5 y/o Malamute/German Shepherd - SARDS?

[mscacutto]

Hi Craig,

I read your whole thread only to find out you haven't posted since 2009. Is there an update on Bonnie's condition? I'd love to know how she's adapted and if her symptoms have subsided as well as what the final protocol was. I have a 5 yr old Malamute/German Shepherd you went blind last Friday and I've been getting tests done and seeing the vet, optho, internist and all over the internet. I'm completely devastated and want to act quickly but don't want to put her life in jeopardy with a misdiagnosis.

~ Michelle

[labblab]

Dear Michelle,

Welcome to our forum! I noticed that you had posted this reply on another member's thread, and I have taken the liberty of copying it here so as to create a new thread that is your very own. This way, it will be easier for our members to reply to you directly. When you have the chance, please tell us more about your girl's testing results, OK? We are here to help in any way we can!

(And if you would like to have your thread title changed, just let me know -- I will be happy to alter it in any way).

Marianne

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome from me too.
I am so sorry to hear that your precious malamute/German shepherd has gone blind. Can you post the test results that you have had done? That would be very helpful so we can give you the best feedback possible. Anything abnormal. Instant blindness does sound like SARDS. Often if this is the case, the cushings symptoms eventually go away. So you want to be sure of what is going on and causing this. Does she have cushings symptoms?

Can you tell us a little bit more when you have a chance.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have that we can and will help you to get through this.

Welcome again.
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[mscacutto]

Yes, I've had all the testing done and just received the latest blood work.
Shasta had what could be described as Cushings symptoms in June. She had urinated in her sleep 4 times in a one month period so I took her to the vet. Her blood work appeared normal, nothing found on the xray and no infection, but her urine was highly concentrated and her bladder was enlarged. We were having 107 degree weather so when I was asked if Shasta was drinking more water and urinating more frequently I didn't think it was out of the norm. Her appetite had increased though and she drooled a lot. The vet had me bring in 2 more urine samples a week later to check the concentration and it got better so no further testing was done.

Aug 8 we noticed Shasta bumping into things and had trouble finding her food if dropped on the floor in front of her. The next day I tested her sight myself trying to get her to follow my hand with food in it and she was for sure going blind. I got her in the vet the next day and the vet said she had no menace in either eye and said her guess was SARDS, but referred me to the opthomalogist.

That following Friday (8/16) she had the ERG and the diagnoses was SARDS or possible PRS. Her ERG results showed flatline although on this day at home she still seemed to be able to see "something."

Yesterday went to the internist and had an ultrasound, which the results were normal.

Each doctor also mentioned that I may want to test Shasta for Cushings.

In between all of these appointments I have been on the internet and had my vet get a blood sample from Shasta, and I requested an EI-1 panel be done. The results just came back and show:

Total Estrogen 35.13 (Normal Range 30.00 - 35.00)
Cortisol 1.97 (Normal Range 1.00 - 2.50)
T3 86.24 (Normal Range 100.00 - 200.00)
T4 1.66 (Normal Range 2.00 - 4.50)
IgA 57 (Normal Range 70 - 170)
IgG 784 (Normal Range 1000 - 2000)
IgM 77 (Normal Range 100 - 200)

[molly muffin]

Thanks for the extra information. Can you edit your post and add in what the normal range for each result of the EI-1 panel is? That would be helpful.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Squirt's Mom]

What I understand of those results, your baby's thyroid is under-functioning, which could mean hypothyroidism, a condition that mimics Cushing's. This shows Shasta's cortisol within normal range so I would not do further testing for Cushing's if I were you right now. It is my understanding that with SARDS you do not treat the cush signs because they will typically disappear in time. ie this is not true Cushing's but more like a stress response to the SARDS.