Rocky's Story

[Chicklette]

Well here it goes as it is still very hard to write this because it just happened recently. We noticed Rocky had a squinted eye and we all thought she had something stuck in it, however that was far from the case. My dad just walked in the door and her eye was not squinted so he could see it and without an appointment and without hesitation we rushed her to the vets when he said she must go into the vets IMMEDIATELY.

Her pupils were fully dilated with a white glaze over them. This happened over night with her eyes getting that bad with the white film over them. I was petrified but kept it together for the sake of Rocky. Dr. Branton (our vet) sent us over to another clinic he owns because he wanted to test her eyes with this special equipment he did not have there.

So at the other place they did a lens test and the one eye was awful. She was totally blind. OVERNIGHT, can you imagine going to bed having sight and wake up blind?!

The left eye was borderline (50/50) and the right eye (bad eye) blind.

The other eye was borderline. We will have to keep drops in that eye forever so the same thing does not happen to her other eye, which I'm really scared may happen. You become resistant to medications if you use them all the time.

My vet Dr. Branton sent us to a optometrist in the States. He checked her over and said the dreaded words, "The eye has to come out," I was mortified and scared, so our veterinarian Dr. Branton did Rocky's operation since he does some a few times a year plus he operated on his dog Benny, took the eye out.

Rocky was blind in that eye anyway so it wasn't the hugest shock to her.

I have total confidence in my vet, He has done NUMEROUS operations on our animals, even three operations on my chinchillas.

I was so petrified and scared and sad, I didn't want her to spend the night there since she rules my bed. She is used to pillows, scratches, snuggles and blankets I wanted to bring her home so bad and I got my wish.

The thought of taking the eye ball right out made me nauseous. It was just a very devastating time in my life. I just felt so horrible for my baby, what a traumatic thing to go threw within a day!

When we got her home I put her in bed with me. She liked that and slept which is the best healing process.

We thought Jack (my other jack Russell) would start licking the wound or sniffing at it but she didn't which was a good thing.

So in a week we had no time to think, no preparation and some tough decisions to make in a split second decision. There was the option of a fake eye which is prone to getting infections, a glass ball with her eye lid being sown shut or just close the eye up. But as well as that it can have some complications.

I went with just closing the eye up. That way it is over and done with and I will never have to deal with infections. There is an indent where the eye was and it is sunken in but I'm used to it now.

She always looks like she is winking, it's cute.

So what happened to the eye? Well let me explain as best as I can.

On our eyes we have a covering that protects our eyes called a lens. Well that lens fell off and did some major damage to the eye because the lens was not there to protect it. So much that there was no hope saving the eye and it had to be removed. She was totally blind in that eye. So we need to keep close tabs on the other eye. Rocky was in pain with that eye, it's like having a constant migraine. That is why the eye was removed.

Rocky pulled threw with flying colors, it was us that had the problems after. We were total basket cases. Stress can really take a toll on your body and mind. Rocky is still getting pain meds until they are done and her eye drops on her other eye will be forever. But I do think the pain meds make her groggy. Plus the operation is slowing her down some but not very much.

I would do anything for that dog and pay what ever I needed to make her better. Which already is a lot but you can't put a price on love. But she is still a bundle of energy, nothing slows that dog down. I wish she would just take it easy for a bit but no, there is no stopping a Jack Russell on a mission.

I have came to the conclusion that if she does have to get the other eye taken out I will help her. I will teach her words on commands like Curb, Stairs, Food and she will be carried a lot. I don't think it's necessary to put a dog to sleep if they are blind. But I will have to see how it goes. All the vets and specialists say that a blind dog can still live a fulfilling life. Just some adjustments need to be made.

[Emmilyy]

Ohh poor Rocky! But i'm glad she's feeling better and the sugery was a success!

She's a cuuttiiee!

[Ashling]

A dog's primary sense is smell, so a blind dog can certainly have a good quality of life. They'd just need lots of cuddles and from what it sounds like nothing would need to change ;) Glad Rocky is ok.

[maggy]

Oh Chicklette so sorry to hear about your poor dogs problems. Just last week our local RSPCA was advertising for a new owner for a blind dog, after telling us how lovely she was etc., they said if you took this girl home you had to take her sister because her sister had taken up the role of guide dog for the blind dog. I also work with an elderly couple (I'm a community worker) whose dog is completely blind but the dog copes with abouit five different people a week coming in to help, she never bumps into furniture, never runs into anyone, and is supremely confident. In time your dog WILL be OK, just give her love, patience and encourage the other dog to help, and ask the family not to move the furniture too much so she can learn her way about and memorise the locations. Good luck.

[Chicklette]

A dog's primary sense is smell, so a blind dog can certainly have a good quality of life. They'd just need lots of cuddles and from what it sounds like nothing would need to change ;) Glad Rocky is ok.

Thanks for the re-assurance, that makes me feel better that others would agree she would be ok blind, that still worries me a bit. So that is great to hear from others.

Great news Maggy! We will all help her out big time. What ever she needs she will get, just like now, LOL. Hopefully Jack, her sister will help out if she goes blind. At least now she can see out of one eye. But every times I read more and more about dogs being ok the better I feel.

[LovelySydney]

I remember you posting about rocky before - Im happy he is doing ok and didnt lose both eyes! Poor baby, he will adjust. I believe he will thrive with wonderful parents like you = )

[expressmailtome]

I am sorry for what she (and you) have been through. Hopefully those drops will continue to work for years to come!

Matt

[Chicklette]

I must have wrote it when it just happened then. I don't remember, LOL. So I guess this is an update on how well she is adjusting.

Thanks, yes, lets hope those drops do it for her. So far so good.

[RockysMom]

Thats horrible! I'm glad to hear though that Rocky is doing better! Keep us posted, by the way I love the name!!

[Chicklette]

Thanks, I will keep you posted on her for sure. We will be going to London in about a month for a check up.