Cocoa has PRA

[Ninasmum]

First of all lots of  's  & I am so sorry 
I completely understand how you will be feeling right now    Our Nina was diagnosed with GPRA in April this year, before her 5th birthday  Trying to come to terms with the diagnosis is the hardest part, it is so heartbreaking & like you i kept crying (& still do  )
It came as a huge, huge shock esp. even more so as both parents had all the available eye tests prior to her being born 
Since the diagnosis sadly her eyesight has deterioated really quickly, at her last check up it was 20% in her right eye & 40% in her left.
Her life hasn't changed at all (apart from me mollycoddling her  ), she still does all the usual doggy things that our others do & i've just started taking her to a hydrotherapy pool for fun swimming/games which she absolutely loves. 

Have the vets told you which type of PRA Cocoa has? 
If it is CPRA they normally retain some sight but GPRA almost always leads to total blindness.

If you google 'Living with a Blind Dog' there is loads of info/tips offering really practical advice. 

Please PM me if you need some more support/advice Jackie 
Will be thinking of you & sending lots of caring, positive thoughts 
Between you & Cocoa you will cope hun 

[Cocoa]

The opthalmologist didn't say which type of PRA but she did say she would go completely blind so I guess its the GPRA type.  I am so very grateful for all of your helpful posts.  Poor Cocoa is feeling very sorry for herself today as she has a poorly leg, not sure how she has done it but she did trip up yesterday so maybe pulled a muscle, I will have to keep an eye on it.

Hollyberry - I haven't looked on the COL meet-up page for a while but I would like to try and come to the meet on 16th September, it would be nice to see you again and also to have a chat with Dylan's mum as well.  Will let you know if we are able to come this time.

Love Jackie & Cocoa X

[Jessie_Pup]

Hi   First of all so sorry to hear Cocoa has PRA.   You might have searched some previous posts on PRA and found posts about Dylan.

He developed cataracts three years ago when he was 8yrs he is now 11. Like you I was devastated and upset. Dogs don't see a disability like we do, they get on with life as they always did. Dylan manages very well, I don't think his life has changed much at all, and Jessie looks after him too they are very much a team .

He has a Boingo ball you can buy at P& H, he also likes the Kong Squeaky tennis balls.  Scenting games are good finding biscuits etc and the Nina Ottersson games are good.

I didn't buy any special books about blind dogs, I watched and learnt from Dylan what his needs were . Using a whistle for recall is useful. He also knows how to stop at a kerb and step low or step up.  A lot of instinct and knowing your own dog.

Might see you at our meet-up in Kent.  Sending you and Cocoa     Erica.

[PennyB]

So sorry to hear this

One thing you'll find is that as long as you don't mollycoddle them dogs do a lot better than you think when blind - I have a river swimming, hillwalking (offlead), fun agility jumping blind girl who gets as much out of life as she did before she was blind. Roobs is still as norty as she was before as well and can outrun me when she scents a picnic across the park as nothing will stop her.  I think its more a shock for us than them. The only thing that is the same for Roobs is where the water bowl is - I peridodically have furniture moving or obstacles in the way in the house.

[Ruby Tuesday]

Just wanted to send my best wishes to you both. I think we naturally see blindness from a human point of view, and I know I would be devastated as you are with this diagnosis, but I don't think it is such a big deal for dogs.

Good luck to you both x

[mlynnf50]

I am so sorry for you all, sorry no advice but lots of hugs and love coming your way x

[Countrygirl]

I am so sorry for you all, sorry no advice but lots of hugs and love coming your way x

From me as well.

[Poppypuppy09]

Lots of  for you both 

As Ninasmum and PennyB have said blind doglets can do extremely well. My Bella Boo is blind or as near as but still goes swimming, runs around off lead and generally does everything a sighted dog will do 

Special  to Cocoa, take care

 

[Cocoa]

Thank you all for your comments and support, COLers are such lovely supportive people, I feel  whole lot better about things from reading your advice and comments.  I am sure Cocoa will be fine and I have to just stop seeing it from my human point of view as animals are far better at coping with disabilities than we are.

Love Jackie & Cocoa X

[MacTavish Boys]

Jackie, I am so sorry to hear about Cocoa i just wanted to send you lots of  I know lots of dogs seem to adjust really well, i do hope this will be the the case for Cocoa 
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[amanda9586]

I've only just seen this as I've not been on for a while but I'm so sorry to hear about Cocoa    We had the same news about Poppy in January and I was devastated.......  I like you just kept thinking how I would feel but our Vet said "she doesn't know she is going blind or that this does not happen to all dogs" so I tried to keep that in mind and not tranfer my worry to her.  Its very hard........

Anyway fast forward 9 months and she is still the same wee little dog (barks a bit more at people / objects till she works them out) but generally I've not noticed too much difference so far.  (Touch wood, fingers crossed and everything else). 

Two things - one we trained her to a whistle (why oh why did we not do this before or has she suddenly just tuned into it........) the other was this supplement that the vet recomended http://www.ocuglo.com/products.asp - no one on here seems to have come across it but we thought we would give it a try and perhaps its slowing it down or perhaps its doing nothing who knows but i feel better for having something to give her and if its not doing her any harm then I'm ok with a supplement.

We really cant work out what she can and cant see - sometimes you wonder how much she can and then today she was barking from the upstairs window at the neighbours dog who had her head stuck through the bush about 50 yards away so she can see something.

Anyway what I wanted to say is I'm keeping everything crossed that Cocoa is similar to Poppy and its more slow to take her sight than you expect and you then have lots of time to adapt to the subtle changes and train her up.  Poppy is off the lead all the time just like any other dog and I always intend to keep it this way unless she is in any danger (cliffs, roads etc).  I still let her tiptoe along the edge of the canal and give me a heart attack......  (she has only fallen in once and that was years ago as a puppy!).

Cocoa will adapt becuase you will help her and give her all the love and confidence to allow her other senses to adapt.   

[Joules]

Jackie, I am so sorry to hear about Cocoa i just wanted to send you lots of  I know lots of dogs seem to adjust really well, i do hope this will be the the case for Cocoa 

Only just seen this Jackie and want to say the same as Steph

I am sure your lovely girl will cope really well and you will get used to the idea in time too - it must be awful though    As you say though, animals cope much better than we do with problems and I am sure she will carry on and have a long and happy life 

[Ninasmum]

How is Cocoa? 
Have been thinking about you both 

[Jan D]

Oddly enough I was just thinking about this as well and worndering how she is doing

[Cocoa]

Hi again everyone and thank you for your enquiries about Cocoa.  Thank you Amanda for that lovely post and I am glad Poppy is coping so well.  It is very reassuring and I will certainly look up the supplement.  As you have suggested, at least you feel as if you are doing something and it can't do any harm trying her on it.  I'm not sure how much Cocoa can and can't see either.  I have noticed that she stays closer to me now on walks as she was inclined to go off on a scent after rabbits but she doesn't seem to go quite so far now and comes straight back to me to check in.  I have been reinforcing whistle training and she is responding to that quite well and have also started to say things like "step up" and "step down" to get her ready for when the time comes she can't see.  She doesn't seem to see at all well at night.  To make matters worse we have some building work going on now in the back of the house for an extension and it is troubling her somewhat having to pick her way across things.  I have noticed that her pupils are staying dilated most of the time now and I only see her lovely amber eyes now when it is really bright and sunny  .  She seems quite happy at the moment though and I have a feeling she will cope with it.  Unfortunately her problem is compounded by the cataracts that she already has on top of the PRA so I would think her vision is quite dim and probably has been for some time.  She is a crazy little dog though and charges around and I get so worried about her banging her head or poking her eyes on something.

Ninasmum - I have checked all Cocoa's paperwork and her parents were tested and pronounced unaffected by CPRA/GPRA I believe like Nina.  I have also told the breeder and she isn't aware of any others in the line that have developed this.  It is strange, I don't understand the genetics of it all and how Cocoa has come to be affected.  The breeder said it could be a throw-back.  But anyway I am trying very hard to stay positive and will continue to do all I can to help my little girl and try very hard not to spoil her too much

Love Jackie & Cocoa XX