My Maggie

[Carolinagal]

Maggie, had her visit to the doggie dr. today, got her shots and exam, she is all set to go to Alaska. He said she is doing well. EXCEPT she is almost blind with cateracts. She has stumbled a few times, on steps into r.v. and into the house, and looked kind of scared at the time. Now, I know why.

She doesn't act and I would never have thought of her not seeing, the way she gets around, but he said its because she is familiar with house and r.v. I always have her on a leash and that has always been her security, now I am sure it is. She knows I will only let her go certain places or distance from me.

He says, she actually doesn't see much at all,, very disturbing for me to take in right now. but she's used to it, so I shall be too. (in time).

Just needed to share this news.

CArol

[BirdbyBird]

....and she has an excellent seeing eye person to keep her safe... love to our favorite Maggie girl and a hug for her momma. WE would hug her but Maggie wouldn't understand what all the fuss was about. We can learn so much from our fur kids...about necessary adjustments...

well that and the kindness of good life partners.

[HorizonSeeker]

Gus also has bad cataracts and gets lost especially at night if I don't use a leash. When a campground says we require a leash I think yeah, well, I use it whether you require it or not for my dog's safety. then of course you see several dogs not on a leash. He has learned his way around here pretty good and if no one is here but me and my neighbors who are workcamping with me AND it's bright daylight, I will let him run off the leash. He goes down to the pond for a drink of water, does his business and then heads back for home. I've also noticed that bright lights make it hard for him to see just like us when our cataracts get bad. Glad to hear that Maggie is otherwise healthy enough to make the Alaska trip with you. I'm sure you'll take good care of her.

[mitch5252]

..

Dear Maggie,

My Mommy said you are the best place you could be - with YOUR Mommy. She loves you very, very much and will keep you safe and sound and warm and out of danger.

I love you, Maggie. I wish your problem could be fixed. I'll give you kissies soon. But please don't get my face mixed up with my butt...I wouldn't like that very much. Just use your nose, k?

Love,
Abby

[Liz]

Title of this post scared me! AW, sorry to hear that, but glad Maggie is ready to travel anyway. We know she has a very good nose....better than seeing! Let me know if you can use the ramp I bought for Roe, and I will bring it to you for getting up the steps.

[VickieP]

The title scared me too, always a bit of hesitation before opening. I think both of you are very lucky to have each other. Together you can get through all that comes your way.

[Sandersmr]

My Jazzy has a melanoma on her left eye so her eyesight isn't the best, but it doesn't slow her down at all. She will be having the eye removed sometime this year (sigh). Tell Maggie this Maggie hopes she enjoys Alaska.

[avalen]

bless that little Maggie, Pixie is blind too, she doesn't see anything in front and down, so anything on the ground in her way she can trip over.
She does have vision up above though, so she does see the cat up on the shelf and tries to jump, but it breaks my heart the times she
has landed on the edge of the bed. She has fallen a time or two and luckily my bed is not that high but when she makes her way down she uses
the touch system, touches with her front feet and feels her way as long as she knows where she is. She also uses her sense of smell alot and
we have different types of rugs on the floor so she knows by touch what part of the room she is in. The sad part when we take walks, she
follows slowly by smell and a few times got too close as my heel came up off the ground and bopped her under the chin. Makes me feel so
bad I end up picking her up so Gracie can continue with her little walk. She does very well when searching for her food dish

[BarbaraRose]

So sorry to hear about Maggie, but animals adjust to things like that so much better than we do. I had a ferret that went blind (overnight) at one year old. At first she was confused and depressed, but soon figured out how to get around and memorized each room and where everything was, and did amazingly well, with a few "accidents" now and then (when Mom moved things around on her! ). Their hearing and sense of smell gets stronger to make up for the lack of sight.
Maggie will be just fine with her "seeing eye person" to protect her.

[Redetotry]

I'm sorry Carol it is a shock I'm sure especially since she has coped so well. Sending big hugs for you both.

[bluepinecones]

Sorry to read about Maggie loosing her sight, but very glad to learn she is up to the Alaska adventure and more.
Bud, a dog that shared his life with us for more than 18 years, lost his hearing at age 12, then his sight at 16. He was a constant source of amazement to us as he adjusted to it all.

[sharon]

Obviously Maggie has adjusted so well to her limited sight that you didn't even notice it! Don't pamper her and make her think something is wrong with her since she thinks she's perfect...which of course she is! Big hugs to her and to her momma, too! Chewy says "errrrrr"...she may not be able to see me but she can smell and hear me!

[mtngal]

Aww sorry to read this too, but Maggie sure has a good Mama to feel so confident even with failing vision. You did good Carol!

[Carolinagal]

Thanks ladies for your kind and encouraging comments. I appreciate them, Maggie isn't aware of them, as she doesn't think anything is wrong or it sure seems that way. I find myself watching her and except for a few things, you'd never know, still find it hard to believe.

And you're right Liz, her nose has always led her around, and continues too. Thanks for the offer of the ramp, but I'll just pick her up if she needs help.

Sharon, I will try not to make a big deal about it, do you know me or not ?

Maggie, I am soooo sorry about your little dog. Just another incident of when we think our problems are big, we DON'T know what others are dealing with. Reading your post, made me realize how lucky Maggie and I, are here, Woke me up , Thanks.

Ava, guess you know all about this situation I find us in. Sorry to hear about your little Pixie.

Needing to tell someone, I find we have joined the ranks of those with problems like ours or worse.

Thank you all,
CArol

[OutandAbout]

The good news is she is healthy and Alaska bound. Maggie couldn't ask for a better seeing eye owner. Linda