Could This Be Retinoblastoma?
When I sent out my Christmas cards I got a vaque feeling when I gazed at Panda's photo. One eye always appears to photograph differently than the other. It's not noticable at all when gazing at him in person. Then this evening I took a closeup of him and this time the photo captured how differently one eye looks from the other. Last year when he was sedated I asked the vet to check his eyes as I always suspected he was blind in that eye. The vet said the eye was fine. Some of you may remember I recently had Panda sedated for his recent groom job and had some things checked at the same time. Usually I pay aprox 500 to get the "works", however this time I opted for to spend the $ on the extra IV fluids while he was under and only had his teeth and ears checked. I regret I didn't ask for his eye to be checked again even tho the vet told me last time nothing was wrong. Should mention Panda doesn't exhibit any eye pain at all but suffers from night blindness and often bumps into things/dogs at the dog park often enough that I notice it. Okay I'm rambling but since I took the photo this evening...It has been bugging me and I did a search online. Do you guys think I should be concerned or am I a worry wort? 
Here's what I now remember hearing about long ago that was in this foggy brain of mine and the reason why his photo bothered me. http://www.stjude.org/media/0,2561,453_ ... 68,00.html and another site http://www.eyecancermd.org/retinoblasto ... nosis.html I'm also concerned about having him sedated again so soon after the recent one. Oh gosh worry worry worry! I won't be able to sleep tonight now that this is in my head. Have you guys any experience with this or am I way off base and it's nothing? Marianne and the boys |
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| Hi Marianne,
From one worry wart to another. I would be more concerned if they look different in person. I know my sheepies eyes always look funky in photos. But yes they do look like two different colors in that photo. I don't know anything about eye conditions. What I do know lots about though is to go by your intuition. Always trust your intuition. Sorry, I can't be any more help. |
| The reason that that "test" is valid in humans is that the face is essentially flat, with the eyes on a flat plane. That allows the light to travel through the eyes equally, when the light source comes from the front. A slight differencer in the angle from the source of the light is not as critical.
My first thought, and I checked my furkids again to verify it, is that the dogs eyes are not on a flat plain. There is a slight angle, with the inner corner of their eyes being slightly forward of the outer corner. (Does that make sense? Think a slight V-shape of the head). This would mean that a picture taken from anything less than a perfect head-on angle would show similar difference in the eyes. I think. But I am a believer in furkeepers knowing their furkids so well that they can pick up on changes quickly. I wonder about going to a vet opthalmologist? |
| Marianne if you are at all concerned, go and see a vet eye specialist and have an eye exam done. It is not a big deal and no stress to the dog at all. They put a drop in the eye, it dialates the pupil then they look into the eye with different scopes in different lights, right to the back of the retina. Panda will be fine, no sedation, just sitting by mom and having a crazy looking person with weird glasses/lenses on looking into his eye.
So to stop any sort of worry, it is worth having an eye test. Sometimes with age too, I am not sure how old panda is, but they can get a hardening of the retina, which can give them a bit of night blindness and does show up more in photos when using a flash, I had my old girl last year with that and I suspect Kelsey has it now at nearly 12, she is definately have trouble seeing at night, bump bump, but otherwise no problems with eyes at all in the day time. Eye testing is not that expensive, here in Australia it is about $60.00 AUD to have a specialist assess the eyes. So less in canadian bucks. Really worth while if you are concerned. 
His photo looks quite normal to me, he has such dark eyes like brie and her photos with the flash seems to reflect off those darker eyes. Brie has been eye tested every 12 months which is a requirement here for entire dogs up to the age of 7 years and nothing there, so go and have panda done to stop any sort of worry. Well worth it as a normal vet can look at the eyes and say no problem but with a specialist they have all the right equipment to really assess the eyes. |
| IMO I really don't see that much of a difference in his eyes in the photo. The photo example on that medical site clearly showed such a difference. Maybe it's as simple as you had a different light source there? Maybe take a couple of different photos in other rooms to see if there is a more dramatic change. Certainly, you know your dogs better than anyone but try not to worry yourself about it. |
| I wouldn't go by what you see in photos, I find they always make the dogs eyes look funny too.
I would just go to a specialist, it only takes a few minutes for an eye exam. You can have him sit and distract him with the best treat he's ever had. |
Here's another photo I took a few mins later of Panda boy. Thank you to all of you for your responses!! Much appreciated!! I think to ease my mind I will go and ask exactly what they did during the last eye test and to also ask about a visit an pet optomologist. Oh groaners, Merlin and Blue could handle it with no problems but Panda is another story as he "freaks" if something as simple as eye drops are placed into his eyes. I don't think he would sit still at all and would probably need sedation which worries me again. Panda is now 6 1/2 but hasn't quite aquired that "old look" in his eyes as Blue has, or Shaggy previously. The site I posted did say that it originally shows up in photos but Guest had some pretty scientific reasons as to explain what could have happened in Panda's photo. I think it was the second site I posted of the three children, which caused me concern as it stated that it's not normally seen to the visible eye. Once again that particular "gleam" shows up in photographs. Usually after the fact people then go back and can spot it easily enough when going through photos of the person/pet in question. Again, thanks to all of you for easing my mind some. You guys are the best!  Hi Ho Hi Ho...off to the Optomologist I go!
Marianne |
I don't know enough about dogs eyes to give you any advice of a helpful nature  . My only suggestion is put your mind at rest and see the Vet. |
| I think the best thing to do to let they eyes checked by an eye specialist.
Here in the netherlands we let they eyes checked when they r about 8,9 weeks old. It doesn't couse them any pain or stress. For oes in breeding programs we have to examin the dogs every year, until the age of 6 years. |
| Im not sure marianne, but panda girl wants to kiss panda boys big black nose |
| I agree with guest's post, about the dogs eyes not being on the same plane. They will reflect light back differently.
BUT, if you consistantly notice it, always in the same eye, and he does have eye concerns anyway - I would get it checked out. If he were mine, I would drive myself crazy worrying and wondering about it. Perhaps they could use a light sedation, with out needing to put him all the way out? |
| Thanks again for the comments! I agree with what everyone says if my gut tells me something may not be right , best to check it out. It could be nothing other than my worrying attitude.
I did go back and check a gazillion photos of him where you can see his eyes and the "gleam" is always shown in that eye. Here's one taken last Nov when Panda and I were on vacation. I think that's why the Christmas card I sent to everyone gave me that nagging feeling, as the gleam was there too. I'll phone the vet and keep you guys posted. Oh last thing should mention that apon looking at Panda in person - he has two brown eyes. 
Darcy, Panda boy is much appreciative of Panda girls attention. In fact that sad eyed look in the first photo - I'm sure he was thinking of her. 
Marianne and the boys Update- The vet spoke to me at length via phone and although nothing was found abnormal in his chart, she said bring him right down - no charge. I love my vet! |
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