| Everyone has their special love and adoration | | | | now faced with the realization of him losing |
| for a specific breed. My fondness is for the | | | | his other eye. I felt like...here we go |
| Spaniels. The well-bred, trained English | | | | again? At first I personally didn't know if |
| Cocker Spaniel is happy, playful, gentle, | | | | I could deal with "no eyes"? The vet |
| loyal, trusting and affectionate toward | | | | suggested to implant animal testicles; yes |
| everyone. They desire to be included in all | | | | you read it right! It was more of a vanity |
| activities. Eager to please they usually do | | | | issue with me. They convinced me that over |
| well in obedience training. These dogs are | | | | time I would adjust to the situation. He |
| good with children and socializes well with | | | | appears to be sleeping all the time. But |
| other animals with the exception of some | | | | don't let the loss of sight fool you as when |
| males becoming aggressive with other males. | | | | that happened his other senses took over; it |
| Some females are aggressively possessive with | | | | has been 4 years since both procedures and he |
| their owners. They bark to alert the family | | | | is now 13 years old; you try to sneak by him |
| of a visitor. Cockers that are left alone | | | | with any food and his head raises and his |
| too much may retaliate becoming aggressive | | | | smell instincts are amazing! I have |
| and relieving themselves in places | | | | adjusted and I've accepted his condition. |
| unknown.The English Cocker requires special | | | | His quality of life is still good. His loss |
| grooming needs. The medium length coat can | | | | of sight has not hindered his life.Cataracts |
| be flat or wavy; their coat color can be | | | | are white opacities in the lenses of the eyes |
| black, buff, liver or a combination of | | | | that impair vision or cause blindness. |
| markings. Their ears are long and silky | | | | Cataracts is the most common kind of |
| requiring daily cleaning from ending up in | | | | hereditary problem with many of the breeds of |
| the food bowl. Their muzzle is longer than | | | | dogs. Some of the causes of cataracts can be |
| most spaniels. Their statue is more elegant | | | | from a direct injury to the lens, diabetes, |
| than the other species of the breed. They | | | | nutritional deficiency, toxic effects of |
| should be brushed and combed at least two to | | | | certain drugs, an inflammation of the |
| three times per week to avoid matting on the | | | | eye...just to name a few. The extent of the |
| ears, chest and legs. They appreciate and | | | | cataract determines the degree of visual loss |
| enjoy long vigorous walks daily. Special | | | | or impairment. The lens can be removed via |
| attention must be given to their ears; this | | | | surgery. The removal of the cataract can |
| species is more prone to ear infections.The | | | | prevent further complications such as |
| English Cocker originated in the 19th century | | | | glaucoma that we just discussed. One of the |
| in England. They were utilized to flush and | | | | normal occurences in aging dogs is senile |
| retrieve birds from densely wooded areas for | | | | cataracts in which a bluish gray haze is |
| the hunters. This Cocker breed is between | | | | presented over the eye; this does not have to |
| 15-17" in height. Their weight ranges 26-34 | | | | treated with surgery and their vision is not |
| lbs.. Their life span is usually 10-14 | | | | hindered.Deafness may be congenital or caused |
| years.There are definite health concerns | | | | by ear infections, drugs, or aging. The most |
| related to their breed. Glaucoma, cataract, | | | | noticeable sign of deafness is a lack of |
| deafness, ear infections, and progressive | | | | response when you call your pets name or any |
| retinal atrophy are some of the concerns with | | | | stimulation. Another problem of my 13 year |
| the English Cocker Spaniels. Personally my | | | | old male cocker is deafness associated with |
| older male cocker spaniel has experienced | | | | the aging process. Ear infections can cause |
| bilateral glaucoma; unfortunately we had to | | | | destruction of nerve cells. Some drugs used |
| have both his eyes removed.Glaucoma is | | | | to treat inflammation of the ear can cause |
| hereditary among this breed as they are | | | | deafness. Consult your vet for the proper |
| predisposed to this condition. Rubbing and | | | | drug for an ear infection. Patience from you |
| squinting of the eyes secondary to pain; a | | | | is needed when your pet has lost his |
| cloudy cornea, a dilated pupil when there | | | | hearing.Progressive retinal atrophy is |
| should be constriction, noticeable blood | | | | usually hereditary. It is caused by a |
| vessels in the eyes, poor vision and an | | | | degeneration and a loss of retinal tissue. |
| enlarged eyeball are symptoms. When my male | | | | Late onset of this health problem usually |
| cocker first presented these symptoms in his | | | | involves Cocker Spaniels after one year of |
| left eye, I immediately took him to the vet. | | | | age. Night blindness is one of the first |
| Once the eyeball becomes enlarged recovery is | | | | signs and symptoms. There is no effective |
| difficult. The pressure inside the eye was | | | | treatment for this problem as eventually the |
| off the charts so to speak. With glaucoma | | | | dog will go blind. The dog will be reluctant |
| they experience pain as we would feel the | | | | to go outside or up and down poorly lit steps |
| pain of a constant migraine. His left eye | | | | or hallways during the early stages of the |
| became so swollen and he was constantly | | | | PRA. The only way to prevent PRA is to make |
| bumping into objects that our only recourse | | | | sure the affected dog does not breed.Every |
| was to have this eye removed to relieve the | | | | breed has health concerns. It is your choice |
| symptoms as well as the intense pain. Part | | | | which breed you love and adore. Be a |
| of the post op recovery stage was to wear one | | | | responsible pet owner and be informed of each |
| of those Elizabethan collars; I despised | | | | health concern of your specific dogs breed. |
| those collars, but I realized the importance | | | | Most important just love your pet by |
| of them and had to deal with the | | | | providing the best medical care for a long |
| inconvenience for his sake.For the next | | | | quality of life that you possibly can for |
| several months we had his remaining eye | | | | your friend.For more information on pet care |
| constantly observed by the vet; we | | | | visit us at CherishMyPetWe here at Cherish My |
| administered two different eye drops each | | | | Pet only offer quality products for the |
| day; eye pressure was measured weekly. But | | | | health, welfare and safety of your pet. We |
| unfortunately all our efforts failed. In | | | | cater to dogs; cats; ferrets and small |
| time the right eye became slightly enlarged | | | | animals. We emphasize the importance of pet |
| and I could tell his remaining sight in that | | | | safety, health, training, sanitation, |
| eye was decreasing. We immediately contacted | | | | accommodations, nutrition, treats, toys, pet |
| the vet and went through the procedure of the | | | | first aide and even fun gifts for the pet |
| Mannitol IV but it was too late. His | | | | owners.... |
| prognosis with his sight was grave. We were | | | | |