The End of a Long Day

Smiling for the dermatologist

What a day and our Andre was center stage.

It all began with a trip to Dr. Beadleston for our annual dermatologist check-up. We got to Denver a bit early so enjoyed a walk around what we fondly call Andre's Pond (we traditionally start here before our appointment every year). After a shorter walk than usual - Jim had predicted a warmer morning and we were all a bit chilly - we headed over to the vet clinic. Andre got a clean bill of health... well as clean as he can get, but we'll take it! We do have a mild ear infection to deal with but overall the morning was pretty uneventful. No complaints here. :)

After we got home, it was nap time for the family before Andre and I had to take off for an afternoon appointment with his opthamologist.


Then the fun began. I had scheduled an appointment for the opthamologist's office to take a look at a "shadow" in his good eye. We soon learned it was a pigment issue they have been watching. It seems although not great, but it isn't anything to worry about. The fun really started when they decided to use a tonopen to measure his eye pressure. They started with his blind eye and the opthamologist seemed concerned. They brought in another (and another) pen to make sure the instrument wasn't broken. I soon learned why she was concerned... Andre's intraocular pressure was 42! The preferred high was 10. (Andre's good eye's pressure was measured at 16)

Long story short... after quite a bit looking, testing, more looking and eventually some drops we were asked to come back in an hour for retesting (good thing I had taken today off). Typically the biggest concern is losing sight from the eye due to the high pressure. Since Andre's sight is already gone, our largest concern was his pain level. The vet was worried Andre had a horrible headache and was suprised he wasn't acting more uncomfortable. I had to remind her Andre doesn't show pain - he is SUPER tough!

After an hour, his blind (right) eye's pressure was down to 20 and the left eye's pressure was down to 11. Three cheers, the drops worked! We got our instructions on two new drops we need to use until our follow-up appointment next week. Thank goodness for pet insurance!


I'm done!



Andre's medicine count after our two visits today:

• Mometamax (ear drops) - every 24 hours for 7 days
• Dorzolamide (anti-glaucoma eye drops) - twice a day until our next appointment
• Travatan (anti-glaucoma and eye hypertension eye drops) - once a day until our next appointment
• And the usual: Tacrollmus (tear production eye drops) - twice a day, steroid shots (for allergies) - once a week and Prednizone pill (for allergies) - twice a week.

Now our tough Andre is happily sleeping and recovering from his busy day. He is such a trooper!

While we waited for the drops to start working, Andre and I went and visited with Granny for a bit. On our way out the door she told me "Andre was lucky to have me." I disagreed and responded, "I'm lucky to have him!"