Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Beni had another relatively good appointment today at Cornell. I say relatively because while the report was good... only Beni really knows what is going on. He is still visual... but again only he knows how much he can see. I think his perhiperal vision may becoming a little compromised. He has a little difficulty following my side to side hand movements but if I go slow enough he is fine. He does much better with my up and down hand movements. The pressure tested today at 5... kinda low... but with the valve still working and his having had his meds in particualr the Xalatan before going is probably why. He did test lower than usual on the Schirmer tear test but has always tended toward the lower end. Once the NeoPolyDex drops I have run out they may switch over to the ointment version. Other than that we'll see what happens next month. Hopefully by then I'll get a break with the weather. Another rough traveling day today down route 34.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Bob, I'm glad you and Beni are home safe, and that Beni had a good report. You two are so lucky to belong to each other!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

Bob...I thought today or tomorrow was Beni's vet day. Happy to hear his visit was pretty good. At times,with Asher's autoimmune problems, he has dry eyes. We have had better luck with ointment than drops. They seem to stay with him longer.

We are finally above zero, but no new snow. Where snow has melted and frozen,it's slick. I was walking Ginger today, and almost slipped on the driveway. I'm ready for spring and I'll bet you are too.

Asher had another treatment Tues.and has gained another pound !

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Winona

Home of Asher, Bari, and Ginger (waiting at the bridge: Caspar, Karma, Greedy, and sweet Tifla)

Winona that is terrific news that Asher has gained back another pound. Like you I thought his treatment was right around Beni's appointment. You know I asked Dr. Kice if he wanted to start the ointment rather than me open a new bottle of drops when I get home and he said no... to finish up the drops. I'm thinking that his thoughts were due to Beni being up and down with that test. You also said the right words! Spring can't come soon enough!! This winter has been the worst we have had in the last 4 or 5 years. Be careful walking in that driveway!!
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Glad to read Beni continues to do well overall. The nasty travel this time of year is not envied. I too have to travel fairly far for my vet and I dislike those winter roads. Glad you got through it though. Is there any chancethe frequency of visits gets to go down any time soon?
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas

Beni is on a 4 week schedule for his visits to Cornell. With the advancing nature of glaucoma there isn't a chance the frequency of visits will go down... at least while he can still see.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

I am so glad that his visits are still going well Bob!
He is a lucky dog to have you.

Miss Tiko was pretty close to completely blind - light and shadows I think and she got along in a new house and yard beautifully - never bumped into anything - but would uhh fall off the couch if you weren't watching her.
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Alicia,Owned by 2 Shibas, Niko and Avari, 3 cats, Miss Kitty, Mr. Grobbles and Al E. Cat and 2 beautiful daughters, Gwen and Penelope

Glad to hear Beni had another good visit! Hope the weather improves. . . . We need updated pictures of your three!

Hmmmm.... I'm thinking the same thing!
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Glad to hear Beni is still with vision! That's great news! Is it inevitable that he will eventually lose all his vision? If so, is there any sort of training you could work on in advance to help him when/if he's later unable to see? I wonder if there might be some verbal commands to help him.
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Amanda's Pack: Greg the Husband, Kate the daughter, Liam the son, Brewster the Shiba Inu, Cassie the Torbie & Fenway the Leopard Gecko!

Amanda... yes it's inevitable that at some point Beni will lose his sight entirely. What I'm doing now is putting it off for as long as I can. I've already started training with him, especially verbal commands when he outside in the yard. While I also vary the walks we go on to test his vision outside... I favor one particular route over the others so his genetic mapping skills will "remember" the route. I also have different tone bells for Keiko and Toshi's collars so he will know they are in the vicinity.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Bob, you are doing such a great job. The bells are a wonderful idea, not only he will know they are near, but he will know who it is!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

What great ideas, Bob! I especially like the bells, and I'm sure Beni appreciates it, too. You've gotten him so much more time with his vision than probably was ever expected. I wonder if he'll be documented in a vet journal some day!
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Amanda's Pack: Greg the Husband, Kate the daughter, Liam the son, Brewster the Shiba Inu, Cassie the Torbie & Fenway the Leopard Gecko!

Amanda I would be surprised if he isn't already a case study. Beni was the first dog to have a second valve inserted along with laser surgery that was performed at Cornell. I pretty much have carte blanche with my schedule with them. They WANT to see Beni no matter what day it may happen to be. He is quite the celebrity... during the periods in between students and doctors almost all of the techs stop by to greet him. I could be simply walking down the hallway going home and invariably I'll hear someone say.. There goes Beni! It kinda helps to lighten my day.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.