Friday, February 9, 2007

As Told By Luna

Hi everyone.  It’s me, Little Luna.  I had to go back to the ophthalmologist’s office today for a check up.  Of course, this visit was no different than the rest of my life…some good news, some bad news.  I just take it all with a grain of salt, though.  There’s a lot to share, so put up your feet and get comfy…

The trip to the eye specialist’s always begins with the car ride that is about an hour long and since my brothers rarely go, I get special treatment and ride in the front seat since I am so well behaved in the car.  Well, this trip was no different.  So, I took the long car ride and arrived at the vet’s office.  I usually see a lot of pug cousins there but today seemed to be poodle day instead.  There were 2 poodles in the waiting room and a Bischon that looked very much like a poodle.  So, we all waited in the lobby.  While I was waiting I saw my favorite nurse.  It was Kimmie!  She was there when I had my tumor removed and a few times before and since then.  On my last visit, though, I wasn’t that nice to her which I really regret.  I tried to be more polite today but my nerves got the best of me and well, I just wasn’t my usual happy-go-lucky self.

When it was my turn, Kimmie invited us into the room where they check me out.  Kimmie asked mom some questions about my eyes and if she thought she’d seen any decline or improvement.  Well, mommy had to confess that I have been walking into the glass door again and having some other visual difficulties including some blue pigmentation in my “good” eye.  Kimmie noted this on my chart.  Then came the wiggly part.  I had to have these little papers put in my eyes to measure how my tear production is coming along.  I did well on that test but it took 2 takes.  I got too nervous the first go round and popped the strips right out of my eyes.  I’m telling you, since my tumor was removed, I just get antsy these days.  Mom says we’ll work on that.  Once that was over, mommy & Kimmie talked a little bit.  Mom said that she wanted to write about this on the blog in hopes of helping some other pugs with eye issues.  I sort of felt like a speciman at that point but I guess if it’s for the good of pugs everywhere, then I won’t be so vain.

Kimmie & mommy continued to talk.  Then Kimmie brought in a doggie my size!  It was her Papi-chihuahua mix.  Oh, she was a cutie.  It would be neat to have a play date with her!  It’s hard to find friends that are just my size!  Kimmie brought the pooch to another room and then it was time to see Dr. Denis.

Dr. Denis came in and looked at my chart and then took some photos of my eyes and then looked at my eyes using a flashlight but the rest of the room was dark.

After that, mommy & Dr. Denis talked about the blue stuff mommy sees in my eyes.  Well, here’s where that good news/bad news roller coaster comes in….the good news is that my tear production is high.  The bad news is that my pigmentation is getting worse.  With my pigmentation getting worse, then my vision is also suffering.  Oh yeah, and that blue stuff is water that accumulates inside my eye as a result of the pigmentation getting worse.  The eye that had a tumor, though is like completely healed!  Sweet!  For my latest malady, however, I am back up to 4 meds every other day.  I will have my regular doses of tacrolimus every day.  My neopolydex drops are every other day.  The new one called cyclosporine will be added daily and then there is an ointment that I will be given every other day.  The ointment is to help get rid of the water in my eye.  Funny, I take drops to make me have tears but then I get an ointment to take water away.  Hmmm?  Doesn’t seem to make much sense to a pug like me but if it is what the doctor ordered, who am I to say?

So, it was a day of good and bad news.  I know I’m rescue and life gave me some lemons but here I am making lemonade!  I keep smiling because I keep a positive attitude and love my forever home!