Oblio the Dog Has Water on the Brain, But That's His "Point"

Named for a character in Harry Nilsson's "The Point," he shows that dogs can have a good life despite suffering from hydrocephalus.

Let's take a trip in my time machine -- yes, I totally have a time machine!

So let's return to the early 1970s, when Harry Nilsson wrote and recorded The Point. It all happened when the musician was on, uh, human catnip (so to speak), and he was looking at the trees and everything, and, as one is apt to do on the 'nip, he started thinking. Among those thoughts was how everything has a point, and if something doesn't have a point, then that's the point -- The Point!

What does this have to do with dogs? Uh, everything! Because I want to tell you about a dog named Oblio, who is named after the main character of The Point. 

You see, in the album turned cartoon, Oblio is the only one in his village born without a point, which leads the other kids to make fun of him. Similarly, Oblio the dog is a little different than most other dogs -- he was born with hydrocephalus, also known as "water on the brain." Interestingly, it was this defect that got Oblio a free ticket out of the puppy mill he was rescued from; however, his fate is a very rare and lucky one.

Oblio's condition is probably the result of poor breeding, but the little dog wants everyone to know that hydrocephalus isn't a death sentence. Sure, it means that Oblio has a dome-shaped head where the bones on top don't meet; that he's blind in one eye, experiences seizures, has bad coordination, and won't grow as quickly as other dogs, but that doesn't mean he's pointless! The point of Oblio is to prove that other dogs with similar conditions can and do thrive, and also make fabulous pets.

All photos via Oblio's Facebook page, which you should go like and tell him Dogster sent you!

Read about other Monday Miracles on Dogster:

About Liz Acosta: Dogster's former Cuteness Correspondent, Liz still manages the site's daily "Awws," only now she also wrangles Dogster's social media. That's why she wants you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and -- her personal favorite -- Instagram. See ya there!

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Boxer Dog with Brain Tumor Gets a Second Chance

When Peyton, a sweet 8-year-old Boxer, experienced two seizures in a day, her family rushed her to the vet, where she experienced dozens more 10-second seizures. The vet suggested that Peyton's human caretakers, Rob and Renee Henderson, take the dog to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Purdue University immediately, because "there was definitely something neurological going on."

At the hospital, Peyton was sedated while they performed an MRI. That was a Friday. The results came back on Monday, and the Hendersons drove back to the university to receive the news in person -- it was that bad. They were informed that Peyton was suffering from a brain tumor and had only a month to live. Even with surgery, there were no guarantees. The Hendersons were devastated.

Things looked grim for Peyton when she began experiencing seizures. Photo by Jon L. Hendricks for The Times.

The following day, however, the family received a phone call from Timothy Bentley, the veterinary neurosurgeon at Purdue who had seen Peyton. He wanted to know whether the Hendersons were willing to let Peyton participate in their canine brain-tumor clinical trials program. The procedure included using a sample of her glioma tumor as a vaccine against it. Additionally, the expensive surgery and subsequent chemotherapy would be free.

The Hendersons are happy to have Peyton in their lives still. Photo by Jon L. Hendricks for The Times.

Peyton's participation will help not only other dogs, but humans who are suffering from gliomas and other brain tumors as well. 

Following surgery, Peyton lost vision in her right eye, but is otherwise doing well. She is no longer experiencing seizures, and Dr. Bentley calls her progress a complete success.

While the trials have yet to reach conclusive results, Peyton is certainly benefiting from them, and will go down in the annals of medicine as a humble canine companion who has proved how much we need dogs in our lives.

Following surgery, Peyton has to relearn a lot of her motor skills, just like a human who has experienced a stroke. Photo by Jon L. Hendricks for The Times.

Via NWI.com

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