It has been a few months since my emergency surgery in February to remove my left eye, due to Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis. Since then Chuck Billy has been really good at keeping everyone up to date medically on my condition. Today I thought I’d share my perspective on how I’m adapting to all these changes in my daily life. Long story short, I’m doing great!

Overall I’m adapting well to having one eye. Around the house you’d never know anything was different. I go up and down stairs with ease, still play fetch, and neighborhood walks are just as fun! I do have new gear though. You’ve all seen me in my goggles. I wear them when playing outside and on adventures. Mom and Dad did a great job acclimating me to them, so when the goggles come out I know we are about to have fun! I will do a happy dance and stick my head forward to help get them on quicker. For the most part, I don’t notice them when I’m playing, but occasionally they do block my peripheral vision making fetch difficult. Mom is practicing throwing the ball low instead of high so I don’t lose sight of it in my blind spots. I do have my limits though for how long I’ll wear them, and after awhile will try to take my goggles off.

For awhile I was wearing the goggles on neighborhood walks, but that was just part of my training to get use to them. The ophthalmologist said as long as they are controlled neighborhood walks on a leash, where I am familiar with the route, it’s alright not to wear them. Same with outside in the yard. If I’m just sniffing around, and not charging head first into things, it’s ok to not wear the goggles. What I do need to wear when on walks at all times is a harness. Keeping the pressure down in my eye is important, and if I get excited and pull on my leash, the collar tightening around my neck could increase eye pressure. So from hikes to neighborhood patrols, I’ll be wearing a harness going forward.

I’m most comfortable walking in the familiarity of my neighborhood. Mom and Dad have been easing me into a distracting world by taking me on beach walks. There I have maneuvering room, as opposed to a hiking trail where it can be narrow. I can get startled by movement on my blindside, especially if it comes quickly from behind like a jogger, an off-leash dog, a child running to hug me (which happens surprisingly a lot), or an even a seagull swooping in for a landing. In those situations I’ll suddenly turn my whole body in a circle to the left, so I can see with my right eye what’s going on, and will return to my heel position. I tripped Mom and Dad up a few times doing this, but we are working out a way for them to adapt for these sudden circles. Another thing I do now is drift to the right. I know it isn’t polite to stare, but sometimes I will focus on something with my right eye, and will start drifting that way. Since I walk at a heel with Mom or Dad on my right, this sometimes means I cut them off in traffic. They are working with hand taps to remind me to get back in my lane. Verbal commands don’t always work because the ocean can be loud, and they don’t want to be shouting at me. So far the touch command seems to be working.

For the most part I have returned to my usual routine. However, there have been two big changes since the surgery. I no longer break the “no paws on the furniture” rule. In the past I use to sneak up on the couch for naps, or at night sleep on the guest bed. Mom noticed I don’t do either anymore. Chuck Billy likes to take credit that for all his tattling, I’m finally following the “four paws on the floor rule,” which I don’t mind for now. It has only been a few months adjusting to my new depth perception, so perhaps in time I’ll regain more of my confidence and get up there again on my own. Thank you Grandma, for encouraging me to get up on my favorite golden couch at your home, and to Dad for guiding me jumping into my travel crate for car rides.

The biggest change though with all of this is my appetite! I went from being very patient, and not really caring when dinnertime is, to now helping Chuck Billy remind Mom and Dad that it should be served sooner rather than later. I even hover around Chuck Billy when he eats hoping to get any kibble that drops on the floor, which I never did before. When it is my turn to eat they prevent me from inhaling my meal with a slow feeder bowl. I think my left eye has been bothering me for a lot longer than anyone realized. Now that I don’t have it, I’m more comfortable. I’m not on any steroid eye drops, which can cause an increased appetite. So that is the best we can all figure is all is right in my world and I’m more content eating now.

So there you have it! I’m adapting well to my new perspective these past few months. Sure there are drawbacks, like when I’m tired I bump into things more. Also we all have to practice not startling me on my blindside, even when at home. I occasionally wack my head on things if they wake me up from a nap, or if I get excited and start spinning. There are still many firsts I’ve yet to experience since my surgery too. For example, I haven’t been on a hike yet. But I’m sure with my family by my side, I’ll continue to adapt to my new perspective and enjoy life!