Lilo
Pet of the Month - April 2025
Our Pet of the Month for April is Lilo, a very sweet and loving 10-month-old Goldendoodle. Her family adopted Lilo when she was around 5 months of age and realized quickly that her vision was not great. They brought her to Animal Hospital of Statesville for her first puppy visit, and we confirmed that she was blind. In order for animals (including humans!) to see, everything has to work from the clear corneal surface through the lens to the retina (back of the eye with receptors), which transmit via the optic to the brain to process information. There are a lot of steps on the way! Her eye exam was normal aside from her blindness, which makes genetic or congenital blindness most likely. Regardless, blind dogs like Lilo adjust quickly to their environment and have a fantastic quality of life. Plus, Lilo’s family has gone above and beyond helping her gain confidence despite her impaired vision.
Now that Lilo is older and has been through a heat cycle, we wanted to proceed with a spay. Anesthesia and surgery can be nerve-wracking for clients and pets alike – let alone when you’re blind and in a new environment! Because we always strive to provide the most positive experiences for our pets, we make modifications to our approach based on each particular patient. For Lilo, we wanted her to be with her family for reassurance until the surgery. We did her pre-operative exam and blood screen with Mom and Dad petting on her. After she was cleared for surgery, we gave our typical pre-surgical medications while Mom and Dad held. (The pre-surgical medications contain an anti-anxiety medication and a pain medication to help her relax and control pain before we even start a procedure.) Lastly, the technicians placed Lilo’s IV catheter with Mom and Dad talking to her. Our goal with this approach was to help Lilo feel comfortable at the hospital since she couldn’t see everything that was happening.
Her family is so thoughtful and loving with Lilo and has been the perfect home for this precious puppy! Lilo’s parents opted to perform a laparoscopic ovariectomy (spay) for a minimally invasive approach and faster recovery time. They even brought a blanket and unicorn toy to keep her company and allow her to have a familiar scent while waking up from surgery. As soon as the procedure was over, Dr. Zuercher called with an update, and her family returned to AHS to be cuddling with her as she recovered from surgery. She did so well, and isn’t she cute in her unicorn surgery suit (an alternative to a “cone” after surgery)? We are so thankful her family was willing to help us do what was best for Lilo, and we look forward to continue working together through her adolescence and adulthood!
Julia Zuercher, DVM