Super Hero Blind Dog Cape

As I have mentioned in previous posts, our little dog Percy went blind literally overnight back in March last year.  There are very few things available for blind dogs of his size.  The leads that would be really useful come with clasps on them almost as big as he is!  Okay so that is a bit of an exaggeration, but they are far too big.  What I do get is the Blind Dog Bandanna and turn them into his 'Super Hero' Capes, as he really is a super hero.

This is how they arrive.  They are supposed to go round their neck and hang sort of down their front under their chin, but are obviously way too big to do that with a chihuahua.  So I take off the black tape on  the right hand side looking at them, cut a piece to size, and then sew it back on the other side.  

I add a button hole for the lead to got through and viola, a 'Super Hero' Blind Dog Cape.

I tried to get a photo of him wearing it, but couldn't get him to stand still!

His long hair on his back of his neck does cover it a bit.

His tail was wagging so fast here, you can hardly see it!

We'd just arrived at our daughter in law's place.  She cooked us a delicious roast dinner.  It was a real treat, and lovely to spend some time with her.

Well that is Friday!  The week is over already, how did that happen?

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.