Sorry about having to cancel today’s show, y’all! My best girl Elladog gave us quite a scare this morning and I went into full-on hysterical mode over it. For those of you not familiar with Elladog, she’s my 14.5 year old lab. Last night she came to bed with us as normal - no issues whatsoever. Around 1am, I felt her come up from the foot of the bed and start aggressively kissing my face - which is NOT typical for her to do in the middle of the night, so I cuddled her a little and then nudged her back to the foot of the bed where she slept the rest of the night soundly.
Normally, when the alarm goes off at 4.15, she bounces right out of bed for breakfast, and then together she and I let Maizie (our other lab) out of my son's room where she sleeps, and then they both run like bats out of hell to their dog bowls in the laundry room on the other side of the house. But today, Ella wasn’t with me when I let Maizie out. And she still hadn’t come out of our room when I reached the end of the hallway. I went back to the bedroom and she was still on the bed, so I coaxed her to wake up, and saw her stand up shakily. She jumped off the bed and kinda stumbled, but then seemed to be ready to follow me. I walked back into the hallway, and she wouldn’t come. I went back towards her, and she was moving her head quickly side to side and stepping all over the place - seeming totally disoriented - like she just couldn’t get her bearings. She just couldn’t move forward, but at the same time was stepping and moving her head all over - clearly panicked. So obviously I panicked too, woke up my husband, and he stayed with her while I fed Maizie. I went back and picked up Ella and carried her to the laundry room and set her in front of her food bowl. She ate everything, drank water (but also stepped into her water bowl like she couldn’t see it), and then we took her outside where she stumbled around and tripped a bit but went potty. Once we got her back inside, it was clear that she just couldn’t see, and that this sudden onset of blindness needed to be investigated further. We didn't know if it was a stroke (like mama, like Elladog? IYKYK :) ) or something else.
Ron got her calm and cuddled with her and we called and got her an 8am appointment at the vet, where she passed a few simple neurological tests, and where we learned that her eyes had pretty severe nystagmus, which I’d noticed at home - they were just moving side to side rapidly, and the vet told us that the nystagmus was preventing her from having her normal horizon vision - which explained her inability to stay balanced or walk properly. No cataracts or glaucoma. The reason for the nystagmus is less clear. Her balance is part of her vestibular system so they checked her ears and both seem to be inflamed - which marks the first potential ear infection this old girl has ever had in her whole life! Vestibular issues could also be the result of tumors or pressure on the brain, and they can also apparently happen and then resolve for no discernible reason at all - especially in dogs as old as Elladog. The vet sent us home with an antibiotic and anti-nausea medicine in case her dizziness causes tummy problems, and will see her back in about 10 days UNLESS her symptoms worsen in which case she’ll return sooner. It’s entirely possible that her issues will resolve on their own once her ears are cleared. Hoping and praying with every fiber of my SOUL that that’s the case.
She’s having trouble resting because she’s so out of sorts and confused, I’m sure, about why she’s unable to see normally. For the past couple hours she’s been taking quick catnaps on the floor here and there because she’s afraid to climb on any couches at the moment. So I’m taking the day to love on her and keep her as calm as possible, and Daisy and I will be back in action Tuesday morning! I can’t promise I won’t be bleary-eyed and puffy-faced because I’ve been crying A LOT, but we’ll be there! ~Mock