ophthalmologist. Dr.
Eaton evaluated and operated on Cody, and the effect was immediate! In
fact, Cody started exploring everything he had missed. Today, he's a happy
healthy 2-year old -- you'd never know what he has been through! And he's
more than made up for lost time; earning his Canine Good Citizen Award, and
passing the Pet Partners Skills Test enabling us to be a therapy dog team. These
pictures more than tell the happy outcome.
CUVS has
been there for us - starting at 2AM the night we drove back from Vermont
knowing that Cody would get the care he needed until today - where Dr. Eaton
continues to check his eyes. Cody and I thank everyone who participated in his
care -- CUVS staff and veterinarians!"
While not
always as severe as Cody's, cataracts are one of the most common eye problems
diagnosed in dogs. CUVS' ophthalmologist Dr. Seth Eaton recounts Cody's case, and
speaks to similar cases where owners discover vision impairment due to
cataracts in their dogs.
"Most
pet owners would naturally assume that cataracts only affect older animals.
While this is a more typical scenario, we do see some dogs developing inherited
cataracts at a young age, sometimes even as puppies. Therefore, paying
attention to your dog's vision and behavior from any early age is important. In
Cody's case, his owner reports that he demonstrated some "clumsiness"
as a puppy, and it is certainly possible that this was due to his early-onset
cataracts. With time, the increase in density of his cataracts led to further
vision impairment and an increase in "cloudiness" of both eyes and
his owner was very proactive about having him evaluated. If cataracts are
diagnosed early, as with Cody, surgical removal is highly successful, with over
90% of eyes maintaining good to excellent vision long-term. If you think your
pet could be demonstrating abnormal behavior or potentially be experiencing
vision impairment, he or she should be evaluated by your primary care
veterinarian who may refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist. Swift diagnosis
and treatment of most eye diseases, including cataracts, help to maximize the chances
for a successful outcome."
