Thursday, September 21, 2006

Back to the Drawing Board

Today we took Luna back to the optomologist.  Her appointment wasn’t for another 3 days but her eye has been looking increasing worse and the medications did not seem to be helping at all.  It had also become noticeably uncomfortable for her.

As a result, back to the vet we went.  The vet took one look at it and said they have to operate.  It seems like we are back to the beginning.  They are treating it as if it could be cancer.  They referred to the fungus as a “complication.”  I guess I see their point when they explained it.  Since Luna already has the prominent bulging pug eyes (especially her right eye) and her eye never really fully closes.  So, she started to get the growth and her eye continued to not be able to close. As that occurred, the fungus crept in there.  That is why the skin scrape came back as a fungus.  She has a fungus but that is just the top layer of the problem.  There is still a tumor under there.

Consequently, Little Luna is scheduled for surgery next Thursday.  They will remove only the growth unless they find there is something more significant under there, in which case, more tissue and maybe the entire eye would have to come out but they feel confident that they can just remove the growth.  The growth will then be sent to the pathologist to find its nature. 

While we are worried as before, because it is so necessary for her comfort that the tumor be removed that it is also sort of a relieving situation.  We don’t want her to “go under” but recognize the necessity of it all.  It is an unusual feeling for us with Luna because we don’t know how she responds to anesthesia.  Like with Benjamin, we know when he comes out of it, he is very whiny and his eyes are all mucousy.  Henry is very laid back after he’s been under anesthesia.  But with Luna we don’t know.  She hasn’t even thrown up or had diarrhea since we’ve had her.  We know all about these things with the boys but Luna is still new to us in that regard.  It will be a learning experience for us. 

So, again we thank you all in the pug community for your care and support in this hectic time of worry, wonder and medical miracles.  May we offer to you and your beloved puggies, that you are always pro-active when it comes to doggy’s health.  It is so important to brush up on common health problems.  It is also crucial to know when to call the vet and if things aren’t getting better, then call back or get a second opinion when you don’t feel comfortable.  Do for your pug what you should do for yourself. He won’t actually thank you for it but you will both feel better in the long run.