Schnauzer eye problem

[thegasman]

My friend took his schnauzer to the groomer shop. The dog was ok when he got home. Next morning his dog could not see. Took the dog to his vet, vet said unable to find the reason. Advised him to take dog to a dog eye specialist. After eye doctor ck out dog, eye doctor said he was blind in both eyes. This happened over night. Eye doctor said dog's eyes were ok, just his brain would not let him see. I have never heard of something like this. Has any one heard of this? Any one with a reason why this happened? I have 2 mini-schnauzer's and I would be heart broken if this happened to my girl's. I'am at a loss as to why this happened. My friend's dog is only 6 yrs old.

[Sarah]

Reading your post gasman I feel incomplete, in the sense that the Vet failed to give your friend complete information. Is the blindness temporary or permanent. What in the brain is causing the problem. Is it a tumor? Could the problem be caused by "some kind of abuse" [as in groomer] Does the groomer use any type of chemicals in the grooming process, if so, what kind? [get a list]

Having a Vet say that the eyes are ok, but the brain is not allowing the dog to see, is not ok with me. I would personally want to know more.

gasman, I've been doing some research, and has the schnauzer been checked for diabetes? If not, perhaps a test should be done. This would explain the blindness.

Let me know.. Thanks

[thegasman]

Thanks Sarah for the quick reply. I called my friend and he said that they done blood work and every thing came back ok. The vet and the eye doctor said that it is permanent. My friend said he has taken the dog to the same groomer for 6 yrs. You did mention diabetes, could diabetes have caused this over night? I'am a type 2 diabetic so I know what diabetes can do to a person and a dog. Diabetes did not cross my mind. Thanks Jim

[Lee at Delayre]

Dogs do get diabetes In the book Medical and genetic aspects of purebred dogs "M Snaz have been identified as the breed most likely to have high cholesterol and triglycerides. Medication and dietary modification should be used to lower the risk of diabetes and acute pancreatitis" They are also prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA )

I did have a weird thing a few years ago. One of my Silky Terriers had complications and under went a C-Section on her first (and last) litter. She was spayed at the time and all puppies were stilborn. She was home only a few hours and went into Eclampsia and was hospitalized for 3 days. My Vet called said the good news is she is recovering well and eating . The bad new she went blind. My Vet said he has seen this in dogs suffering trauma (usually hit by a car ) in her case the pregnancy complications sort of a hysterical blindness. Within 2 weeks she regained her
sight. She was 2 1/2 at the time . She is now 14 and is doing fine . Her sight is now fading from age but her sight once it returned was fine for 11 yrs.

[Sarah]

If the dr's took blood work,and everything was ok, then I would suspect Jim, that it is not diabetes.

They have to know what is going on with the brain in order for this sort of thing to occur. They aren't telling your friend a lot.

Ask your friend to call the groomers and ask them if anything unusual happened while grooming the dog, also have your friend ask about what sort of products they use. Did the Schnauzer only go for a cut, or was she bathed also?

If your friend can afford it, I would have the dog examined by a Holistic Vet. Maybe its not really the brain but the optic nerves that run behind the eye to the brain. If so, then I truly believe that acupuncture can help relax the optic nerve and bring the dogs sight back. [If that is the problem} We still do not know what is causing the blindness, which we should try to find out first.

Let me know

Regarding Lee's post. Progressive Retinal Atrophy would certainly cause the blindness, but it wouldn't happen over night. It would have to have been going on for quite some time. The same with diabetes and blindness. Jim could the dog have been sick for a long time and perhaps your friend didn't know it?

[Lee at Delayre]

I just found something it could be . Sudden aquired retinal degeneration. It is of unknown cause found mostly in healthy middle aged female dogs. It produces rapid and complete loss
of vision in both eyes in a matter of hours or several days . This is in the Retinal Disease chapter in Dog Owners Home Veterinary manual in the section under PRA

[Sarah]

I found this wonderful article on PRA

What are the signs of PRA?

Signs may vary depending on the type of PRA and its rate of progression. PRA is non painful and outward appearance of the eye is often normal, i.e.; no redness, excess tearing, or squinting. Owners may notice a change in personality of their dog such as a reluctance to go down stairs or down a dark hallway. This is characteristic of night blindness, in which vision may appear to improve during the daytime. As the disease progresses, owners can observe a dilation of the pupils and the reflection of light from the back of the eye. If the blindness is progressing slowly, the owner may not notice any signs until the dog is in unfamiliar surroundings and the lack of vision is more apparent. In some animals, the lens of the eyes may become opaque or cloudy.

Here's the link to the remainder of the article Jim....

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration in Dogs

There is also another suggestion within the article that it could be PRCD, which is slow progression which starts out like night blindness, and then progresses to full blindness.

Either way they both began early on in the dogs life, and then progresses faster with the age of the dog.. PRA and PRCD has nothing to do with the brain, it is all within the eye itself. They have a diagram of the eye so you can see what's happening.

[chipinvegas]

hi there my 6 yr old bichon became blind almost in the same way. however he developed glaucmoa one day and he was blind the next. didnt have time to take him to the eye dr..for care. he is under a eye dr now and does quite well. he gets around ok but has days of depression. take care.

[mia]

Hi Gasman,
That is sad. I went through a very traumatic experience with my Golden Retriever, she is only 3 years old. I was informed that her Father has this Pigmentery Uevitis and had his eye removed, and it is heritary. I took my Holly to the Opthalmology Center and saw his same Dr. Dr. Connie Sillerud at the " Companion Animal Eye Center" in Mpls, MN. You can check her out online at that same site and get a phone number if you want to talk to her. She is very exceptional.

Holly has this in her left eye and I give a drop every morning, last time we saw the Dr. she says it is looking better. it is not a cure just a preventive so she doesn't develop gloucoma and anything else. We are going in December again and get a update. I don't want her to go blind or worse, have her eye removed.

Good luck, keep us posted.

Mia