Never did Mom know that cataracts can actually be improved and even reversed (scroll down for article). Both of my eyes have been a lil' bluish for a few years now so its likely to be just [nuclear sclerosis] and not cataracts since my left eye is all good in the scan. Likewise, there are also many articles and studies stating that cataracts cannot be improved or reversed and can only be cured via surgery. But going by my sonagrapher's readings, Mom will look at the optimistic side of things.
Basically all my organs are in good shape. My heart's Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is still very stable at Class B1 since my first scan in 2010 with no needs for medications, just [heart support supplements] will suffice. As for my eyes, my left eye is very good while my right eye has mild cataract (also detected in 2010) and guess what! The sonagrapher actually said that it IMPROVED and I've at least 90% vision in my right eye. Also asked Mom if she's giving any eye supplements. Mom said yes and she replied, ''well its obviously working so continue with it.... and then she added, "congrats! you have the perfect dog! almost, except for the mild cataract in the right eye. But it's improved!" She did a double-take with last year's scan image and confirmed it.
This just re-assures Mom that whatever she's doing for us is on the right track..... with all the organic raw food and supps on top of it. Most ppl mock and label her as ''extreme'' or ''crazy'' etc. But the results speak for itself.
As for my mild bile-sludge, it can be settled with a simple food formula. Mom just has to find time to do it. Otherwise, I'm all good and Mom's forever-perfect heart-dog.
Comparison eye scan images. Stand-alone pix is the image of my Left eye which is cataract-free.
Eyes Ultrasound Images:
Abdominal Ultrasound Images:
Cardiac Ultrasound Images:
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| scanning my eyes |
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| scanning my heart |
Below is an article Mom found while googling. Just purely for info and I'm not on this supp at all.
[LINK] :
Cataracts in Dogs and Cats:
Cataracts are common in older dogs and rarely in older cats. You might notice a milkiness in your pet's eyes as they age. They are due to changes in the fibers in the lens of the eye which are found behind the iris and the pupil. A healthy lens is transparent and used for focusing to enable clear, sharp vision, and through the lens adjustments enable dogs or cats to see things clearly, up close and far away.
Cataracts in dogs or cats often occur if they have diabetes, and are found in older pets that have immune disorders, a chronic disease, chronic skin problems, hip dysplasia and ear problems.
The senile type is most common and tends to occur simultaneously in both eyes.
The following breed of dogs are more at risk: Afghans, Cockers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden retrievers, Labradors, Schnauzers, Old English Sheepdogs, Huskies, Poodles, Westies and Springers.
Causes:
Although the exact cause of cataracts in dogs or cats is not known, chemical changes within the lens may contribute to cataract development. Other factors such as genetics, congenital defects, eye infection, trauma to the eye, nutritional deficiencies (especially carotenoid deficiencies which are the red, orange and yellow plant pigments that give fruits and vegetables their vivid colors and provide potent antioxidant protection), exposure to heat or radiation, toxins, eye disorders or diabetes may also be associated with cataracts.
Holistic Remedies:
It has been our experience that natural remedies for cataracts in dogs and cats have been extremely useful. See the remarks by pet owners of animals with cataracts.
- Cineraria is the traditional homeopathic remedy found in the Ophthalmology section of the Physicians Desk reference for over 25 years as a treatment for cataracts. The government of India has stated that "Cineraria is the nutrient of choice to halt or reverse cataracts." Homeopathy ignites the healing process, nutraceuticals provide the fuel.
- Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is recommended as a general supplement.
- Eyebright and bilberry, two herbs integral to holistic cataract treatment, are helpful for pets.
Can-C and Dogs - Research:
Control Study: Thirty dogs, (60 eyes) received topical application of Can-C 1% N-acetylcarnosine eye drop solution twice daily to cataracts.
- Improved visual behaviour of the animals within weeks of treatment.
- Cataract reversal starts from the periphery of the cataract followed by increased transparency of the lens.
- 96% of canine eyes treated with N-acetylcarnosine (Can-C) showed notable improvements.
- Dogs with both immature and ripe cataracts showed significant visual improvement.
Current Drug Therapy, 2006, Vol. 1, No. 1 107 - Excerpt from;
"Treatment of Age-Related Cataracts in Canines" - Mark Babizhayev MA PhD
Can-C and Cat Cataract
Four years ago our 24 year old cat, Saboo, who was almost totally
deaf, came down with cataracts and her vision was worsening. Had she
gone totally blind, we would have had to put her down. After asking for
help from several vets in our area, a product called Can-C was
recommended to us as being good for humans and dogs. I believe our cat
was among the first few to be treated with Can-C. Within just a few
weeks, we could tell Saboo's sight was improving. Our vet checked her
eyes on every visit thereafter and there was significant improvement
each time. We used Cineraria, the homeopathic drops as well. Soon she
was seeing normally. Every human, animal owner, animal shelter and zoo
needs to be aware of this miraculous eye, and potentially, life saving,
product. How much money humans could save. How many animals of all
kinds could live a longer, happier life - an innumerable number. Saboo
left us at 28 years old (equal to over 150 human years). Thank you
Natural Eye Care for giving us four more wonderful years with her.
Rick V., Sonoma, CA
Rick V., Sonoma, CA
[LINK]:
Older Dogs and the Onset of Cataracts
Look into your older dog’s eyes – and see your vet if clouds are present.
A dog’s eyes, like those of its human companions, change with
age. The passage of time and the progression of certain illnesses
increase the risk of canine cataracts, glaucoma, and other
vision-related problems.Fortunately, not all age-related vision changes are serious, and some that are serious can be prevented and even reversed. By being aware of the eye conditions that are common in aging dogs, we can do much to help our canine companions see well throughout their lives.
Canine Cataracts
Cataracts make the lens of the eye opaque or cloudy, which gradually reduces vision to the point of blindness. In their early stages, cataracts cause blurring and distortion of vision, but they are invisible to the naked eye. By the time most owners notice them, cataracts involve more than 60 percent of the dog’s eye. Cataracts often accompany other illnesses, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism (low thyroid function).Surgery performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist is the only treatment considered effective in conventional veterinary medicine – and is indicated only in cases where the cataracts are not a result of a secondary disease such as diabetes.
Lenticular Sclerosis
Lenticular sclerosis, also called nuclear sclerosis, is very different from cataracts, though the two are often confused. “Lenticular sclerosis is a normal age-related change in the canine eye,” explains Jeff Wayman, DVM, of Belton, Missouri. “As the dog ages, the interior portion of the lens becomes harder and more compact, producing an indistinct greyish-blue haze. Your veterinarian can easily distinguish cataracts from lenticular sclerosis with an ophthalmoscope.”Some veterinarians believe that lenticular sclerosis does not interfere with vision at all, while others say it causes slight blurring and interferes with depth perception. “This would be more of a problem if dogs had to read or if they were strongly dependent on central vision,” says Mike Richards, DVM, at www.vetinfo.com, “but they don’t read and they don’t lose the ability to see movement, which is more of a peripheral vision ability. Most dogs with lenticular sclerosis will continue to see well enough to get around for the remainder of their lives.”
Glaucoma in Dogs
One of the most common causes of vision loss in dogs, glaucoma is caused by a buildup of fluid in the aqueous humor of the eye, which results in increased pressure. Several factors can interfere with the normal drainage of fluid from the eye, including structural problems with its filtration (known as primary glaucoma) or mechanical problems caused by a displaced lens or the accumulation of blood and other debris in the eye (secondary glaucoma).Glaucoma can be chronic, in which the illness’s gradual progression may result in tunnel vision, or acute. Acute glaucoma is a medical emergency requiring veterinary attention. A common symptom of acute glaucoma is the sudden development of a red, painful eye. The pain, which may not be obvious at first, can manifest as lethargy, a loss of appetite, or excessive sleeping.
If this condition goes untreated for 48 hours, it may be impossible to save the eye’s sight, and when one eye has succumbed to glaucoma, the other usually follows. While dogs of any breed can develop glaucoma, those most associated with primary glaucoma are Northern breeds such as the Norwegian Elkhound, Siberian Husky, Malamute, and Samoyed, as well as the Bouvier de Flandres, Basset Hound, Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Shar Pei, Poodle, and Shih Tzu.
Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) damages the retina and optic nerve, resulting in partial to complete vision loss. “Early recognition of glaucoma is vital if vision is to be preserved in the eye,” says Dr. Wayman. “In my opinion, most glaucoma cases should be managed by a board-certified ophthalmologist if possible.” Conventional treatment includes drug therapy and surgery, including the removal of eyes blinded by glaucoma, as this disease can cause severe pain.
Retinal Degeneration
Most common in Collies, Irish Setters, Miniature Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels, inherited retinal degeneration or PRA results in vision loss, usually starting with night blindness or difficulty seeing in low-light situations. Sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD) can occur in any breed and is believed to result from metabolic disorders such as Cushing’s disease. There is no conventional veterinary treatment for blindness caused by retinal degeneration.Prevention of Eye Problems
Although injuries can be a factor, holistic veterinarians believe that the leading cause of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, and other vision problems is inadequate nutrition.In his book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, holistic veterinarian Richard Pitcairn notes that cataracts frequently accompany immune disorders and chronic diseases such as diabetes. “Many dogs with chronic skin allergies, hip dysplasia, and ear problems will develop cataracts as they get older,” he says. Removing the lens surgically may help, he explains, but unless underlying conditions such as diet are addressed, the eye will never be healthy.
Research on humans has shown that glutathione may help prevent cataract formation and correct damage from free radicals. Some studies have shown that many lenses affected by cataracts contain only 20 percent of the glutathione found in healthy lenses. Glutathione is composed of three amino acids, cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Natural sources include eggs, broccoli, avocados, and garlic, and glutathione is sold as a nutritional supplement.
Wendell O. Belfield, DVM, a pioneer of nutritional therapy for pets, cites human studies that show vitamin C improves the vision of elderly patients suffering from cataracts. He describes one veterinarian who successfully treated hundreds of dogs with cataracts and related eye conditions using injected and oral vitamin E and selenium.
In addition, the famous vitamin E researcher Dr. Wilfrid Shute told Dr. Belfield how he treated a champion Doberman Pinscher that stopped siring and went blind with cataracts at age seven. After a few weeks of taking 300 International Units (IUs) of vitamin E daily, the dog sired several litters of puppies and, within three months, his cataracts cleared up.
Another veterinarian mentioned by Dr. Belfield successfully treated canine cataracts with 20,000 IUs of vitamin A daily for 10 weeks. “There are many different types and causes involved with cataracts,” he concluded. “My opinion is that a good diet and supplementation program will contribute to preventing them and may, as the above cases show, eliminate them should they occur.”
It is so difficult to treat glaucoma in dogs that prevention is crucial. Some veterinarians recommend vitamin C and/or the mineral selenium because deficiencies of both have been found in human glaucoma patients. Vitamin C was found to lower intra- ocular pressure in many studies, even in patients who did not respond to prescription drugs.
Cod liver oil has dramatically lowered intraocular pressure in rabbits, humans, and other animals, and oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax seed oil, also help lower pressure. Bioflavonoids such as grapeseed extract and the herb bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) help prevent glaucoma by maintaining healthy collagen in the eyes. The herbs gotu kola (Centella asiatica) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) may help lower pressure by increasing circulation in and around the eyes, while coleus (Coleus forskohlii) relaxes smooth muscles in the eye and helps lower pressure. For best results, consult an herbalist or holistic veterinarian to determine the best preparations and doses for dogs at serious risk of glaucoma.
Advocates of natural feeding plans claim that dogs raised on well-balanced raw food rarely develop retinal degeneration or PRA.
The same vitamins, herbs, and supplements that help prevent glaucoma and cataracts can prevent or slow the progression of retinal atrophy. Bilberry, which British World War II pilots used to improve their night vision, is especially appropriate. Because there are strong links between the eyes and the liver, many holistic veterinarians use herbs and supplements to support liver function while treating PRA. The herbs milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) and dandelion leaf or root (Taraxacum officinale) help tone and repair the liver, as do supplements containing liver.
Acupuncture is an important support therapy for dogs with vision problems. It corrects energy imbalances throughout the body, stimulates self-repair, and strengthens individual organs, including the eyes and liver. Acupressure and massage are also helpful.
With a lifetime of good vision as their reward, any improvements we can make in our dogs’ food, supplements, and support therapies are investments worth making.
CJ Puotinen, a frequent contributor to WDJ, is the author of The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care, Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats, and several books about human health including Natural Relief from Aches and Pains.
On a sidenote, early this year, Mom stumbled on a post and she wishes to share it as it shows the importance of ultrasound scans first-hand.
The following pix description reveals first hand on how important ultrasound scans are. While heart murmurs (like in Derry's case) can be detected through a stethoscope, it doesn't reveal anything beyond that that could be going on in the heart for ie Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), organ enlargement, etc etc. So never ever take for granted that all is well internally when the necessary tests are not done at all. Don't wait till it is too late. When a dis-ease is detected early (like in my case), it can be managed well or even reversed with supplements and in worse scenarios, with medications... rather than it be unknown and left to deteriorate to the point of no return or sudden death scenarios.
