Audley End and SARDS

Another gorgeous day meant we just had to spend it out somewhere, so we chose another favourite place of ours, this time Audley End.

The birds were singing, it was relatively quiet and just simply beautiful.

Some lovely seats dotted round the walled garden.

Having a five minute break.

Beautiful flowers

Stunning gardens.

Majestic House.

Is he a pointer or a chihuahua?!  

Percy really enjoyed his walk again today.  We have been here often with him, and this bank in particular is one where we used to let him off to just run races with my husband.  We didn't let him off, as now he is completely blind, we would be worried he would get disorientated and panic and run off in the wrong direction.  But he did go for a run on the lead.  As did our Sheltie, Stanley.  It was a really enjoyable day.

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So a little bit about Percy and his sudden blindness.  Just over three weeks ago Percy went suddenly blind, literally overnight.  One day he could see, the next he was bumping into things.  He went to the vet and received a diagnosis of SARDS which is Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome.  He was seen the following day by an Ophthalmic Specialist from the Royal Veterinary College, who confirmed his diagnosis.  There is a definitive test to do, but at £1000, it was deemed unnecessary, as he was almost 100% certain that was what it was, and there is nothing they can do about it anyway.  His pupils are now fully dilated all the time.  There is no reaction to light whatsoever...his little world is now complete darkness.  It is a very unusual disease, and especially unusual in dogs, it is more common in bitches over the age of seven.  Percy had only just turned five years old a couple of weeks earlier.  We were absolutely devastated, still are, but have realised he is a real trouper and just gets on with things.  Stanley misses playing with him and running round together like the used to, as Percy is not keen on doing that anymore, but who knows as he grows more confident perhaps this to will change.   To happen to such a fun loving dog, who used his eyes with such expression and alertness it is really sad.  They are no longer a beautiful brown but black, but appear almost blue opaque in the sunlight.  Taking him out these last few days though has made us realise, that from first impressions many wouldn't notice, he makes full use of his other senses.  He is a brave little dog and we are really proud of him.