It is hard for me to see Red so impaired, especially around the sheep. We went to the vet today for acupuncture and a check-up, Dr. Fariello says Red is almost totally blind now, both of the cataracts in his eyes are spreading.
Before anybody suggests it, I ought to say we will not permit eye surgery on Red, I believe it is, in most circumstances, unethical for me to authorize major surgery on a dog who cannot consent or comprehend what is happening.
I don’t fault anyone else for thinking differently, I don’t tell others what to do, and I resist others telling me what to do. We all walk on our own path, I respect yours.
Red still has his other senses, although he is declining slowly but visibly and steadily. He is inert most of the day, no longer rushing to the door when I do to get near the sheep.
He does want to come with me if I call him, and as long as he is near me. He walked into the pasture today and Bud rushed over to stand alongside him, daring any of the sheep to come near.
When sheep get too close to Red, Bud does his crazy dog routine (it is real) and charges at the sheep, barking furiously and dancing back and forth until the startled sheep back off.
He stood guard next to Red while we brought out the hay and cleaned out the barn. Red goes up and down, but his heart is still getting weaker and weaker and without his sight, he is beginning to have some difficulty navigating.
I talk to him in a low constant voice so he knows where I am and can walk alongside of me. Bud is a great pal to him.
That is all you can do..you know your dog best and as far as I can see, he is in wonderful hands..
What a dichotomy, Jon – to see Red in decline, and to watch Bud champion his cause. Animals are truly a gift to us.
This is beautiful beyond comprehension. Thanks for bringing us along on this journey.
Your loving care of Red is a lesson for all dog owners.
It is a very difficult personal decision to determine how much treatment to provide – whether an animal or person. As I tell my nursing students, curing is not always possible but healing is and you both are providing Red with a very healing end of life. FYI, for one of our Bearded Collies with cataracts we decided to have surgery on one eye – he just learned to squint 😉
Red has his own “Seeing Eye dog”! Bud and Red are bonded!
We had a German Shepherd go blind at 4 yrs from a congenital eye disease. She lived 7 more years and was perfectly fine. Red has Bud now. So beautiful that they have developed this arrangement. The little dog who could.