[nagdu] Destiny's status

[Shannon Dyer]

Janice,

I'm really, really sorry to hear this.

If you need to talk, let the Consumer Services Office know, and they'll put you in touch with one of the grad counsel members who deals with all things related to retirement or possible retirement.

If you'd like to know more, fee free to email me offlist, and I'll be happy to help you set things in motion.

Until then, you and Destiny are in my thoughts. My first guide had a seizure disorder. Luckily, her seizures were minor and infrequent. So, I didn't end up having to retire her.

Good luck.

Shannon
Shannon Dyer
Alumni Council Member,
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
®  and
America's VetDogs®,  The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc ®
Providing "Second Sight" ® since 1946
371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
Office: 631-930-9000, Toll-free: 866-282-8047
solsticesinger at gmail.com
To make a donation that can change a life...contact the Guide Dog Foundation at
www.guidedog.org 
or America's VetDogs the Veterans K-9 Corps at
www.vetdogs.org
Visit us on facebook at: 
www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs

On Jul 13, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Janice Toothman wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> Some of you might know about Destiny having a major seizure during the NFB convention at Dallas, if you attended the NAGDU meeting on Monday. Marion was able to get me in touch with the GDF trainer at the convention, who was able to go with me to an emergency clinic on Sunday, July1. The ER vet didn't have know of an immediate cause of Destiny's seizure. He spoke with the director of veterinarian services at GDF and they agreed that Destiny was in no immediate danger. They reasoned it was safe  to postpone the usual blood work associated with seizures until I returned home and the cost to perform the blood work would be cheaper than in an ER clinic.
> 
> Earlier in the week, Destiny saw the vet at our regular clinic and the blood work was performed. Those tests revealed a somewhat low T-4 value which might be associated with low thyroid. The vet called to ask me if I wanted to have an additional test done that was more reliable indicator of hypothyroidism. I agreed, If the thyroid condition was what precipitated the seizure,this is a treatable condition that shouldn't not significantly affect her guide work and if properly managed shouldn't prompt a seizure. The $70.00 thyroid test was negative.
> 
> At this point, I received a call from GDF from one of the veterinarian's to call her about Destiny's diagnosis of epilepsy. Unfortunately, when I tried to call GDF back, the veterinarian had left for the week Later that evening my regular veterinarian had told me of the negative blood test. She also discussed her talk with the vet from GDF. The GDF vet had mentioned that they usually retire dogs with epilepsy even if they are on medication due to the issue of safety and the risk that the dog might have a seizure while crossing the street.
> 
> I have left messages on the veterinarian's and a vet tech voice mail to call me. The former I know will not be in until Monday. It has been such a shock to hear the discussion of retirement for Destiny. I had planned for 6 more years. I am in my last year of classes then internship. Her guide work is wonderful. The GDF trainer commented to me about her work and how well she was doing before the seizures. I don't know what to do. I feel in limbo until I talk to the vet at GDF on Monday. But living with my aging parents I am not sure if they will want two dogs in the house. This has made it difficult for me to do all the other things I have to do.
> 
> I just wanted to let people know how Destiny was if people were interested. She is somewhat more low energy than before but otherwise every thing else is normal.
> Janice and Destiny
> 
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