Before I go any farther, THANK YOU to all who wrote — with positive stories of your own experiences with blind pets and to those who offered care and support. I love and so much appreciate knowing so many of you out there care about Rita (all the critters really) and you care about Vince and me. It means so much!
This is probably more of a “Judy Update”. I can be strong, almost to the point of seeming cold and uncaring, until my pets are concerned. They’re so innocent . . even mean, old Speck. They depend on us for everything – food, shelter, medical care. I hate that Rita had a bad time in the beginning of her life, lived in the woods surviving on acorns and dodging critters that wanted to eat her, and now she’s been dealt this hand. By the end of the day yesterday, I was able to think about it like this . . she ended up at our house for a reason. We love her as much as anyone could love any pet. We will do anything we can to help her. We wish this had not happened but we’re thankful we were chosen to help her.
Monday when we were at the vet, I knew the diagnosis/prognosis was not going to be good. I had read everything I could find on the internet. Vince had not and he kept saying “The vet is wrong!” “I know she can see!” and he wasn’t accepting it. The minute the vet walked into the room, I started crying. I did an ok job of holding it together . . went through several Kleenex (NOT boxes!), but I wasn’t totally blubbering . . I just couldn’t stop the tears. I made it home without crying much but once I got home, I could not stop crying. I ended up making myself sick and couldn’t eat anything most of Monday and Tuesday.
Yesterday was our knitting group. Monday night my friend texted me to see if I was going and I told her I was going to wait and see how I was doing Tuesday morning. One morning not too long ago, Speck had been not doing well and I thought it was the end for him and I walked into knitting, started crying and pretty much cried the entire time I was there. I didn’t want a repeat of that day.
Yesterday morning I got up and felt much better. I’m sure my eyes were swollen and red but I went to knitting and never cried one tear. Friends there asked about her, we discussed it all and I was good. When I got home, Rita heard me drive up and was waiting by the door . . doing what we call her little Rita dance. She was so happy to see me, though she didn’t actually SEE me, but she knew I was home. I took them both out and fed them, then realized I had a message from Vince telling me he had decided to come home for lunch (he had told me he wasn’t) and he had fed them. Oops! At least her appetite is good and old Speck has always been a bottomless pit when it comes to eating anything.
I don’t have any indication that she’s in pain but I haven’t thought she might be in pain at all and she had to have been. She played some yesterday, enjoyed our time outside, every time I pass by her, she rolls over onto her back for belly rubs. Once I saw her jump to get on the sofa and she missed. We’ve been putting her up there and not letting her jump but . . she has a mind of her own. She does seem to have realized that if she sits in front of the sofa in that “I’m going to jump” position, we’ll rush to her and put her up there. Yesterday once she was going to jump up in my recliner (she is so scared of loud noises and there was an explosion at the National Guard .. an on purpose explosion – they blow things up in the woods often) and she came running to my recliner. She’s not a lap dog and rarely sits with us. I saw her walk up to the recliner and get almost under it, somehow judge where she was and then jump up. It all happened quickly when she heard the explosion but she was much more cautious jumping than she has been.
If the laundry room door isn’t closed tight, she will wiggle her way in there. We used to keep dog treats in a bag in there until she and Speck figured it out and helped themselves one day. She still goes in there when she finds that door not closed tightly and searches for a treat. The door was open just a couple of inches and I saw her brush into it. She does seem to walk along the edges of the sofa, the walls, the fireplace .. like she knows if one side of herself is up against something, she has idea where she is.
The vet provided us with two different bottles of drops and a prescription for more of each. We were able to get one Rx filled at Walgreen’s and Vince had to mail order the second one.
I am trying very hard not to “baby” and pamper her but let her live as normally as possible. My first instinct is to carry her around all day, bring her food to her on the sofa, sit and try to love on her all day. She does not enjoy being loved on. I will not be here every day of her life . . with my trips to MO and other places. I know the best thing to do is help her be independent and carry on just as she did before being blind . . as much as she can. We are all learning a new “normal” around here. I don’t like it . . I wish it hadn’t happen but we play the hand we’re dealt.
Valerie J. Zagami says
Yes you and Vince were chosen for Rita and Speck. Others would have not wanted to bother and who knows where they would be. There is a special place in heaven for people like you. I often think we get more upset and emotional than the pet does. They seem to adapt very quickly and don’t look back. Very special pets for very special people. Thank you from the dogs (and cats and chickens) who know they are loved and well cared for.
Joyce says
It sounds like she is figuring out how to get around! My parents had cats that would pull the “I haven’t been fed in weeks! Feed me now!” ploy. Start with Dad, get fed, and then hit up Mom, get fed again.Rita and Speck were probably thinking, “how can we get this to happen all the time!” 🙂
Dottie says
Love your note – and such good advice for all of us….play the hand we’re dealt….Thinking of y’all.
mageez says
have never had a blind pet but have had a deaf cat. it’s so hard not to treat them as handicaped. hugs to all of you.
Lisa G Boyer says
I’m so sorry about Rita. One of the things I love about animals is they just live in the moment. They accept the “now” and don’t think about the past. For her, she is fine in the new “now” and you are making her life happy with caring, pets, and treats while she learns to navigate with her other senses. There is no blame or sadness or looking back at what was–she is accepting the new normal and getting on with her wonderful life with her guardians who care for her. She’s a lucky little dog to find you both.
Wanda says
Just do your best and let. her do the rest.Just think she now has a loving home and not in the woods
Deb P says
My heart is with you! Hugs
LizA. says
We had a friend who had a blind dog — they knew he was blind when they adopted him. If you saw him out playing in his yard, you’d never guess he was blind. he was the most adept dog at playing fetch I’ve ever seen. Animals are pretty amazing at learning to cope. They never feel sorry for themselves like humans tend to do. give her some more time and you will be amazed at how well she copes with being blind.
Char says
We had an old pug that went blind, she functioned fine as long as we didn’t rearrange the furniture. We were very careful to not leave large boxes out or anything for her to run into. She knew where everything was in the house and in her yard.
Bon says
It sounds like she is in the right place as she has two loving parents.
cassews says
Our furkid had a stroke 3 years ago and she is blind in her left eye, I was a total basket case. To tell you the truth so am I, as I was like you, Judy, its my furbaby and how can this happen. I must of cried for two weeks straight and then I decided she wanted to live and I am gonna help her live to the fullest that she can.
She walks along side of us on our right side, so that she can see our hand commands and hear verbal commands. When she first had the stroke; the vet told me that they could put her down as she will never have the quality of life she needs or I can devise some exercises to work with her. So I did after getting some information from the vet, religiously worked with her on them daily.
After 6 months she was a healthy or as healthy as she could be a one eyed dog who has allergies/had a stroke and is out there in the veggie or rose garden with us. Or when we go gold panning/rockhounding; she is the first one up the hill. She loves to ride in our side by side and just enjoys a good life. Her dr/vet is just as surprised as can be about her recovery and moving forward.
I am hoping that Rita can to a point overcome her vision problems and move forward as long as you don’t move the furniture. That was a big one with the vet ;not to move things around so she can navigate and have a happy loving home like she has now with you all and Speck. Rita seems so happy to see and be with you all so that is what counts. Her other senses will be put into play before too long and help her along.
Linda in NE says
Rita’s a lucky dog to have you and Vince to look after her.
Eileen Wheeldon Eisner says
This was such a sweet post. You and Vince have hearts of gold. Rita and Speck and Boots and Cat and the chickens are all so fortunate to have y’all!! I love you!
obed101 says
And too, she probably can see light and images. Blindness is not an absolute black and white….no pun there!
Terri says
I’m here crying for you all also. We have way to many pets and it’s just so hard when something happens to one. Especially when they aren’t that old and it’s so unexpected. We had that with a border collie, one of the hardest things I’ve been through. But I’m sure Rita is so thankful in her little doggie heart that she found a safe home with you and Vince!