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