The story of my, now blind, best mate, Jack
Discussion
Hythan said:
johnxjsc1985 said:
my first rescue Dog Barney had one leg 4 inches shorter than his other three good legs added to which he had no muscle in it. However as nobody had told him of his disability it didnt stop doing anything.
Dogs seem so much better than humas at adapting and Jack just looks like a very happy contented lad.
They are incapable of 'overthinking', they just get on with it. And I love them for it. I've seen so many dogs with various ailments, and they all just seem to think "Meh, who needs sight/hearing/four legs?" Dogs seem so much better than humas at adapting and Jack just looks like a very happy contented lad.
That's just what I was thinking. Nobody's told them being blind is a tragedy or any such guff, so for them, it's not. Wish humans were as sensible sometimes. BlackVanDyke said:
That's just what I was thinking. Nobody's told them being blind is a tragedy or any such guff, so for them, it's not. Wish humans were as sensible sometimes. I am sitting here with my 3 GSD fast asleep its a nice feeling.
Thanks for sharing that, when we feel ill or down I'm sure the dogs know it
2 years ago my wife had a bad illness which could have left her disabled, thankfully it didn't , we have 2 cavalier KC spaniels, a 8 year old who'll sleep 22 hours a day if you let her and a 2 year old who'll play 22 hours a day
The young one never left her side when she came out of hospital and got her through what could have been a very depressing time
Its good to hear your dog has adapted to losing his sight so well.
2 years ago my wife had a bad illness which could have left her disabled, thankfully it didn't , we have 2 cavalier KC spaniels, a 8 year old who'll sleep 22 hours a day if you let her and a 2 year old who'll play 22 hours a day
The young one never left her side when she came out of hospital and got her through what could have been a very depressing time
Its good to hear your dog has adapted to losing his sight so well.
22 said:
It's about time for a Jack update me thinks.
FYI - Name change, Hythan has gone, long live AB8219, has a nice ring to it don't you think?Ask and you shall receive!
Jack is currently fighting of an ear infection with the help of some lovely drops from his vet. It seems to have affected his sense of direction as he is currently bumping into things, and struggles to find you in the room (apart from when ginger nut biccies are involved, then he's fine).
We are hoping that once the ear infection has completely gone (it looks a LOT cleaner and healthier in there) he will return to his old self, if not, some more investigation will be required.
In him self though, he is a very happy chappy.
Also, his Dad (that would be me) has changed jobs and will be working from home as of 9am tomorrow morning, so little Jackie boy will have company all day long without having to do an hours round trip each day to see his Nan!
Thanks very much for asking, it does make Jack feel all warm inside to know he is thought of. And his owners, it makes us feel happy to talk about him, and to hear/read such warm responses and words from others.
UPDATE
So as reported a few days ago, Jack has been suffering with an ear infection and over the last 7-10 days we have been treating this and his ear looks MUCH better.
We thought it was effecting his hearing as he was a lot more clumsy than normal, and not able to 'see' from which direction sound was coming from.
Also, he couldn't hear all of the fireworks this year where as previous years he is very nervous. Silver lining there.
So we were hoping that now that his ear infection has cleared up, his hearing would return to normal, but it appears that although he seems better in himself, he is still struggling a bit on the hearing side. I think they may have been some improvement, but difficult to tell.
He is definitely okay in himself, we have just given him a bath and he absolutely loves the drying process, and no change there as he's been rubbing himself all over his favourite rug.
So I am still hoping for some improvement, but my thoughts are turning more to loss of hearing as a result of old age (11yrs 6mnths).
Either way, if this continues, I will do my utmost to adapt, train, and mould with his next challenge as much as humanly possible. Heck, if he can do it, so can I.
So as reported a few days ago, Jack has been suffering with an ear infection and over the last 7-10 days we have been treating this and his ear looks MUCH better.
We thought it was effecting his hearing as he was a lot more clumsy than normal, and not able to 'see' from which direction sound was coming from.
Also, he couldn't hear all of the fireworks this year where as previous years he is very nervous. Silver lining there.
So we were hoping that now that his ear infection has cleared up, his hearing would return to normal, but it appears that although he seems better in himself, he is still struggling a bit on the hearing side. I think they may have been some improvement, but difficult to tell.
He is definitely okay in himself, we have just given him a bath and he absolutely loves the drying process, and no change there as he's been rubbing himself all over his favourite rug.
So I am still hoping for some improvement, but my thoughts are turning more to loss of hearing as a result of old age (11yrs 6mnths).
Either way, if this continues, I will do my utmost to adapt, train, and mould with his next challenge as much as humanly possible. Heck, if he can do it, so can I.
Morningside said:
Do you have any video of Jack in action as I am sure we would all love to see him. 
I certainly do, this is the vid from page 1 where he is enjoying his game of fetch.
And I did take a video of him just now drying himself from his bath so I will attempt to host that somewhere now.
ETA: Here you go, excuse the portrait mode and poor lighting, I wasn't planning on uploading. So here he is on his drying cycle after his bath.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfFyziBkHyI
Edited by AB8219 on Sunday 8th November 21:21
Our old Cocker, Molly went blind at about 7 from congenital eye problems, eventually went deaf, we only called time when she started getting these fatty lumps that would bleed and get all smelly, she was still fairly happy but the option was an operation on a 15 year old dog or watch her bleeding, so one morning she was out sniffing the air and generally defiiing as much of the garden as she could and I took her, I dont regret it, she had 15 good years and went out before things got too unpleasant for her.
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