Synopsis

Quite a bit has happened since Oskar lost his eye so I thought it’s worth providing an update in with day-to-day life with an enucleated dog.

The day will remain a sad day in our lives as given the choice we would have preferred not to have experienced this one, a BE and AE (Before & After- Enucleation) if you will. With that said, the experience has not been what we had initially feared. I have often heard people talk about how dogs ‘just get on with it’ when it comes to life changing events, I never knew how much to believe these sorts remarks, thinking people were just putting a brave face to what is ultimately a dire and unenviable situation. However, this is exactly what we have experienced with Oskar.

There have been a few occasions where he appeared to be genuinely surprised when an object comes at him from his blind side, I think he doesn’t realise the extent of what has occurred. He runs around and performs his tasks just as he normally would.

Lake District

What a revelation this trip has been! Until the events conspired against us for an early operation, we had hoped to put the operation off until after our trip up north. We had thought to give him one last full-sighted holiday before taking him for the permanent solution.

As it turned out we needn’t have worried. He was deemed fit to go on the trip, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It really was as though he was fully sighted; he was jumping about rocky pathways like his normal mountain-goat self. He jumped into streams without so much as an afterthought and no qualms about going into town.

One thing that quickly became apparent was that although a golden retriever tends to get a lot of attention when out and about, a one-eyed golden retriever takes it to a whole new level! I think he will start to have to get used to being petted by almost everyone he comes across.

Ambleside Rocks

One thing I will say is that we have fallen in love with the lakes, and specifically Ambleside. The whole town have gone out of their way to make themselves accessible to people and their dogs. Not once did we have to consider whether we would be welcome with our beloved canine. Everyone was always very accommodating, from restaurants, to cafes, to pubs and shops. Most of the time they made the effort to greet the dog and present it with some treats and water. You really couldn’t ask for more and it’s a real credit to the town, other towns should take note.

I am already recommending it as a place to visit among my dog-walking friends & we will certainly be back.

Westonbirt

For those uninitiated Westonbirt is a great place to walk your dogs. They have divided the space into 3, one where dogs are allowed off lead, another on-lead and finally a section where they are not permitted, outside of service dogs. It seems to work really well for them, and for us as we end up going a few times a month.

Now he was on the mend we decided to restart the trips up there: Oskar just loved being back at the arboretum. With all that was going on we hadn’t been for a few months, so he was now making up for it flitting this way and that. The best bit, which had me in stitches, is when he ran ahead and jumped onto a tree and sat there waiting for me to catch up. He looked like quite the little bear-come-squirrel! Happy days!

Ball Retriever

If we were in any doubt that his ball obsession would in any way be diminished these have been well and truly quashed. Last year we ended up losing count on how many were pulled out the bushes surrounding the fields we walk through. This year has he has not let up, he senses them from across the field, dashing into the bushes and a few shakes later pops out with his prize! Its truly a thing of beauty, and the joy on his face is palpable.