A few years ago, I adopted a beautiful and loving soul. She was a golden retriever and her name was Goldie.
She wasn't quite a giant at nearly sixty-five pounds, but somewhere in between. Her heart, however, was enormous.
Goldie was one of the sweetest dogs I was fortunate enough to adopt!
It was May 31st, 2015. When I met Goldie, she was a happy, go-lucky pup at about eight years old. She was playful, funny, and barked only when she wanted to get attention.
Within a few months, I had noticed one of her eyes had become cloudy, but she could see fine.
Having lived with goldens for quite some time, I initially thought of allergies or something that could easily be remedied.
When eye drops didn't do the trick and Benadryl didn't help at all, I sought help from the veterinarian.
He assured me that some dogs have what's called 'Cloudy eye' resulting from antibiotics given at birth. He had told me "not to worry" and sent us on our way.
Another week passed, and my instinct told me something wasn't right. I then took Goldie to another doctor, who looked at me sympathetically—a much different reaction than the first doctor!
She then explained that her initial thought was glaucoma. "Great!" I exclaimed. "What kind of medications will she need?" Clearly, I had no idea how severe glaucoma was.
Before she made any suggestions, she brought out a few instruments to measure the pressure in Goldie's eyes. Again, I was clueless.
I started to become a bit anxious and was quickly catching on that medicines might not be able to help.
The doctor told me her eye pressure was at 35. Thirty-five is considered high. It's excruciating and feels like an intense migraine. This pressure causes the eyes not to have sufficient fluid drainage, thus affecting the optic nerve.
We spoke about glaucoma for a long time. She said she was almost sure that Goldie had this and recommended that I see a specialist.
With a heavy heart, I learned that with dogs, medication rarely works in the long term, but the doctor sent me home with some medications to use until I could get an appointment with the ophthalmologist.
Finally, the day came when I brought Goldie in to meet with the ophthalmologist.
She asked what Goldie's symptoms were, besides the obvious—her cloudy eye. Since symptoms can vary with each dog, she asked if she had any of the following: excessive blinking, redness, and enlargement of the eyeball.
I hadn't noticed Goldie exhibit any signs of pain, but I did notice she squinted occasionally. Her eye had also teared a bit, which is common with allergies as well. I was still holding on to that hope, but it would soon diminish.
After running some tests, the doctor came in and informed me that Goldie had glaucoma. She also had fibrin clots and golden retriever uveitis. I didn't even know there was such a thing!
In addition, Goldie was possibly already blind in one eye.
While absorbing this grim possibility, I again insisted medications would help. Little did I know. The doctor explained that she'd been doing this for years and it has never helped. Eventually, Goldie would be blind in that one eye, and most likely, her other eye would also be blind. Equally as important, she would be in excruciating pain. +-
Her suggestion was to remove at least one eye, if not both. Another word I had never heard: Enucleation.
I was quickly learning a new vocabulary and was a lot happier when I was less educated!
If you ever have a similar diagnosis from your vet, I'd like to save you the trouble and the expense of medication. I couldn't handle removing Goldie's eyes. So, I went with the path of least resistance and tried the medication for a few months. And, as you may have guessed, the medication worked for a while and then abruptly stopped.
It was time to make a decision. Goldie's eye pressures were not normalizing, and it was a clear indication she was in pain. I never want my dogs to feel an ounce of pain, so the only options were, euthanasia or enucleation. Two big words with significant impacts!
Goldie was an otherwise healthy and happy dog. The doctor assured me that blind dogs can live long and joyful lives.
I wasn't entirely convinced, but time was of the essence, and I needed to decide. I chose.
Goldie's surgery was scheduled, and her eye was to be removed. At that time, she still had vision in her second eye.
I didn't know what to expect when I picked Goldie up the next day after surgery. To my more than pleasant surprise, I heard her running up to the reception area, and she greeted me with a big hug and whirling tail wag. I nearly broke down in tears. She seemed even happier than she had previously been.
That confirmed it for me. She had been in pain, and removing her eye alleviated that pain.
The months went on, and weekly checkups ensued. Goldie was doing great for a while, and then I noticed what the doctor had predicted. Her other eye was now cloudy, red, and tearing.
I knew surgery was inevitable. Only this time, when Goldie came home, would she be completely blind. As it turned out, I didn't have to wait until her eye was removed for her to be blind.
It happened in mere seconds. One minute she could see, and the next minute I called her for dinner and she couldn't see a thing. I rushed to the eye doctor, who gave her glycerin, temporarily restoring her vision.
This time, I didn't hesitate. I didn't try medications. I made the decision there and then because I couldn't have Goldie in pain.
After her second surgery, I thought for sure she wouldn't be running through the doctor's office as with her first, but moments after I arrived, I heard Goldie running to the reception desk to greet me. And again, she gave me a warm and loving hug.
But How?
That was my question. How did she know exactly where I was if she couldn't see me?
The Truth About Blindness In Dogs
A Dog's Sense of Smell
A dog's sense of smell is incredible. It is as essential as their eyesight, if not more so!
While it is impressive, it also means some life changes for you if you ever have to go through this. It might mean easing off on potpourri or candles. It also means not leaving sneakers in the middle of the room or moving furniture around.
Dogs can map out the layout in their minds just by using their beautiful nose!
Myths About Blind Dogs Dispelled
The Truth About Blindness In Dogs
Blind Dogs Can't Play!
Not true. The first few months might be a little tricky while they adjust, but they will play again! I had another dog with Goldie, and they were back to normal in no time.
Blind Dogs Can't Find the Couch
Goldie would have jumped on the couch within the first week. She found it no problem. Of course, she was still recovering, so I didn't let her, but by the time her stitches were removed, she found the couch, jumped up and settled in her favorite spot!
Blind Dogs Can't Find the Water Bowl
As long as you keep everything where it is, they will find the water bowl and food bowl.
Blind Dogs Can't Go for Walks
At the time, I had Goldie, I also had Duke and then later, Ginger. Both Duke and Ginger could see fine, but couldn't find their way home if they tried. It was Goldie who knew exactly where the driveway was and led us up to the door!
You Can't Move to Another House with a Blind Dog
Not only did I move to another house, but I moved across the country and brought Goldie with me. She was a trooper on the way here, excited to sniff the new scents in each state and did fine with the hotel rooms overnight. Getting them acclimated might take a little longer, but they are quicker than you think!
Blind Dogs Can't Swim
They can! Goldie had never swam before, but when I moved to Las Vegas, she developed hip dysplasia, and I took her for water therapy. She wore a life preserver and was initially a little nervous, but she was a pro by the second and third time! If you are taking your pup for a swim, I would suggest that they wear a preserver. Accidents happen, and your dog's safety is first and foremost!
Having a blind dog doesn't mean life stops. They can thrive. Every dog is different, and neurotic dogs might have more trouble adjusting, but they will adjust.
You Can't Adopt Another Dog if Your Dog Is Blind
You certainly can. You just have to make sure they are compatible. It's important to make sure they get along and that the new dog understands their boundaries! I adopted Ginger after moving across the country. Initially, I almost adopted a young pup, but he was very hyper and wasn't a good fit for Goldie. Ginger was calm and even let me know when Goldie needed assistance!
I often guided Goldie. For instance, she learned the commands step up and step down. I gave her those commands when walking up curbs, but Goldie could even handle a fourteen-step flight of stairs! She went up and down on her own, but being the worrywart I am, I always stood by…just in case.
And if you have a high bed, it might be wise to put a blockade up so they don't fall off.
Dogs are more intelligent than we give them credit for. Your dog will let you know when they need help. It's not always easy, and sometimes you need to intervene to help them.
Previous to my experience with Goldie, I didn't think I could adopt a Blind Dog. I simply knew nothing about training or how to help them. Goldie and I helped each other through it. She lived a beautiful life and filled my days with love and joy, peace and understanding. I don't regret one moment with her beautiful soul. I learned that blind dogs can thrive and that there is no reason to be afraid. For that, and so much more, I am forever grateful for her.
I had written a book about Goldie in more detail and tips. If you'd like to read it, please click here to order!
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