I tried several times to post this when it happened but couldn't. I have a almost three year old border collie/kelpie mix. My best friend. My wife's best friend. She went blind.
On a Saturday morning I noticed a slight swelling under her eye, thought a red ant bite. Sunday it was a little bigger, but we still had bees and bumble bees everywhere, I thought her curiosity just got the better of her and she learned a lesson. Monday was the same, whatever the swelling was it did not concern her in the least. Tuesday we noticed a slight swelling on her forehead, we made an appointment for the next day. That late night she was stumbling a little.
Day of the appointment she acted fine, but her eye was a little cloudy. The vet said she lost her vision in one eye and it did not look good for the other one. He put her on medication, but I guess too late. She went blind in five days from seeing the first sigh of swelling.
She has adapted, better than we did. I can not tell you how hard that was. We fenced in a smaller area for her off the patio. We keep a radio going all the time so she knows her bearings. Got her toys that all make noise so we can still play with her, when we throw them they make enough noise she can find them. She has her own heating blanket in her house to stay warm and still keep her independence. She still goes on her walks, just on a leash now. She still loves life. That alone has really taught me a lot.
Anyway, took almost two months to get her into a specialist, lots of tests run and Rocky Mountain spotted fever came up positive. Spread by ticks, which I might see three or four a year, usually on one of the cows. She will be on meds probably for the rest of her life as she will have the disease in her body forever.
Life can throw some curves at you, she was thrown a big one. She had the grace to handle it better than I did. Hope I learn from her. It is always hard to see those you love get thrown that curve, there is always a feeling of failure. She is still my best friend, and my wife's. We are both very over protective of her, probably always will be.
Quote from: Possum on February 05, 2025, 02:10:02 PMI tried several times to post this when it happened but couldn't. I have a almost three year old border collie/kelpie mix. My best friend. My wife's best friend. She went blind.
On a Saturday morning I noticed a slight swelling under her eye, thought a red ant bite. Sunday it was a little bigger, but we still had bees and bumble bees everywhere, I thought her curiosity just got the better of her and she learned a lesson. Monday was the same, whatever the swelling was it did not concern her in the least. Tuesday we noticed a slight swelling on her forehead, we made an appointment for the next day. That late night she was stumbling a little.
Day of the appointment she acted fine, but her eye was a little cloudy. The vet said she lost her vision in one eye and it did not look good for the other one. He put her on medication, but I guess too late. She went blind in five days from seeing the first sigh of swelling.
She has adapted, better than we did. I can not tell you how hard that was. We fenced in a smaller area for her off the patio. We keep a radio going all the time so she knows her bearings. Got her toys that all make noise so we can still play with her, when we throw them they make enough noise she can find them. She has her own heating blanket in her house to stay warm and still keep her independence. She still goes on her walks, just on a leash now. She still loves life. That alone has really taught me a lot.
Anyway, took almost two months to get her into a specialist, lots of tests run and Rocky Mountain spotted fever came up positive. Spread by ticks, which I might see three or four a year, usually on one of the cows. She will be on meds probably for the rest of her life as she will have the disease in her body forever.
Life can throw some curves at you, she was thrown a big one. She had the grace to handle it better than I did. Hope I learn from her. It is always hard to see those you love get thrown that curve, there is always a feeling of failure. She is still my best friend, and my wife's. We are both very over protective of her, probably always will be.
So sorry to hear. Over time she (and you) will adapt to her "new" normal.
Years ago we lost a young dog, Shadow, and almost our Husky/Wolf mix, Butters to Lyme disease. It was shocking how quickly she went down and only by grace were we able to get our bigger dog treatment.
Quote from: Possum on February 05, 2025, 02:10:02 PMI tried several times to post this when it happened but couldn't. I have a almost three year old border collie/kelpie mix. My best friend. My wife's best friend. She went blind.
On a Saturday morning I noticed a slight swelling under her eye, thought a red ant bite. Sunday it was a little bigger, but we still had bees and bumble bees everywhere, I thought her curiosity just got the better of her and she learned a lesson. Monday was the same, whatever the swelling was it did not concern her in the least. Tuesday we noticed a slight swelling on her forehead, we made an appointment for the next day. That late night she was stumbling a little.
Day of the appointment she acted fine, but her eye was a little cloudy. The vet said she lost her vision in one eye and it did not look good for the other one. He put her on medication, but I guess too late. She went blind in five days from seeing the first sigh of swelling.
She has adapted, better than we did. I can not tell you how hard that was. We fenced in a smaller area for her off the patio. We keep a radio going all the time so she knows her bearings. Got her toys that all make noise so we can still play with her, when we throw them they make enough noise she can find them. She has her own heating blanket in her house to stay warm and still keep her independence. She still goes on her walks, just on a leash now. She still loves life. That alone has really taught me a lot.
Anyway, took almost two months to get her into a specialist, lots of tests run and Rocky Mountain spotted fever came up positive. Spread by ticks, which I might see three or four a year, usually on one of the cows. She will be on meds probably for the rest of her life as she will have the disease in her body forever.
Life can throw some curves at you, she was thrown a big one. She had the grace to handle it better than I did. Hope I learn from her. It is always hard to see those you love get thrown that curve, there is always a feeling of failure. She is still my best friend, and my wife's. We are both very over protective of her, probably always will be.
Damn! That sucks! Like Toy said, it took a toll on our family, but now that Covid passed and we find new truths, I've learned that Ivermectin is not only a preventative, but a possible cure.
You can buy it outright at All Family pharmacy online.
Do your research, it may extend her wonderful life.
Quote from: Solar on February 05, 2025, 03:27:35 PMDamn! That sucks! Like Toy said, it took a toll on our family, but now that Covid passed and we find new truths, I've learned that Ivermectin is not only a preventative, but a possible cure.
You can buy it outright at All Family pharmacy online.
Do your research, it may extend her wonderful life.
:thumbup: We can get it at tractor supply. we'll let the meds she is on run their course. We lost our border collie over the summer. She was around 16 or 17. Hurts, but was expected. Losing the young ones blindside you pretty bad. Right now my wife is doing all the walking with her, twice a day. Millie loves it. She is putting on weight since her walks now are walks, not runs.
Toy, i feel for what you went through. I always am drawn back to two items I learned, Time does help the pain, and God's will be done.
Quote from: Possum on February 05, 2025, 03:40:21 PM:thumbup: We can get it at tractor supply. we'll let the meds she is on run their course. We lost our border collie over the summer. She was around 16 or 17. Hurts, but was expected. Losing the young ones blindside you pretty bad. Right now my wife is doing all the walking with her, twice a day. Millie loves it. She is putting on weight since her walks now are walks, not runs.
Toy, i feel for what you went through. I always am drawn back to two items I learned, Time does help the pain, and God's will be done.
Careful, be sure to check dosages, the tube Ivermectin is for horses, and your dog is a fraction of the weight of what a horse takes.
Also I discovered that Ivermectin enhances any meds in the system, so again, ask your vet what they think about starting it so close after her other meds run out.
You won't regret it. I think this stuff is an amazing drug!
Quote from: Solar on February 05, 2025, 03:47:28 PMCareful, be sure to check dosages, the tube Ivermectin is for horses, and your dog is a fraction of the weight of what a horse takes.
Also I discovered that Ivermectin enhances any meds in the system, so again, ask your vet what they think about starting it so close after her other meds run out.
You won't regret it. I think this stuff is an amazing drug!
Thanks. No doubt many lives could have been saved during covid.
Quote from: Possum on February 05, 2025, 03:51:37 PMThanks. No doubt many lives could have been saved during covid.
Had I known it at the time, we could have saved our dogs from Lyme disease.
Quote from: Solar on February 05, 2025, 03:55:47 PMHad I known it at the time, we could have saved our dogs from Lyme disease.
I have no doubt I will see all my dogs again in heaven.
Still can't wait for a handshake when we get there. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Quote from: Possum on February 05, 2025, 03:59:52 PMI have no doubt I will see all my dogs again in heaven.
Still can't wait for a handshake when we get there. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Same here my friend, same here! :thumbsup: