Could this be due to failing eyesight?

[Dunton4]

Tilly has started reacting strangely to traffic when on her lead walks.  When oncoming traffic passes us she shrinks away, cowering against my legs.  If a larger vehicle like a lorry passes us she cowers flat on the floor until it's gone past.  She is 10 now and has never reacted like this to traffic and hasn't had a bad experience.  I am wondering if she might have eyesight problems which are causing her to be so scared.  I wonder if anyone else has experienced anything like this with their cocker and if there are any other signs of failing eyesight that I should look out for?  Of course I'll pop her to the vets to get checked out but any additional information might be helpful.  I feel really sorry for her as she loves her walks and I don't like to see her so scared.

Sue and Tilly

[Ninasmum]

I would take Tilly to an eye specialist to get her checked out 
Nina was diagnosed with GPRA last April & over the following 7/8 mths gradually completely lost her sight...during this transition period it was just awful to see the change in her.  She has never been a confident dog but became even less so.  Her behaviour became quite worrying at some stage's....every little sudden movement or noise would startle her & she would run to hide in one of her safe place's. We can never walk her in busy place's because its just too much for her & she would almost 'shut down'.
The 1st time i noticed Nina had this problem was when i was throwing balls for her (one of her great love's) & instead of running towards the ball she began running off in a different direction.
You could try this to see if Tilly reacts in a similar way but because of the change in her reaction to traffic, without a doubt she does need checking out.
Sorry to say this. 
Let us know how she gets on 

[Dunton4]

Thanks for replying Ninasmum.  Tilly is 10, so would be quite old for PRA, wouldn't she?  But it's as well to get her checked out,as you say.  I had wondered whether she might have cataract problems.  On reflection, she has become a little "clumsy" recently - bashing into cupboards when she turns at speed and generally a bit more anxious.  But she also completes her agility circuits with clear rounds and has always been a very confident little dog, which is why this cowering on her walks is so strange. So sorry to hear about Nina - poor little mite, but it sounds as though you are helping her to cope brilliantly.  Tilly has never been interested in chasing balls, but I will see if I can get her to do this.

Off to the vets with her then, she will be pleased (not!)

Sue and Tilly

[Deb H]

Hope everything is ok with Tilly. George has recently been diagnosed with PRA and he is 9 he is coping really well all things considered.  Good luck at the vets.

[Ninasmum]

Thanks for replying Ninasmum.  Tilly is 10, so would be quite old for PRA, wouldn't she?  But it's as well to get her checked out,as you say.  I had wondered whether she might have cataract problems.  On reflection, she has become a little "clumsy" recently - bashing into cupboards when she turns at speed and generally a bit more anxious.  But she also completes her agility circuits with clear rounds and has always been a very confident little dog, which is why this cowering on her walks is so strange. So sorry to hear about Nina - poor little mite, but it sounds as though you are helping her to cope brilliantly.  Tilly has never been interested in chasing balls, but I will see if I can get her to do this.

Off to the vets with her then, she will be pleased (not!)

Sue and Tilly

Its totally amazing what they can do even with poor eyesight    This may sound strange but Nina is absolutely fine getting around our garden & looking at her out there no one would believe she is blind.  The garden is a bit of an obstacle course with 3 levels of steps/decking & various railway sleepers/large pots around the borders etc. i do tend to watch her a lot in the garden but i have never seen her bump into anything.  I'm sure they must have some sort of inbuilt ability to count. 
I hope you find out what the problem is with Tilly & its nothing to worry about.  She sounds a confident girl that would cope much better than Nina has/does. 

[Dunton4]

Aww, thank you for that reassurance.  They are amazing little creatures!  Nina sounds like a sweetie.  A friend has suggested it might be an ear problem, so I will get the vet to look in Till's eyes and ears.  Mind you, she can hear the fridge door opening from anywhere in the house, so I think any hearing difficulties might be selective!  Sorry to hear about George.  It's good to hear he's coping 

[piph]

Only just caught up with this thread - any news on Tilly?

[Rowan Liver Roan]

Rowan has recently been diagnosed with cataracts (18 months). We first suspected because of her nervousness then refusal to go out (especially at night) and being more clumsy than other dogs. Vet told us to leave doors open at different angles as this would catch her out if she was memorising the things in the house and to move things in the garden to see if she bumped into them or got a fright. Both of these helped when monitoring her. We had been told by our vet it looked like PRA but the specialist said no it was cataracts. He said with cataracts cockers don't tend to worsen very quickly and he has put off operating until she's much much older. For us cataracts was good news. When we were in the waiting room there was an orange roan (older) who was totally blind. OMG she was gorgeous and just brilliant. She owned that waiting room, interacting with all the humans and only the dogs she sniffed out to be friendly. Her owner rescued her and said she is the most amazing wee dog - copes with everything and except for the tell tale glassy/cloudy eyes you'd never know she was blind. Hope things work out positively for you both.