Yesterday I was taking Hallie for a walk at the park, which is drastically different from our walks of 3 months ago, she used to run out in front but now she tentatively will trot along behind (although sometimes she will run with encouragement). They have all new ball fields and parking areas at the park so we were walking along a newly blacktopped lot with newly painted white stripes and big white arrows. I looked back at her as she was going along, just as she was approaching a white arrow and I thought, did she just try to avoid that? So I led her toward another arrow and as she reached it, she suddenly put on the brakes and dipped her head down, much like you would if you suddenly realized you were about to step into a hole. I really thought she was 100% blind and seems to be in most situations but apparently she can still see large areas of strong contrast a little. The other day we were walking on flat concrete and she was galloping along (because she knew we were headed back toward the van :) and she suddenly leaped in the air like she was jumping a fence. She did that once before in the living room right after we got home from Iowa, there was nothing that could have touched and surprised her either time so I'm guessing she thought or did see something. Not that it changes anything my heart still breaks for her but after seeing the images of her ruined retinas, I was very surprised that she had any vision at all.
Dee Dee, my dad has one eye with a bad retina (from shingles), so he has large spots where he is completely blind, but he also has a few smaller spots where he has vision. Not many, and not like he can see a whole picture, but random spots. Maybe Hallie has a few spots of vision, and the high contrast areas appear in those spots for her.
Dogs are amazing creatures. Even if Hallie has very limited vision, I'm sure she is using it to the fullest extent possible.
That is really interesting Kathleen (I am sorry your Dad has vision loss though!). But that explains what it can be like for them, I wondered just how it is from behind her pretty brown eyes, and that seems just how she is seeing too. It makes me feel better to think she can at least see something maybe it doesn't feel quite so closed in. Although I hope it's not frustrating for her either.
I agree David she is so amazing with all of this I wish like crazy it never had happened but I also never would have dreamed she could do what she does.
Dee Dee look back at the pictures of her with the ?rhea etc it looked as if she could see something. Maybe it is something you can experiment with to work out what she can see.
Roberta
Do not want to upset you but do you think it is a possibility the painted white areas on the black asphalt the difference would be the smother paint on the rougher surface. ? I really do hope she can see in a spot or two but if people can read Braille by feel it just might be she is picking up on the different feel.She is still getting use to being blind she may still do better down the road takes time.Rays & Hugs can't hurt anything sending to you both.
Everyone who sees her says it looks like she is looking at things. But I think she's just facing toward the sounds. I can wave my hand or something white against a dark background right in front of her and she doesn't react at all. She did the first few days after it was obvious she was going blind. But not now. We got to meet a sweet blind cocker this weekend, it was hard to tell she was blind too (she was on a leash though and snooping on the ground so not a good test) but she definitely is because they had to take her eyes and her lids are sewn shut. Just looks like her little eyes are closed.
Papbouv I sure am seeing her use her nose a LOT more and I'm sure her hearing too. I imagine you are right and she's also using her sense of touch also. Although I don't think so in this case with the arrows as she was trotting on the blacktop and she screeched to a halt before she actually touched the arrow. But I do notice she now will go faster and with more confidence between rooms, etc, once her feet hit the mats I put there to alert her she's near a doorway.Thanks for the rays and prayers we will take them and much appreciated!!! :)
Really good to hear on possible more improvements on her vision. Dogs really have good instincts..
You had mentioned something else - not sure what or how long ago (old age on my part :doah:) that lead me to believe she may see shadows...... I giggled at her jumping in the air for nothing....whelp...thats what YOU think - there WAS something there - she saw it :wink: Sounds like you both are doing well and finding your way - YAY ! :comfort:
DD, this reminds me of the lines painted on rural roads to stop cattle from crossing. Has she started mooing along with her barks?
They sure do Hanna...they have better attitudes than us about stuff too! :thumb:
Barb surprised the heck out of me both times. Then of course I worried about her back... :crazyeyes: We are both doing well, considering! I just signed her up for a K9 nosework class, they are going to let me hold her on my lap (the other dogs have to be crated) only one dog at a time goes out to work so it will be very safe for her and I think she'll love it. We're headed to the beach tomorrow for a couple of days for the 4th all the fam will be there so she'll get lots of attention and treats and beach time.
I haven't noticed moo's Mike but she does great monkey sounds! :grin: I didn't know they painted lines for cattle I have only seen the metal ones with gaps between. That would be an easy way to keep cows in, just paint the fence!