Beautiful blue…they’re such great dogs and Chip looks like he’s had a great time..great shot Di;)
Thanks Shanina! This was at Trinity Beach today after we’d got some bad news at the vet. Chip has PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) which makes him gradually go blind, losing his night vision first, as he has been doing over the last few months…..but on top of that he also has cataracts. He is going to lose more and more of his vision over the next 12 months sadly and his eyes will start to look opaque in photos. My poor baby.
Oh..that’s so sad Di..wish there was something they could do.
They could operate on his cataracts and do a lens replacement but it costs $5000 plus it’s not really recommended for dogs with PRA. It would only give him another 12 months or so of vision and he’s 7 now so I don’t think we’ll bother. We just have to be careful of him now cos he still goes hell for leather and when we are out in the dark he stumbles over kerbs and hits his head on things. Just have to be more aware of his poor vision now and be mindful of him.
Maybe it would be great to get him used to some sort of radar thingie while he can see…perhaps someone could invent one that gives off a vibration or buzz when an obstacle is close…or maybe it’s just a dumb idea;)
There are vibration collars around, used for deaf dogs who can’t hear you call or command them. This would work for keeping him inside a barrier but not really feasible for general manoevering around obstacles I don’t think. You’d have to put a sensor on every obstacle, if you know what I mean? I think he will be fine. His other senses have already adjusted to compensate to a degree and as long as we keep verbal lines open he knows where we are all the time. It will be harder on us than on him LOL
A gorgeous capture of Chip cooling off Di…love it :)
Thanks so much Holly! It was a beaut morning at the beach and they had a ball :)
– Di Edwards
mydogmaxalmost 3 years ago
This is such a beautiful photo, one you will treasure no doubt. Its awfully sad when you get bad news from the vet. My 14 year old kelpie who was so very active up until last year was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). I cried for weeks and weeks. That was almost 18 months ago and he is stable on medication. We dont have them for long and we just love and adore them for the time we get. I’m sure chip will adjust but like you said, its us poor doggy owners who suffer in the end.
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you like this shot. I admit, it is one of the best I’ve taken of him and will treasure it always. We’ve been pretty fortunate really with dog health, our previous dog Sparky lived to 16 1/2 and he had a heart murmur in his last year and was on meds on and off but it was a fall down the stairs that finished him off, hurting his spine so we had to put him to sleep. Bud and Chip have been pretty healthy although Chip is on Thyroxine for hypothyroidism so we can’t really complain. It’s tough though when they lose some of their abilities.
– Di Edwards
Kez08almost 3 years ago
Working dogs with large hearts. Who would have thought it? ;-)
mydogmaxalmost 3 years ago
I know Carey its unbelievable, thats why I cried for weeks!
Di, this photo and the news of him being diagnosed with PRA is heartwrenching. I am so sorry. His best Bud (pun intended) will help look after him I hope. Give him a big hug for me. No matter what, he’ll always be your beloved Chippy Whippey.
Hey F, thanks so much. The PRA was not a surprise, given his deteriorating night vision over the last few months, but the cataracts were an added blow we didn’t expect. It just means he’s going to go blinder faster than we anticipated. Bud and Chippy are best of buds, it’s so lovely to watch them playing and cuddling on the floor, no more angst that we used to have, and I know Bud looks out for him and helps him find things he can’t see already so I’m sure he will be a big help to Chippy. I’ll be sure to hug my Chippy Whippey for you :) xx
Comments
Beautiful blue…they’re such great dogs and Chip looks like he’s had a great time..great shot Di;)
Thanks Shanina! This was at Trinity Beach today after we’d got some bad news at the vet. Chip has PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) which makes him gradually go blind, losing his night vision first, as he has been doing over the last few months…..but on top of that he also has cataracts. He is going to lose more and more of his vision over the next 12 months sadly and his eyes will start to look opaque in photos. My poor baby.
– Di Edwards
wonderful capture Di, he looks hot!
Thanks Jen! It was gorgeous there this morning, not too hot. He’d just been swimming out for a coconut LOL
– Di Edwards
Oh..that’s so sad Di..wish there was something they could do.
They could operate on his cataracts and do a lens replacement but it costs $5000 plus it’s not really recommended for dogs with PRA. It would only give him another 12 months or so of vision and he’s 7 now so I don’t think we’ll bother. We just have to be careful of him now cos he still goes hell for leather and when we are out in the dark he stumbles over kerbs and hits his head on things. Just have to be more aware of his poor vision now and be mindful of him.
– Di Edwards
Maybe it would be great to get him used to some sort of radar thingie while he can see…perhaps someone could invent one that gives off a vibration or buzz when an obstacle is close…or maybe it’s just a dumb idea;)
There are vibration collars around, used for deaf dogs who can’t hear you call or command them. This would work for keeping him inside a barrier but not really feasible for general manoevering around obstacles I don’t think. You’d have to put a sensor on every obstacle, if you know what I mean? I think he will be fine. His other senses have already adjusted to compensate to a degree and as long as we keep verbal lines open he knows where we are all the time. It will be harder on us than on him LOL
– Di Edwards
I didn’t realise they had vibration collars…guess it will be hard and stressful on you keeping tabs on him;)
Oh well, no more than trying to keep tabs on a human child I guess LOL
Thanks again for watching my work Shanina. It’s very much appreciated.
– Di Edwards
A gorgeous capture of Chip cooling off Di…love it :)
Thanks so much Holly! It was a beaut morning at the beach and they had a ball :)
– Di Edwards
This is such a beautiful photo, one you will treasure no doubt. Its awfully sad when you get bad news from the vet. My 14 year old kelpie who was so very active up until last year was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). I cried for weeks and weeks. That was almost 18 months ago and he is stable on medication. We dont have them for long and we just love and adore them for the time we get. I’m sure chip will adjust but like you said, its us poor doggy owners who suffer in the end.
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you like this shot. I admit, it is one of the best I’ve taken of him and will treasure it always. We’ve been pretty fortunate really with dog health, our previous dog Sparky lived to 16 1/2 and he had a heart murmur in his last year and was on meds on and off but it was a fall down the stairs that finished him off, hurting his spine so we had to put him to sleep. Bud and Chip have been pretty healthy although Chip is on Thyroxine for hypothyroidism so we can’t really complain. It’s tough though when they lose some of their abilities.
– Di Edwards
Working dogs with large hearts. Who would have thought it? ;-)
I know Carey its unbelievable, thats why I cried for weeks!
Di, this photo and the news of him being diagnosed with PRA is heartwrenching. I am so sorry. His best Bud (pun intended) will help look after him I hope. Give him a big hug for me. No matter what, he’ll always be your beloved Chippy Whippey.
Hey F, thanks so much. The PRA was not a surprise, given his deteriorating night vision over the last few months, but the cataracts were an added blow we didn’t expect. It just means he’s going to go blinder faster than we anticipated. Bud and Chippy are best of buds, it’s so lovely to watch them playing and cuddling on the floor, no more angst that we used to have, and I know Bud looks out for him and helps him find things he can’t see already so I’m sure he will be a big help to Chippy. I’ll be sure to hug my Chippy Whippey for you :)
xx
– Di Edwards