Daisy, in addition to being a tripawd, has PRA (Progressive Retinal Athopy). She had the condition when we adopted her a few years ago and now we are noticing her vision is deterioraing. Not sure how much vision is left.. she is about 12 yrs old. Bright lights (lightning, turning on lights) make her flinch and shutter. This isnt a painful disease but there is no cure…dogs that have it will eventually lose their vision.

I have read that antioxidant supplements will slow it down but not sure if it may not already be too late

Anyone have any advice on caring for a dog who will eventually lose all vision?  (Maybe Queen Nova has some hints)

On the bright side…she is pretty much immobile without  her chair, which we have to put her in and take her out of. When she is in her chair we are walking her.

I just think you want an cool eye patch Daisy! 

Bwhahahhahahaahhhaaa!!!!!!!!!

Okay, that was mean of me.  Sorry Daisy.  (mommy saw me write it and gave me the stinky eye)

My 7 yr old lab has quickly progressing PRA and is at the stage of seeing shadows. She does better in bright light- especially sunlight. She does not see in the dark. We find that keeping things in place and not leaving too many obstacles out and about helps her quite a bit. We replaced our dining room table with 4 corner legs to be one that is pedestal style for less bumping on the way out the back door. We are also adjusting more of our dog friendly landscaping to include changes in texture to help her know the boundaries of the yard better. We already have a ramp to accommodate our tripawd wobbly great dane, who hates his wheelchair and will not use it. There is indoor/ outdoor carpeting on the ramp to provide more slip resistance for all of our dogs. Zoe still likes to use the stairs and she seems to sense an air change around them before going down. She is quite cautious. good luck :)

Awwww…. Daisy, it's a bummer you're losing your sight. I will tell you that it's not the end of the world, though, and it is astounding how well dogs adapt. Nova progressively lost her sight just like Daisy, but hers was caused by glaucoma. She gets around with her nose, ears, and tail. It's hilarious, her tail wags as a sort of blind girl's cane. It's very seldom that she bumps into anything now. But greatfuldanes is right, you have to keep her environment predictable and have little patterns set up that they can recognize. Obvious stuff like don't move the furniture! And we have numerous throw rugs on our hardwood floors that I got when Nova became a Tripawd. She uses these to recognize where she is at. Going outside I always take her on one of two routes, one that means she is going to pee and the other that means we are going to the car. She even goes outside to pee by herself. She hops down one step, turns when her seeing eye tail hits the grill, which means it's time to turn right. Then across the paved patio to the area of landscaped rocks, which give her a border to the grass. She actually has ventured on her own quite far out into the yard, sniffing away, listening to the birds, barking at people walking their dogs 3 houses away (she can hear the sound of another dogs metal leash or collar) or at cars as they drive by. Her sense of hearing is so acute, its like she uses her ears to see. Then when she wants to come in she seems to just know the direction of the house so she hops until she finds the border of landscape rocks, then back to the patio and when her tail hits the grill again she knows she is right outside the door so she barks to come in. I really should video tape it. The biggest difference is that when her vision was still there she was hopping around at lightning speed, running, etc. Since she's been blind, every hop is a tentative one that involves sniffing and listening to her surroundings. Can really try my patience when she wants to go out at 2 am! Usually if I just grab her collar and guide her, she will pick up the pace. Usually when we go to the vet or out in public I have her wear her Ruffwear harness, it's easier to guide her that way. The bottom line is, just like when they became Tripawds, they just don't seem to care at all that they are blind. They just wag their tail, adapt and get on with it. If only humans could handle adversity so well!

Feel free to PM me with any questions. I know Daisy will adapt just fine!

Sue and Queen Nova

Daisy,

I've got two special needs pups……….both deaf and blind in one eye.

However, one of our pups, Bella, has never had good vision in her seeing eye and in fact, lost all vision for a couple months and just recently has gotten back lil shadows….she can pick up 'something' from her nose to about 6ft (on a good day). They are so adaptive. Like I mentioned, she is also completely deaf too, so ………… She gets around really well. Just takes a few weeks. We guide her down our back stairs (10 steep ones) into the backyard at night time, but they do get their bearings and you'll be amazed at how their noses guide them.

Our biggest issue with Bella now, is that with regaining that lil bit of 'essence' of vision, she doesn't use it…..she uses her nose !

Your Daisy will do well….and hopefully with the slow progression of her vision loss, she will transition well.

You'll see (no pun intended)

 Denise