#like with human eye exams dogs have to get their eyes dilated too

[doginprogress]

Ponzi and Spork both have Certified Normal eyes 🥳

Ponzi also says “who the hell turned up the brightness??”

[jkslug]

no. 19 | kth

∷ kisses meant to distract the other person from whatever they were intently doing

∵ prompt from this list

Taehyung x Reader

Words: 1,059

Doors swinged open with a crash and you took a deep breath once you were outside; different smells and sights took over as you felt the wind brush by your cheeks, shaking the trees causing the leaves crash together and talk. Your eyes had to adjust to the new light from the dark university corridor as your pupils slowly got smaller and smaller.

You took in the scenery and turned around to the courtyard, watching friends, couples, enemies interact, but there was one person in particular you were looking for. Your pupils immediately dilated after finding the one you were searching for and a smile crept onto your face without even knowing it.

“Taehyung!” you called as you ran to the bench between intervals of walking. You were greeted as you sat down opposite the boy on the bench with a bright smile and crinkled eyes. What a gorgeous sight you must admit. You smiled back and swung your bag onto the table.

“Hey y/n, so actually I was thinking, instead of letting everyone after classes today we could- what are you doing?” Taehyung stopped mid sentence to look down at you unpacking your books and notes. You’ve said this time and time again, but if Taehyung weren’t human he would be a dog, because the way he looked so upset reflected into the image of a dog begging into your head.

“I’m studying,” you got out a pen and flipped open your notepad to the newest page, “I have a test this Friday so that mean I have exactly 18 hours to cram in as much as I can,” you opened the workbook too, half of your study material taking up the table.

Taehyung groaned, “you’re always studying… you said we could hang out, I needed to tell you something.”

“Well, you can tell me now,” you didn’t look up as you started chewing on your pen and reading through the book.

“But you aren’t concentrating on me, it’s important,” when Taehyung says it’s important it’s very unlikely to be important, so still, you refuse to look up. Maybe if you looked up and saw the disheartened look on his face you would’ve known it was a little more than ‘I stubbed my toe this morning’.

Taehyung has been trying to pluck up the courage to ask you out all week. You both met through mutual friends and instantly clicked as Taehyung felt his heart pick up the pace any time you were near. You weren’t any different.

After a lot of convincing and cheering on from your, now, shared friends, Taehyung decided to ask you out for a date. But your attention wasn’t on him and it was disappointing, you weren’t following the script he acted out multiple times in the shower and he was frustrated- by now, you were supposed to be drooling over him after he asked you out for the best date you’ll ever go on. But you were fucking studying and drooling over the pen you were chewing on.

You heard a sigh and your eyes flicked up for a second before looking back down, “Taehyung just tell me instead of wasting your breath on sighing like that,” you still tried focusing on the words in front of you, but they kept mixing up as you felt the weight on the bench dip as he moved around to sit right next to you. Your hands started getting clammy so you hum quietly to distract yourself from how he was so close your thighs and hips were touching.

“Y/n,” you hated your name, but when he said it with his voice attached to it, it was the most gorgeous name you’ve ever heard. You give in like always and look to him with a hum, tilting your head up so you can look in his eyes.

You didn’t have time to ask why he was so close as he got closer and pressed his lips onto yours, hoping it would pull your attention to him, or better yet, hoping you would respond to it.

Sirens went off in your head because holy shit, he was kissing you, actually kissing you. Well, he wasn’t really as your eyes were still open and wide as he stayed still and waiting for some kind answer. Thankfully, you didn’t push him away.

Your eyelids fluttered shut and you kissed back. Taehyung felt some sort of movement against his lips and his chest exploded into butterflies. The kiss was sweet and you enjoyed it a little too much as your palm pressed against his chest, right against his heart and you tried deepening the kiss, forgetting you were outside and in a public place.

Taehyung was the first to pull away, leaving you hanging and leaning in slightly because you wanted more; he tried to hold back the laughter at you cutely sitting back and looking up at him in shock.

“Wh- uh… uhm,” you licked your lips as they became dry from your mouth hanging open too long. What just happened? Did he just kiss you? Where am I? What were you just doing? Who are you even?

“Let me take you on a date, this Friday,” Taehyung said so confidently as he couldn’t keep his eyes off your dazed expression.

“Uh… y-yeah… this Friday,” you bite your lip as you shamelessly fawn over him.

Taehyung chuckles with that gorgeous smile and you furrow your eyebrows in confusion. What was he laughing at?

“But wait,” he stops to keep softly laughing, “isn’t your exam on Friday?”

“Exam? Oh! My exam!” you totally forgot about an important exam in the span of two minutes because Taehyung kissed you. Stuttering over your words, you tried to cancel the date for another time, “ah, I’m sorry I can’t-“

“This Saturday then,” Taehyung grinned as he stood up, “it could be your reward for doing so well in it,” Taehyung taps your books and chuckles before walking off and leaving you star struck. That’s what you were doing, you were studying.

You whip your head around, “w-wait! Taehyung?!” you didn’t get an answer as he kept walking away whilst laughing. You pieced it together and you came to the conclusion you had a date this Saturday with the master of distraction, Kim Taehyung.

Oh, and an exam, but who cares.

[talabib]

How To Combat Worry And Have stress-free Life

Worrying is bad for your health and happiness. What’s more, it usually doesn’t achieve anything either. Not exactly an attractive package, is it?

But sometimes it’s just impossible to help yourself. You lie awake at night fretting, your mind and heart racing. Come morning, everything’s as you left it, except the bags under your eyes are that little bit bigger.

This is all down to our evolutionary hardwiring. Our ancestors’ survival depended on constant vigilance. Worrying was pretty useful when there was a good chance you’d stumble across a saber-toothed tiger!

Unfortunately, the human brain isn’t very good at telling the difference between a beast of prey and a board meeting – that’s what makes stress so common in today’s world.

But there’s a way to break out of this vicious cycle. Structured around a series of small steps that make a big difference, this is the ultimate guide to getting in touch with your rational brain and putting your worries behind you.

Worrying, anxiety and stress are all part of a cycle that can affect your health.

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, fretting about an upcoming presentation? Worries can quickly snowball out of control. The key to combating them is remembering this simple motto: “Stop before you spiral.”

Worrying is part of a cycle, where the next stops are anxiety and stress. More precisely, worrying is a mode of thinking that leads to anxiety. That, in turn, triggers your body’s survival instinct – a series of physical reactions that fall under the category of stress. These can include heart palpitations, dilated pupils and a tightened chest.

Worry, anxiety and stress form a feedback loop. Worrying is both a cause and effect of anxiety or stress, and the cycle can be triggered at any stage. Stress can lead to anxiety and worry, while anxiety can also cause worry and stress.

During a holiday in northwest England, Paul and his wife heard a seemingly vicious dog barking from behind a hedge. Fearing an imminent attack, the couple’s “fight or flight” instinct kicked in.

In other words, the barking caused stress while their fear of an attack caused anxiety. Fretting about finding a quick escape route made them worry. It turned out that the Paul had merely imagined that the dog was prowling around without an owner or a leash, as he felt immediately threatened by the unknown growls.

Once you get stuck in this cycle, it starts taking its toll on your quality of life. There are a number of physical symptoms. Stress weakens your immune system and leaves you more susceptible to illnesses, as well as decreasing your sex drive.

Mentally, the cycle robs you of the valuable headspace you need to make sound decisions. To put it starkly, stress makes you stupid, as you’re constantly reacting to a threatening world rather than acting rationally.

Most importantly, you lose the ability to simply enjoy the present moment when you’re stuck in this kind of feedback loop. When you’re constantly preoccupied by worst-case scenarios, you lose your sense of motivation and creative inspiration.

Now that we’ve seen how worrying is linked to anxiety and stress, we’ll take a closer look at the root causes of your worries.

Whether it’s past experiences or a fear of the unknown, confront the cause of your worries.

What’s worrying you? Is it a performance review at work? Or making this month’s rent? Worry comes in all shapes and sizes, but the root causes are often surprisingly simple.

One of the main reasons people worry is their past. Many worriers were conditioned to be anxious during their childhoods. Take your upbringing: your parents’ endless reminders to wrap up warm during winter if you didn’t want to “freeze to death” can take their toll.

There’s even evidence that worried parents can transmit stress to their babies during pregnancy!

Painful experiences are another common cause of worry. Whether it was a car accident or an abusive relationship, what happened to you in the past can shape how you deal with the world in the present.

Past experiences can often manifest themselves as hypersensitivity to potential danger. James’s daughter, for example, was bitten by a dog when she was three. Ever since, dogs have been a constant source of anxiety for her.

It means that one of the first steps to conquering your worries is becoming aware of the way events trigger memories of your past.

Then there’s the fear of the unknown – one of the most powerful causes of worry. Life is unpredictable. Jobs, careers and relationships are all subject to the whims of fickle fortune. That’s what makes stability, security and the familiar so comforting. It’s also what makes questions like “How am I going to pay the rent?” or “Will I ever be successful?” so agonizing.

The unknown is worrying because it’s beyond your personal control. It’s frustrating to feel like you don’t have your destiny in your own hands and have to rely on others.

Formula 1 drivers know all about this. The most stressful part of a race is the pitstop – it’s the one time they’re not truly in control. The outcome of the race suddenly depends on others doing their jobs properly.

But you don’t need to be a Formula 1 driver to feel like life is one big, stressful race. Uncertainty is worrying about whatever circumstances you find yourself in.

Luckily, there’s a way out. When you get to know yourself better and ask yourself why you’re worrying, you’re much more likely to be able to put things in perspective, and that’s a great basis for tackling your worries rationally.

Your rational brain tries to reign in the worries stemming from your primitive and emotional brains.

If you find yourself worrying away about something, blame your brain’s basic survival instinct. Humans are evolutionarily hardwired to detect danger and respond appropriately. That’s what happens when a species spends its infancy avoiding various predators.

Worry is located in the primitive and emotional parts of your brain.

The primitive brain is located deep within your subconscious and controls the “flight or fight” stress response. Its main job is keeping you alive, but it also monitors your nutritional needs and sex drive.

The emotional brain works together with the primitive brain. Together, they release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline during moments of intense stress, which boost your energy levels as well as feelings like excitement, anxiety and fear.

Worrying is part of the survival strategy of these two areas of the brain. By making sure you’re always on high alert, they keep you ready to fight for your life or flee danger.

That obviously makes a lot of sense if you’re battling for survival out on the savannah. In today’s world, however, you’re much less likely to encounter predators than a stressful board meeting.

But the primitive and emotional brains just aren’t very good at telling the difference between the two. As far as they’re concerned, one is just as dangerous as the other, which is why the human body overreacts to everyday events. In other words, these brains are serial worriers.

The rational brain, by contrast, helps keep worries in check. Located in the higher brain – or neocortex – it’s responsible for problem-solving, memory and other complex tasks. It’s this part of the brain that lets you accurately assess the world around you and make sound decisions on the basis of that information.

You can train yourself to tap into the rational brain when your worries are spiraling out of control. Think back to the last time you jumped to conclusions or overreacted, and ask yourself what someone who was more rational would’ve done.

One night, Paul and his friend became convinced that slugs had invaded their garden, and so they started sprinkling salt over them. But in the cold light of day, they realized that they’d spent hours salting leaves that looked like slugs!

That’s a great example of what happens when the emotional brain is in the driver’s seat. If they’d acted more rationally, they’d have waited until morning to see if their suspicions were well-founded before taking action.

Awareness is the first of three steps that’ll let you start tackling your worries rationally.

This exercise is all about increasing your self-awareness. Essentially, it’s a way of tracking a worry down to its source. Here’s how you do it: Ask yourself “Where is my worry coming from?” Next, sort your worry into one of three categories – situational, anticipatory or residual stress.

Situational stress is a form of anxiety related to what’s happening in the present. That could be anything from your health to a conflict with your spouse or coworker.

Then there’s anticipatory stress: This is the anxiety you feel when you’re thinking about the future. An upcoming exam, presentation or interviews are all likely to trigger it.

Residual stress pertains to the past. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a good example of a particularly severe form of residual stress.

So what does reflecting on the nature of your worry actually achieve? Well, categorizing your worries allows you to better scrutinize the source of your stress. It short-circuits mindless anxiety and puts you in a position to calmly ask yourself “Why do I feel this way?”

Once you start doing that, you’ll get a better sense of the kinds of things that trouble you most. That’s an important first step. Awareness means you’re already halfway to tackling the source of your anxiety.

Analyse your worries to understand their root cause.

First, the good news. If you’ve made it this far, you’re well on your way to confronting your worries head on!

Let’s start by sorting out the worries which are simply too hysterical to entertain. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to knuckle down and start doing something about the remaining worries.

The sorting process is all about reflecting on the root cause of individual worries. That means asking whether they’re historical, hysterical or helpful.

Historical worries are a form of anxiety that mirror your experiences in the past. Say you were mugged while walking home one night. If you find yourself worrying as you walk down a dark street, chances are that the prior experience is the cause of your worry.

Pretty rational, right? Hysterical worry is the exact opposite – it’s deeply irrational. It’s the kind of anxiety that makes you fret about shark attacks, plane crashes or contracting an STD from a public toilet.

Finally, there’s helpful worry – a form of rational behavior. This kind of worry is caused by reflecting on a real problem, such as a performance review at work or an end-of-year thesis presentation at university.

Now you’ve sorted your worries into separate categories, it’s time to ask what you can do about them. If you’re preoccupied by a historical worry, your best bet is to seek emotional support and move on.

Childhood trauma and failed relationships can leave deep emotional scars. In serious cases like these, it’s advisable to turn to a therapist, counselor, friend or colleague. Whoever you choose, the most important thing is to find an outlet for your emotions.

Letting your feelings out doesn’t just make you feel better, it also helps provide clarity about the source of the anxiety that’s been bugging you. More importantly, it sets you up to let go of old grudges and devote your attention to the future.

What about hysterical worry? The key here is to contextualize your anxiety by looking at relevant statistics and interrupting your own thought process.

You can always look up the data. The chances of being mauled by a shark – or struck by lightning, murdered by an intruder or contracting an STD from a public toilet – are vanishingly small.

You can also challenge your own thought processes by asking yourself how often your predictions have come true. Not that often? Perhaps it’s best to put the crystal ball away and free up some headspace for more important matters!

The final step to tackling worry is taking action and focusing on outcomes you can influence.

If you think the world is beyond your control, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. You’re actually much more influential than you give yourself credit for!

That doesn’t mean you can control everything, of course. The key is to identify the outcomes you do have some influence over and focus your energies there.

Take it from Stephen R. Covey, the author of the influential book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

In his book, Covey notes that everyone has worries. Some people worry about their health, others about work, relationships or the weather. The problem isn’t necessarily worrying, but the fact that so many people fret about things they can’t do anything about.

Think of the difference between worrying about a terrorist attack and a work presentation: you can affect the latter by working hard and preparing yourself properly, but there’s nothing you can do about the former

In other words, some worries can be addressed while others can’t. If you want to take action, it’s a good idea to start by assessing the nature of your helpful worries. Use a sliding scale of zero to ten – zero means you have no control whatsoever, while ten means you’re fully capable of determining the outcome.

Once you’ve done that, you can start ranking your worries. Focus your time and energy on solving the ones which rank highest in terms of your influence over them.

Assessing how much control you have is important because attitude is a huge factor. The more influence you perceive yourself as having, the more likely you are to take action.

McGee, experienced this firsthand a couple of years ago. The company he was working for was about to close down and let its staff go. Some of his coworkers were convinced they could shape their own future and began landing new jobs or starting their own businesses. Meanwhile, most colleagues who believed they didn’t have any control over their lives felt defeated and ended up taking lower-paying jobs.

But don’t just take his word for it. A scientific study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology confirms as much. It showed that optimistic people who regularly overestimate their influence are less likely to suffer from depression than those with a more realistic view.

In other words, there’s nothing wrong with thinking the glass is half-full. What’s even better is getting out there and filling the rest up yourself!

Your imagination is a powerful tool that can both trigger and alleviate worrying.

You’ve probably come across the old “imagine the crowd naked” trick that’s used to calm your nerves when giving a speech. There’s a reason it’s recommended so often – it really does work!

That’s a great example of how applying the powers of your imagination can help reduce anxiety.

No wonder – the imagination is a powerful tool. But it’s just as capable of triggering worry and stress as it is of calming you down.

Humans are pretty unique in this respect – no other animal experiences stress triggered solely in its mind. Hypothetical events don’t bother antelopes or whales.

The human mind, by contrast, can conjure all sorts of scarily real scenarios. Close your eyes and imagine giving a trainwreck of a presentation: maybe you spill your coffee, or the slideshow freezes, or you forget what you wanted to say.

Just thinking about this humiliating fantasy is enough to make you feel anxious, right? That’s because, as noted earlier, the primitive brain can’t distinguish between real stressors in the present and imagined stressors in the future. Hypothetical events trigger the same “fight or flight” reactions as actual events.

But the imagination can also be put to more productive uses. In fact, it’s a great assistant in the fight against worry and anxiety.

So how can you harness its positive powers? Instead of mulling over stressful outcomes to “what if” scenarios, ask yourself how you can influence the outcome.

Take a cue from a woman who went to a coach for life coaching. Anna became unbearably shy, nervous and worried whenever she had to speak in public. McGee asked her to pick a role model she could imagine herself as next time she gave a presentation.

During her next presentation, Anna imagined herself as Madonna, a self-confident woman who’s performed in public a million times. The trick worked. By channeling Madonna’s fearlessness, she was able to overcome her anxieties.

Another handy idea is to imagine four advisors you can ask for assistance in important areas like work, health and relationships.

Next time you find yourself worrying about a problem, turn to your counselors for assistance. What, for example, would the Dalai Lama say about this particular quandary?

And remember, just because Anna pretended to be Madonna, doesn’t mean you have to as well. Maybe you want to be Beyoncé, or Barack Obama. That’s the wonderful thing about the imagination – its powers are unlimited!

Change your personal worry triggers, stop trying to please others and learn to ask for help.

You’re usually your own harshest critic, and there’s nothing critics love more than anxieties. So lighten up and take a load off.

Easier said than done? Maybe, but there are some effective bits of advice you can start putting into action today.

Here’s a good place to start: stop putting yourself down!

Think of it this way: You wouldn’t tolerate someone else constantly criticizing and undermining you, so why should you put up with it just because you’re the one doing it? Self-deprecation is a surefire way of boosting your worries and anxieties.

That’s because it makes your problems seem insurmountable. As soon as you start doubting yourself, you lose your ability to look at the world rationally and make sound choices.

Imagine a professional athlete telling herself she shouldn’t even try something because she don’t have a chance of winning. It’s easy to see how that would affect her performance, right?

The next step is to stop trying to please everyone around you.

Worries are often rooted in personal relationships. People want to please their friends and families and avoid rejection, criticism or confrontation, and that often means losing sight of their own happiness.

Say you’re trying on clothes in a shop. What’s your first question – do you like the way that shirt looks or are you thinking about what your friends might think? That might be a trivial example, but the same frame of mind can determine your choice of career, school or partner.

Finally, learn to ask for help when you need it, rather than trying to go it alone.

Many people, especially men, tend to hide their problems, deny their worries or try to sort out their issues alone, and that’s often because they don’t want to appear weak. But as strong as that might make you feel now, it’s not a sustainable solution.

If you’re worried about something, swallow your pride and ask for help and advice. There are plenty of people you can turn to, whether it’s a partner, counselor, boss, colleague or trusted friend.

So that’s your roadmap to defeating worry, stress and anxiety. Time to kick back and start enjoying life!

Worry, stress and anxiety are part of a cycle that’s bad for your health and happiness. The best way to get out of this feedback loop is to analyze the source and nature of your worries. Once you begin categorizing them, you can sort out baseless and unhelpful worries and start doing something about the things you can actually influence.

[animlenet]

How To Interpret Cat Language

Your cat is certainly trying to inform you something if they're meowing every morning at 6 a.m. until you rise to feed them, or they're backed into a corner with their tail hyped up when your friend brings their dog over. But because cats are less domesticated than dogs, they're generally more complex, mysterious, and difficult for us to know.

Cats are just generally "more" than dogs during a lot of the way, and that is a part of what makes cat people love them such a lot. But if you haven't grown up around cats, you would possibly have some trouble speaking their language. After all, cats communicate with us during a big variety of the way. Here's the way to interpret cat language, consistent with two veterinarians. You can learn tons from their visual communication and sounds Sean McCormack, head veterinarian at subscription petfood brand Tails and author of The Happy Dog Cookbook, tells Woman's Day that a cat's main vocalization is that the classic "meow," which is reserved only for humans. "It’s usually a generic attention-seeking cry," McCormack said. A meow usually means something like “Feed me!," "Stroke me!," or "Notice me!” When it involves their visual communication, cats will rub themselves against us, often with their head, neck, and chin, "to bond with us or maybe even mark us as their own," McCormack said. "Cats produce a pheromone called Feline Facial Fraction F3 from glands around around around the chin and neck, and it’s calming to them to possess this in their environment. Hence their rubbing on surroundings, including furniture and other people ." Dr. Caroline Wilde, a veterinarian with Trupanion, which provides medical insurance for pets, tells Woman's Day that when you are looking at a cat's postural cues, you ought to check out the cat's whole body. "Don't just concentrate on the eyes or the position of the top, but check out the entire position of the cat as an entire," she said. "When a cat is friendly and relaxed, it's more likely to possess a relaxed posture, whereas a cat that's fearful or anxious is more likely to crouch and recline ." Here's what the heck is up with a purring It's not hard to work out that purring is seen as a symbol of contentment and happiness in cats. Wilde noted that researchers have done studies to work out what exactly purring is and the way cats roll in the hay and it's still not clear. "They do know that it isn't specific to at least one a part of the cat body, but it's caused by vibrations within the throat area," she said. It's less of a vocal cue, and more a sound made by the vibrations of the cat's throat. Usually, we associate it with cats being happy, content, or relaxed, but cats also use purring to self-sooth, Wilde said. "I've had cats that are scared purr while they're sitting on the exam table, or maybe cats that are sick are going to be purring." McCormack also noted that cats will sometimes purr when they're in pain. "It’s thought to be a natural endorphin release for cats so that they do often roll in the hay once they are experiencing pleasure," he said. "Overall, it’s finished a soothing, comforting effect, which is why mother cats will roll in the hay once they are suckling or grooming their kittens. If they're hurt and purr, perhaps the texture good effect helps numb that a touch ." Even their eye movements have meaning My favorite cat movement is that the slow blink, where they kind of seem to carry their eyes closed for a flash before opening them a touch again, and even which will convey some info about their mood. "In general, when a cat is relaxed, they tend to take a seat with their eyes kind of at half-mast," Wilde said. Whereas eye contact between humans can forge a stronger connection or tell someone you're listening to them, for animals, prolonged eye contact may be a sign of aggression. "When a cat does the slow blink, that's them trying to speak that they are not being aggressive," Wilde said. "It breaks up an aggressive stare." The slow blink is one among the more subtle non-verbal communications that cats display with their eyes, McCormack said. "The intense stare with dilated pupils that one cat will direct at a stranger in its territory may be a direct challenge for the opposite cat to backtrack," he said. "The slow, contented blink is an appeasement sign that a cat is comfortable within the presence of another cat or person, and harmonious coexistence is on the cards." Your cat is trying to inform you "I’m relaxed and happy in your presence," he said. Yes, they knead you or "make bread" because they love you The kneading or bread-making motions cats do once they lay on an individual or something soft is said to the mother and kitten bond, consistent with McCormack. "Kittens knead Mum’s belly as they're suckling to stimulate happy hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, and as a result stimulate more milk to be produced," he said. The behavior often continues into adulthood because it comforts the cat and helps them maintain important bonds. These signs of distress or fear might be big red flags Cat people should be careful surely signs of distress because they might be indicative of an illness or something else that's bothering your cat. When a cat isn't feeling well they will not perform their normal behaviors, Wilde said. "If a cat generally likes to groom, if they are not doing that grooming behavior, then that certainly is often a sign that they are not feeling well," she said. "Any deviation from normal is often a symbol that things aren't fitting quite right with the cat." If a cat is scared or stressed, McCormack said one among the primary things they'll do is hide, "which often happens when there's a change within the environment or a move to an unfamiliar one." They also might raise the hair on their backs and tails to form themselves look bigger if they feel threatened or scared, and that they might yowl, growl, or hiss.

Wilde said it is also important to concentrate on a cat's ear position. If its ears are to the side or flat back, that's a symbol that they are feeling afraid or anxious. If they're crouched back or their eyes are wide and their pupils are dilated, which will also be indicated that they are scared.

"It's just really important to take care because cats do attempt to communicate when they're scared, and if we will devour on those cues, then we will hopefully avoid injury," Wilde said, noting that she has seen some injuries from cats lashing out when they're scared. "It's nothing to ever take lightly," she said, and cat owners should do what they will to scale back a cat's stress or fear during a scary situation, or create an area where they will get back or feel protected.

They'll tell you when they're happy, too In addition to purring, cats will tell you they're happy by being playful or engaging with you, McCormack said. They'll also rub on the furniture, have an honest appetite, and can feel confident enough "to be called at the open altogether areas of the house. Wilde said that rubbing up against something is one of the strongest signs that a cat is proud of you or wants your attention. "They can do this to only spread their scent, but also headbutting, rubbing against an individual or another cat, that's a cue that they are happily interacting thereupon person or that other animal," she said. "My cat will do this to my pit bull. it is the cutest thing."

So basically, if your cat is headbutting you or your other animals, you're doing something right.

[bloojayoolie]

Anaconda, Beautiful, and Cats: 0 9 SUPER SWEET, PLAYFUL, HAPPY GO LUCKY BOY. SUCH A GOOFBALL! GREAT WITH PEOPLE&OTHER DOGS TOO! A FUN LOVING YOUNGSTER TO BE KILLED - 3/7/2019 Beautiful, happy, and incredibly sweet, Gotti is a fun loving, playful youngster who adores everyone he meets. He is a veritable rock star in doggy playgroup, where he “wows” the ladies with his athletic skills and bouncy play style. We think he came to the shelter with another pup named Milo, but he hasn’t missed a beat during his stay at the care center. He seems to make friends easily, and his goofy, silly ways are so appealing and adorable that the volunteers have fallen in love with him. If you can give him a home, whether by fostering or adopting, hurry and PM our page or email us at MustLoveDogsNYC@gmail.com for assistance. MY VIDEO! Gotti and his lady friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FTf4-sBvM GOTTI, ID# 55090, 2 Yrs old, 54 lbs, Unaltered Male Manhattan ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Taupe / White Owner Surrender Reason: I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 17-Feb-2019, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- homeless. Shelter Assessment Rating: Medical Behavior Rating: I may have come to the shelter with Milo, ID 55091: https://ift.tt/2GSxq1y SURRENDER NOTES - Basic InformationGotti is a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 2 years old. Gotti needed to be surrendered because the owner is homeless. He previously lived with 1 Adult 1 Dog (Milo, also at shelter). Gotti barks and lunges at strangers. It takes time for Gotti to become adjusted to new people, but will become friendly once comfortable. No children living in previous household, but is friendly and playful with the owners two children of the ages 10 and 11 years old. Gotti lived with a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 1 years old. Both together are very playful. No cats in previous home. Gotti is not bothered when the client touches his food bowl while eating. Gotti is also not bothered when the client takes away a bone, treat, or toy away. Gotti did not bite or scratch a person or animal in previous home. He is housetraianed and has a high energy level - playful and protective. Gotti has never had any medical issues and has no known medical concerns. For a New Family to Know: Gotti will bark and lunge at strangers until comfortable. Gotti has a high energy level and is very playful and also protective of the owner. Gotti enjoys playing with balls, stuffed toys, rope and squeaky toys. Gotti is an indoor dog but is taken out for walks twice a day. The owner stated he takes Gotti and Milo out for walks once during the day and once during the night to avoid strangers. Gotti was fed Forest Blue Buffalo wet and dry food and was fed twice a day. Gotti is crate trained and sleeps inside his crate for about 7 hours a day. Gotti is house trained and rarely has accidents in the home. Gotti pulls very hard and also knows how to sit. INTAKE NOTES - DATE OF INTAKE, 2/17/2019: Unable to collar or scan for a microchip because Gotti lunged and hard barked at me when I approached. SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment: 19-Feb-2019 LEASH WALKING Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: None SOCIABILITY Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Sniffing room, checks in, comes over when called HANDLING Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Body soft, stands still AROUSAL Jog: Follows (loose) Arousal comments: None Knock: Approaches (exuberant) Knock Comments: Jumps up socially Toy: No response Toy comments: None PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARIES: Gotti was reported to behave playfully with the other dog in the previous home. 2/18: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Gotti is initially tense and uncomfortable with approach. After exchanging greeting, Gotti appears softer, more comfortable, and engages in gentle play. 2/19-21: Gotti is soft and social with female dogs, engaging in brief bouts of bouncy play. INTAKE BEHAVIOR - Date of intake: 17-Feb-2019 Summary: Lunged and barked ENERGY LEVEL: Gotti is described as having a high level of activity. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: Level 3 Behavior Asilomar TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations: No children (under 13) Recommendations comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. For this reason, we recommend an adult only home. Potential challenges: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression Potential challenges comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. MEDICAL EXAM NOTES 22-Feb-2019 Spay/Neuter Summary Post Surgery Note: 11:36 AM Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by ASPCA. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision. Start 1 tablet carprofen 100 mg sid po x 2 days as pain management 21-Feb-2019 Progress Exam Vet Notes: 1:45 PM per behavior, adding trazodone Trazodone 100mg tablet -- give 2.5 tablets PO q12h while in shelter 19-Feb-2019 DVM Intake Vet Notes: 11:33 AM DVM Intake Exam Estimated age:3-4 years based on dental condition Microchip noted on Intake? yes Microchip Number (If Applicable): 981 020 017 365 047 History : tail between legs; h/o reactivity Observed Behavior - dilated eyes and lip smacking; liked to have rear end against the wall even when moved to the side and away from the dog; would easily get attention with cheese reward Evidence of Cruelty seen - no Evidence of Trauma seen - no Objective BCS- 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears- sl tan dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled; mild tartar PLN: shotty popliteals noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI with 2 down MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, hair coat- areas of partial alopecia on dorsum; woods lamp negative on presentation CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment r/o allergies (environmental vs food vs other) vs demodex Prognosis: good Plan: simplicef- 200mg po q 24hrs x 21 d's skin scrape multiple places- negative SURGERY: Okay for surgery *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: https://newhope.shelterbuddy.com/Animal/List Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications.

[ronaldmorton]

Problems and Solutions with Cocker Spaniel Eyes

Eyes of melted chocolate: This is the way many describe the Cocker Spaniel eye. Those gorgeous eyes also come with their fair share of difficulties. Here is your guide to problems and solutions with Cocker Spaniel eyes. (note: Most of this information applies to all breeds of dogs and mixed pooches, so read on):

The Basic Anatomy of Cocker Spaniel Eyes

  Eyelids and Eyelashes: This is the outermost portion of the dog’s eye anatomy. The eyelids and eyelashes keep debris and dust out and they also help with the cotnrol of light rays entering the eyes.

Conjunctiva: A thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers the sclera. Sometimes when there is an eye injury or respiratory issue, the conjunctiva becomes inflamed. The conjunctiva is thin and located near the front of the eye.

Sclera: The whites of the eyes, and this is something we as humans have in common with dogs: We both have whites of our eyes.

Iris: This area is responsible for the amount of light that enters the dog’s eye. Looking at the dog’s eye as above, the dark center is the pupil, the colored ring is the iris and outside of that the white sclera is located.

Pupil: The darkened black part of the eye that dilates or constricts to either allow more or less light to enter the eye. In the dark, the pupil dilates whereas it constricts in a lighter environment.

Common Cocker Spaniel Eyes Problems

Glaucoma

Glaucoma deals with the fluid in a dog’s eye. Unfortunately, Cocker Spaniels are among the breeds most affected by glaucoma. All eyes have a certain level of pressure to maintain, called intraocular pressure. Glaucoma causes an increase in the intraocular pressure. As the disease takes hold, pressures build and most often, there are no outward symptoms until there is extensive eye damage.

There are four levels of glaucoma based on the stage of the disease: Class IV is very early glaucoma and Class I means the eye is enlarged and the eye is blind.

A stable intraocular pressure in a normal eye is 15-25 mmHg. There are both primary and secondary types of glaucoma, which a qualified ophthalmologist can discern.

Diagnosing glaucoma includes:

Measuring the intraocular pressure

Visually examining the drainage angle via gonioscopy (Note: gonioscopy is the only test available to diagnose closed-angle glaucoma or hereditary narrow glaucoma).

Symptoms of glaucoma:

Excessive tearing

Yellow or green eye discharge

Red eye

Pupil enlarged and does not move with light shone on it

Frightened pet or pet who is irritable (due to pain) – they may even snap or bite

Keep reading because we will share what you as the pet parent can do and how to stay one step ahead of this eye disease and others to keep your pet’s vision as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

CLICK THIS: Here is an image of acute glaucoma in an American Cocker Spaniel, with an intraocular pressure of 55 mmHg in the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Cataracts

Do you see a cloudy haze forming on your Cocker Spaniel’s eyes? It might be cataracts. Simply stated, cataracts cloud your dog’s lens. Sadly, Cocker Spaniels are one of the breeds with a higher than usual propensity to develop cataracts.

Inherited cataracts generally appear between the ages of one and four years. The spot on the eye with the cataract is an area the dog cannot see through. Cataracts may stay as a mild form and not enlarge while other times they can grow slowly or even cause blindness or lead to other eye problems.

Unless the lens of the eye is surgically removed, there is no universal cure.

Diagnosing cataracts includes:

A complete ophthalmologic examination, which will assess if the dog has vision loss and if there is any other eye issue(s) or nuclear sclerosis occurring.

Symptoms of glaucoma:

Cloudiness on the eye, which may appear whitish, blue, or grey

Bumping into things, seemingly not aware something was there; walking with nose to ground in some dogs

Diabetes mellitus may cause cataracts, and if this is the case, increased water consumption (polydipsia) with increased urination (polyuria) may result.

Do not let a cataract go without being managed, assessed, and treated by the dog’s veterinarian, or even better, a veterinary ophthalmologist you see at least yearly.

Cataracts that are untreated can slip (luxate), flat around the eye, block fluid from draining, and even lead to glaucoma and blindness. Cataracts that are untreated and begin to dissolve can cause terrible pain and/or eye inflammation.  Read more about older dogs and cataracts.

Knowing what a normal eye looks like in your dog will help in potentially seeing an issue in the eye.

Optigen and Cataracts

So prevalent are cataracts in Cocker Spaniels that a molecular genetic study of inherited cataracts in the Cocker Spaniel has been underway.

Cocker Spaniel parents simply take their dog to have their eyes examined and submit a blood sample to help find a DNA marker to eliminate cataracts in Cockers. This, in turn, helps humans who are affected by cataracts.

Interested Cocker parents can call OptiGen at 607-257-0301 or email at genetest@optigen.com for questions about sample submission. Also, visit the Optigen website for complete details.

According to long-time Cocker mom and pro, Debi Lampert Rudman, “There is NO SUCH THING as PERMANENTLY CLEAR cockers. Yes – you read that right.”

She says that the term “permanently clear” with regards to the eyes of a Cocker Spaniel was “made up by cocker breeders many years ago as something to say when their 8 year old cocker had a good clear eye exam.” However, Rudman says it is not a medical term.

When Rudman recently attended an eye clinic for Cockers, Dr. Gustavo Aguirre at the University of Pennsylvania, told her that no other breeds use that term. In fact, he says the term “permanently clear” has been a major contributor to the current eye problems in the Cocker Spaniel breed overall.

The Merck Vet Manual says that in dogs, cataracts that are secondary related to diabetes mellitus are increasingly common.

So why say it at all? Rudman shares that when Cocker eyes are not tested beyond 2 to 4 years of age, those dogs are being bred with the potential for hereditary cataracts. The older dogs are perfect candidates and carry a great wealth of knowledge to the DNA cataract marker research.

Have your older Cocker Spaniels tested for sure and send results with the form to Optigen.

Don’t use the term “permanently clear” she says.

CLICK THIS: Images of cataracts in a dog from the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Cherry Eye

We have way too much experience with this anomaly of the Cocker Spaniel eye: Our first Cocker Spaniel had this condition in both eyes.

All dogs have a third eyelid and this is completely normal. That third eyelid is called the nictating membrane, or sometimes the “haw.” The pigmentation of the haw varies in dogs, but one thing is for sure: There seems to be a higher than normal rate of Cocker Spaniels affected with cherry eye, dubbed so for the cherry looking nature of the gland when it protrudes.

It can be painful if left untreated because this gland is exposed and can get irritated or inflamed. It may also itch the dog, and as dogs do, he will rub his face on something to try and stop the itch. The gland is also responsible for tear production, so the dog is at risk for issues with that if not addressed.

Diagnosis and symptoms can be made by a qualified veterinarian. Back in the 1990s when our first Cocker had cherry eye bilaterally (both eyes), the treatment then was drops. Drops did not work and so the vet actually removed both glands under anesthesia. This procedure is no longer the norm, and it can cause a flurry of other issues: Namely dry eye and the problems that arise from it.

CLICK THIS: A complete slide show of dogs (including a Cocker) with cherry eye can be found at this veterinary website.

Our dog’s littermate, McGee, had cherry eye in his first 2 years of life, which was corrected by tacking (suturing) the gland back into place.

Every now and then, my dog’s third eyelid pops out and I have learned a technique to pop it back into place. It is rare that this happens, so I do not recommend you poke around your dog’s eyes and put your fingers near him unless you are certain what you are doing and why.

This is the video I discovered years ago that helped me massage the gland back into place. Keep reading, there are products to help, too!

Eyelashes: Distichiasis

Those beautiful Cocker Spaniel eyelashes can also be the source of problems if the dog is affected with distichiasis. Dye to the direction the eyelashes grow, they may touch the eyeball surface. Due to this and how harsh the contact is, dogs can suffer from any number of conditions including ulcers, abrasions, inflammation, and eye tissue infection.

Diagnosis is by examination, sometimes with magnification, fluorescein staining if the cornea, and tear duct assessment to survey for damage.  One study in our research reports that English Cocker Spaniels may have a genetic link, although there is no permanent conclusion.

Conservative management includes keeping the eye lubricated or even removal of the portion of the eyelid that is causing the most issue (seek a veterinary ophthalmologist for this). Electoepilation to destroy the follicles causing the issue can also help. Our first Cocker had this condition and we treated it with special lubricant with success. Each dog is different. You may not be able to even see the offending lashes.

Cocker Spaniel eyes are oh so expressive.

Eyelid Abnormalities: Entropion and Ectropion

Outward drooping or rolling of the lower eyelid describes ectropion while entropion is when all or part of the upper or lower eyelid turns itself inward. (my mnemonic device is “en” for inside).

Both conditions may have a hereditary factor, and most experts agree that breeding of these dogs should be discouraged.

Veterinary diagnosis and treatment is essential.

Of the two conditions, ectropion is the more mild one and may be managed and treated with eye drops, unless surgery is needed for ongoing issues.

Entropion may be treated with surgery, ointments, and drops. A qualified veterinary ophthalmologist should perform delicate surgeries of this nature since a risk is removing too much tissue and causing ectropion to develop.

If you made it this far, there are three other common eye issues that affect Cocker Spaniels, though there are more. These are the ones we have experienced and seen in our lifelong Cocker Spaniel passion and ownership.

Dry Eye

Painful and itchy, Cocker Spaniels affected with dry eye need veterinary help. Dry eye is what it sounds like: a drying of the tears that are needed to lubricate the eye, keep infection away, and provide the oxygen and nutrients of the eye. Without tears, the eye is compromised.

The medical term for dry eye is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).Dogs may get KCS from other infections of diseases, as a secondary problem, or from a condition of the tear glands. Even injury can cause dry eye.

One of my favorite resources, The Cocker Spaniel Owners’ Medical Manual, notes that some Cockers get dry eye while on sulfa drugs or atropine eye drops.

Diagnosis of dry eye is with the Schirmer tear test, a normal result which merits 15 mm and 25 mm per minute. Any dog that is under 5 mm per minute is a dog with dry eye.

Here is a Golden Retriever undergoing the Schirmer tear test:

Redness and inflammation are generally present in a dry eye and the eye is itchy. Medications like prednisolone acetate and Atopica may be used until tear function is restored. In the meantime, artificial tears as recommended by your Cocker’s veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist are likely to be used.

Progressive Renal Atrophy

One more eye disease that has a higher rate in the Cocker Spaniel breed is PRA (progressive renal atrophy). Night blindness and an increase in reflectivity of the retina are two signs of PRA. There is another type of renal atrophy that occurs, called central renal atrophy, but for this article we are showcasing PRA.

Early on, dogs may bump into things. Cataracts can occur in dogs with PRA, so Dr. Brown recommends an electroretinogram be done before cataract surgery in Cocker who may be blinded by PRA.

In her book, The Cocker Spaniel Handbook , Caroline Coile, Ph.D., writes, “This condition is progressive and affects both eyes. Nothing can be done to prevent or slow it. It is not painful.”

PRA progresses into day blindness and the dog will eventually go blind.

Conjunctivitis

When the mucous membranes of the eyes are inflamed, conjunctivitis occurs. Whenever the suffix -itis appears on a word, it indicates inflammation. Any number of things can cause inflammation of the conjunctivae of the eyes.

Things like dust, pollen, airborne irritants, distemper, and even other viral diseases can cause conjunctivitis. An antibiotic ointment is generally prescribed. If antibiotics do not help, the concern is a Staph infection. Overall prognosis is very good in this condition.

Cocker Eye Emergencies

Some conditions of the eye are more serious than others, just as they are in people. These are the eye emergencies Dr. Brown says require “immediate treatment by a competent veterinarian.”

Acute anterior uveitis

Acute corneal ulcer

Acute blindness

Anterior lens luxation

Blood in the eye

Bulging eye

Chemical keratitis

Corneal laceration

Descemetocele

Eye foreign body

Glaucoma

Optic neuritis

Traumatic proptosis

It is your job as a diligent dog parent to monitor your dog’s reactions, outward appearance, and behaviors. If you know what is normal, or baseline, you will be prepared when things are outside the norm.

Maintenance Products for Dog Eyes

Have a rinse/flush on hand and in first aid kit:

For maintenance and flushing a dog’s eye in general, I always have an eye rinse on hand like this one from Only Natural Pet:

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  For dry eyes, you need something to lubricate the dog’s eyes, so this is a product we have used on our Cockers under veterinary care:

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  Many dog eyes, including Cocker Spaniel eyes, get tear stains. These wipes can help:

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Vetericyn Ophthalmic Gel: Love this stuff for the eyes of my Cocker Spaniel as needed:

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Terramycin: Treats conjunctivitis and secondary bacterial inflammatory conditions of the eye – check with your vet:

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I love sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun, and these can even help your dog out in the same situation thanks to Doggles!

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  Eye Heal: Treats and Prevents Eye Infections in dogs

Puralube: Used to prevent eye dryness and to soothe irritation

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Cocker Spaniel Eyes Maintenance

Having your dog’s eyes examined with a baseline by your regular veterinarian is a start. For dogs like Cockers who have a history of known eye issues as a breed, seeing a veterinary ophthalmologist for a baseline examination can be helpful.

In addition to the Optigen test listed above, what was once called CERF (certified eye registry foundation) has evolved into the OFA Eye Evaluation. OFA is Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The OFA eye exams take place in special clinics, sometimes at a dog show, or even in veterinary offices or with a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Our dog, Dexter, went to an eye clinic several years ago (2011) as a baseline. It was held at a local firehouse and a team came through with a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist. With a few droplets of a solution in each eye, a veterinarian will assess if your dog is affected with a number of eye diseases. For breeders, this is important, as it is for dogs in the show ring. For pet parents, it is a convenient way to get a baseline on your dog’s eyes.

The OFA eye certification exam does not provide complete ocular health assessment, but it does provide a good eye screening exam. The exam is done about a half hour after pupil dilation drops are placed in the eyes.

These are the actual results from our CERF eye clinic testing.

Can Foods and Supplements Help?

There are foods that your dog can consume for overall good health, and that includes for the eyes.

Here are 7 foods that will naturally support your dog’s vision

The folks over at Natural Awakenings have some good ideas on how to include foods that are good for canine eye health.

Over at Whole Dog Journal, they write that cod liver oil has dramatically lowered intraocular pressure in rabbits, humans, and other animals, and oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax seed oil, also help lower pressure.

What about carrots? Carrots are rich in valuable vitamins and minerals. Low calorie, nutritious, and dog parents love them as an alternative to higher calorie dog treats. Of course, if you have an anti-vegite for a Cocker as I do, consider the Veg-to-Bowl food mix from Dr. Harvey’s. We have been using it for years as regular part of our dog’s diet. (it includes carrots)

Be cognizant of the size of the carrot or the piece of carrot you give your dog so that he or she does not choke on it.

Helpful Links

OPHTHALMOLOGY-RELATED WEB SITES: 

Do some more reading. We spent hours and hours researching some of our favorite Cocker Spaniel eyes and dog eyes websites, and here are a few we like and use:

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists : These are public resources and helpful links

The Blue Book (all 1,003 pages of it): A book that encompasses ocular disorders presumed to be inherited in purebred dogs

Canine Health Information Center

Eye Evaluation Criteria from the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals, as discussed above (OFA)

Eye Registration Resources from ACVO:

Geriatric Eye Changes: Normal or problem?

Not all eye changes are due to age. Sometimes puppies or young adults can get eye issues. This is why diligent dog parents need to have a baseline screening of their dog’s eyes as least yearly. If there is a breed like the Cocker Spaniel in question, it is helpful to seek the services of a veterinary ophthalmologist for a baseline screening and beyond.

The ACVO published a very helpful guide about some of the common age-related eye changes to watch for in your dog.

CLICK THIS: Your Dog Needs Bifocals Guide: Dog Geriatric Eye Changes

Conclusion

I could write an entire book on the Cocker eye, but suffice it to say that eye issues are a concern in the breed. As much as we’d like to know if our Cocker Spaniels’ vision is blurry or his eyes feel itchy, dogs just can’t tell us.

Since eye problems may or may not present themselves in a front and center fashion, we’ve outlined some preventative measures and things to ‘look out’ for in your favorite pooch/pooches:

Are your dog’s eyes frequently bloodshot, bulging, or appear swollen? Don’t use over-the-counter  human eye medications. Have those baby blues (or greens or browns) examined asap by the vet.

Although tempting, it’s not in your dog’s best interest to let his head hang out the window while riding in a car. Fragments,  dirt, and debris flying into Rover’s eyes while traveling even at a low rate of speed can cause serious damage or injury.

Does the eyelid appear to be turned inward or outward? Never attempt to fix these problems, as more damage can be done. Call the vet.

Fido face first. Since dogs tend to sniff the ground and tackle their immediate path face first, the cornea can easily be scratched. Redness, watering, and pawing at the eye may ensue.

A cloudy and/or bluing of the eyes may indicate glaucoma, so a vet visit is in order.

Any sort of growth or formation, especially if causing an inability to close the eye, requires urgent attention.

Discharge or excessive tearing may be signs of infection or a blocked tear duct or may cause irritation to underlying skin. Refer to the vet.

Disturbances in vision and/or early signs of blindness may include bumping into things and your pooch may seem confused. The earlier this is checked out , of course, the better.

Be the best dog parent you can be, and make regular eye screening and maintenance a part of your Cocker Spaniel’s regular routine.

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[ssteezyy]

Kitty Girl: When You Get The Cat You Need, Not the Cat You Want

Guest post by Rita Atkins

On a cold November day in 2001, in a parking garage in Oklahoma City, my husband and I became the forever family of a pint-sized Maine Coon mix with a jumbo-sized anger management problem.

The rescue

Wheeling my luggage through the parking garage after returning from a business trip, a small, grimy kitty who had given birth recently sat looking up at my husband and I as if to say, “Great, my ride is here!” After an unsuccessful search for her kittens, we scooped her up and loaded her into the car. We took her to a nearby vet right away for a good bath and medical treatment for infected mammary glands, which had to heal before she could be spayed. The vet told us she was six months to a year old and had probably last nursed about a week before we found her. She was also the hostess of a particularly hardy tape worm that would live with her for the next two and a half years before it simply died of old age.

We were not looking for a pet at the time. In fact, we thought at some point we wanted a dog. It wasn’t that we didn’t like cats, but neither of us were very experienced with them. We considered finding her a good home with some bona fide “cat people”, calling her Kitty Girl so as to not give her a real name and risk getting too attached.

Too late! Kitty Girl fell in love with my husband after the second day in our home. The name stuck, and so did she. To this day, over 15 years later, he is her one and only love.

Antisocial or aggressive?

Kitty Girl was, and still is, one of the prettiest cats we’ve ever seen. Her medium to long tabby with white coat, fluffy toe tufts and mane, and overall body shape (though petite) is classic Maine Coon, while her sweet round eyes and face suggest possible Siberian heritage. Regardless, she is a lovely little cat. As we soon discovered, though, her beautiful looks belied a spirit that was struggling. Not long after we declared her ours, she started displaying some aggressive tendencies, including hissing and swatting at inanimate objects that were new to her. While tolerant of people as long as they didn’t try to pet her, reaching toward her earned most a quick left hook. Not knowing any better, we attributed her antisocial behavior to simply being a cat. She definitely preferred men, making us think that maybe a woman had been unkind to her.

For the next five years or so, which included a move to Florida, then to Virginia, Kitty Girl maintained a steady pattern of being a daddy’s girl, tolerating me, and considering any other living thing something to be neutralized. People would tell us, “She’s so pretty. It’s too bad she’s so unfriendly.” We considered it just her way.

Then something happened (or maybe several somethings) that caused Kitty Girl to start becoming aggressive toward me when I did something she found out of the ordinary. Rattling dishes in the sink, tripping over something lying on the floor, or simply answering a knock at the door elicited hisses, grabbing with her claws out, and sometimes biting. She then started directing her hostility toward me if anything else upset her. My husband dropped a book, and she turned to me, hissing and swatting. Once she got over the initial hostility, she would remain upset with me for the next day or so. It was like walking on eggshells in our home, trying not to upset her. Between these events, she seemed a happy, playful cat.

When Kitty Girl was about 8 years old, we moved to New Mexico. She had taken all of our other moves in stride, and seemed to adjust well this time. Her angry spells continued, but I could recognize their onset and separate myself from her before they escalated. Then one night, I never saw it coming.

The attack

After 3 months in our new home, I walked by her, snoozing peacefully under the dining room table. Minutes later, as I brushed my teeth in the master bath, I felt something hit the back of my leg. Seemingly out of nowhere, Kitty Girl had clamped on tight with her jaws. Once I pushed her off, she repeated a pattern of attack and retreat for the next fifteen minutes or so, eyes dilated to complete blackness, ears back, and growling. Between assaults, I managed to stop the bleeding on the back of my leg (vein wounds bleed profusely), place all of her things in a spare bedroom, lure her in with some canned salmon, and close the door.

During the whole attack that night, Kitty Girl looked miserable. She was panting between growls, and her body posture was completely defensive, as if she was the one under attack. It was heart wrenching to see this beautiful cat so out of control. Kitty Girl clearly needed help, and so did we.

Getting help

The next day, my husband phoned several vet offices, most of which were at a loss as to how they could help us since Kitty Girl wasn’t having a medical issue. We finally found one office that referred us to Dr. Jeff Nichol, DVM. Dr. Nichol is a member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and specializes in behavioral medicine. After a two-hour consultation and a thorough medical exam, Dr. Nichol diagnosed Kitty Girl with fear aggression, with secondary redirected aggression toward me. He advised it would take some work, probably for the rest of her life, but there was hope that we could help her.

Dr. Nichol prescribed a combination of medication and behavioral therapy to help her be less fearful, calm herself more quickly when she gets upset, and learn that I wasn’t such a bad person to have around. Kitty Girl was started on anti-anxiety medication, which was adjusted after a few weeks to best manage her aggression while minimizing side-effects. We changed her environment to include the addition of Feliway Diffusers, an extra litter box, and devices around the yard to shoo away any interloping outdoor felines that may be upsetting her. For four weeks, I alone interacted with her. Kitty Girl and I had several play sessions each day with wand toys (Da Bird is still her favorite). I doled out treats when her behavior was calm, and ignored her if she started to get what I call “twitchy”. I also taught her “sit”, which she is still quite good at. If I notice her getting tense about something, I ask her to “sit” and give her a treat when she complies. There is a behavioral term for it, but basically it gives her something else to do so she will forget why she is mad. With applying medication and behavioral tools, things started to slowly turn around. We could tell Kitty Girl was feeling less fearful and more relaxed, and her aggression levels decreased in turn.

Based on our experience, we are tried and true believers in seeking professional intervention for behavioral problems in pets. We would have never been able to “self-diagnose” Kitty Girl’s fear aggression, or have had the knowledge and skills to work with her if we had not had her evaluated and treated by a behaviorist. Dr. Nichol became our partner in helping Kitty Girl, and though we have moved back to Virginia and she has a new veterinarian, we still keep in touch with him just to let him know how she is getting along.

Lessons learned from Kitty Girl

It has been over 7 years since she attacked me that evening, and her aggression is now mostly confined to using bad language and a swat or two. We weaned her off the medication two years ago and she is doing well, perhaps because she is much older now and has calmed with age, or perhaps she has developed better coping skills and we are more educated to help her. We still keep a bottle of her medication in the cupboard just in case she needs a little extra help, but so far, so good.

Many people over the years have told me they would have “put that cat down”. While the option was discussed with Dr. Nichol, we dismissed it as quickly as it came up. Kitty Girl is family, for better or worse. Over time, I began to think about the saying, “We get the pets we need, not necessarily the pets we want”. I mused over why I might “need” a fear aggressive ball of claws and fangs in my life, and what Kitty Girl has taught me. Maybe it’s that fear is at the root of anger issues for humans as well, including people in my own life whom I have had difficulty understanding and loving. If I work so hard to find the good in a not-always-lovable little cat, shouldn’t I be working just as hard to find the good in people, too?

Kitty Girl also has led me to volunteer work in cat rescue. Because of her, I have a soft spot for Maine Coons and for special needs cats. Kitty Girl may not be physically disabled, but her emotional fragility makes her every bit as much a special need pet.

Our Kitty Girl will always have a sassier-than-most personality, but we hope that our efforts have made her life more happy and secure than it may otherwise have been. As we often say, “She’s not a nice kitty, but she’s our kitty and we love her.”

Rita Atkins volunteers with Only Maine Coon Rescue.  The group specializes in the Maine Coon Cat breed and rescues Maine Coon Cat / Kitten mixes from shelters and unwanted situations. All of their cats are lovingly cared for in foster homes until they are adopted.

The post Kitty Girl: When You Get The Cat You Need, Not the Cat You Want appeared first on The Conscious Cat.

[bloojayoolie]

Anaconda, Beautiful, and Cats: 0 9 SUPER SWEET, PLAYFUL, HAPPY GO LUCKY BOY. SUCH A GOOFBALL! GREAT WITH PEOPLE&OTHER DOGS TOO! A FUN LOVING YOUNGSTER TO BE KILLED 3/2/19 Beautiful, happy, and incredibly sweet, Gotti is a fun loving, playful youngster who adores everyone he meets. He is a veritable rock star in doggy playgroup, where he “wows” the ladies with his athletic skills and bouncy play style. We think he came to the shelter with another pup named Milo, but he hasn’t missed a beat during his stay at the care center. He seems to make friends easily, and his goofy, silly ways are so appealing and adorable that the volunteers have fallen in love with him. If you can give him a home, whether by fostering or adopting, hurry and PM our page or email us at MustLoveDogsNYC@gmail.com for assistance. MY VIDEO! Gotti and his lady friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FTf4-sBvM GOTTI, ID# 55090, 2 Yrs old, 54 lbs, Unaltered Male Manhattan ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Taupe / White Owner Surrender Reason: I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 17-Feb-2019, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- homeless. Shelter Assessment Rating: Medical Behavior Rating: I may have come to the shelter with Milo, ID 55091: https://ift.tt/2GSxq1y SURRENDER NOTES - Basic InformationGotti is a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 2 years old. Gotti needed to be surrendered because the owner is homeless. He previously lived with 1 Adult 1 Dog (Milo, also at shelter). Gotti barks and lunges at strangers. It takes time for Gotti to become adjusted to new people, but will become friendly once comfortable. No children living in previous household, but is friendly and playful with the owners two children of the ages 10 and 11 years old. Gotti lived with a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 1 years old. Both together are very playful. No cats in previous home. Gotti is not bothered when the client touches his food bowl while eating. Gotti is also not bothered when the client takes away a bone, treat, or toy away. Gotti did not bite or scratch a person or animal in previous home. He is housetraianed and has a high energy level - playful and protective. Gotti has never had any medical issues and has no known medical concerns. For a New Family to Know: Gotti will bark and lunge at strangers until comfortable. Gotti has a high energy level and is very playful and also protective of the owner. Gotti enjoys playing with balls, stuffed toys, rope and squeaky toys. Gotti is an indoor dog but is taken out for walks twice a day. The owner stated he takes Gotti and Milo out for walks once during the day and once during the night to avoid strangers. Gotti was fed Forest Blue Buffalo wet and dry food and was fed twice a day. Gotti is crate trained and sleeps inside his crate for about 7 hours a day. Gotti is house trained and rarely has accidents in the home. Gotti pulls very hard and also knows how to sit. INTAKE NOTES - DATE OF INTAKE, 2/17/2019: Unable to collar or scan for a microchip because Gotti lunged and hard barked at me when I approached. SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment: 19-Feb-2019 LEASH WALKING Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: None SOCIABILITY Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Sniffing room, checks in, comes over when called HANDLING Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Body soft, stands still AROUSAL Jog: Follows (loose) Arousal comments: None Knock: Approaches (exuberant) Knock Comments: Jumps up socially Toy: No response Toy comments: None PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARIES: Gotti was reported to behave playfully with the other dog in the previous home. 2/18: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Gotti is initially tense and uncomfortable with approach. After exchanging greeting, Gotti appears softer, more comfortable, and engages in gentle play. 2/19-21: Gotti is soft and social with female dogs, engaging in brief bouts of bouncy play. INTAKE BEHAVIOR - Date of intake: 17-Feb-2019 Summary: Lunged and barked ENERGY LEVEL: Gotti is described as having a high level of activity. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: Level 3 Behavior Asilomar TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations: No children (under 13) Recommendations comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. For this reason, we recommend an adult only home. Potential challenges: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression Potential challenges comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. MEDICAL EXAM NOTES 22-Feb-2019 Spay/Neuter Summary Post Surgery Note: 11:36 AM Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by ASPCA. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision. Start 1 tablet carprofen 100 mg sid po x 2 days as pain management 21-Feb-2019 Progress Exam Vet Notes: 1:45 PM per behavior, adding trazodone Trazodone 100mg tablet -- give 2.5 tablets PO q12h while in shelter 19-Feb-2019 DVM Intake Vet Notes: 11:33 AM DVM Intake Exam Estimated age:3-4 years based on dental condition Microchip noted on Intake? yes Microchip Number (If Applicable): 981 020 017 365 047 History : tail between legs; h/o reactivity Observed Behavior - dilated eyes and lip smacking; liked to have rear end against the wall even when moved to the side and away from the dog; would easily get attention with cheese reward Evidence of Cruelty seen - no Evidence of Trauma seen - no Objective BCS- 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears- sl tan dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled; mild tartar PLN: shotty popliteals noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI with 2 down MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, hair coat- areas of partial alopecia on dorsum; woods lamp negative on presentation CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment r/o allergies (environmental vs food vs other) vs demodex Prognosis: good Plan: simplicef- 200mg po q 24hrs x 21 d's skin scrape multiple places- negative SURGERY: Okay for surgery *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: https://newhope.shelterbuddy.com/Animal/List Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications.

[bloojayoolie]

Anaconda, Beautiful, and Cats: 0 9 SUPER SWEET, PLAYFUL, HAPPY GO LUCKY BOY. SUCH A GOOFBALL! GREAT WITH PEOPLE&OTHER DOGS TOO! A FUN LOVING YOUNGSTER TO BE KILLED 3/2/19 Beautiful, happy, and incredibly sweet, Gotti is a fun loving, playful youngster who adores everyone he meets. He is a veritable rock star in doggy playgroup, where he “wows” the ladies with his athletic skills and bouncy play style. We think he came to the shelter with another pup named Milo, but he hasn’t missed a beat during his stay at the care center. He seems to make friends easily, and his goofy, silly ways are so appealing and adorable that the volunteers have fallen in love with him. If you can give him a home, whether by fostering or adopting, hurry and PM our page or email us at MustLoveDogsNYC@gmail.com for assistance. MY VIDEO! Gotti and his lady friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FTf4-sBvM GOTTI, ID# 55090, 2 Yrs old, 54 lbs, Unaltered Male Manhattan ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Taupe / White Owner Surrender Reason: Shelter Assessment Rating: Medical Behavior Rating: I may have come to the shelter with Milo, ID 55091: https://ift.tt/2GSxq1y SURRENDER NOTES - Basic InformationGotti is a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 2 years old. Gotti needed to be surrendered because the owner is homeless. He previously lived with 1 Adult 1 Dog (Milo, also at shelter). Gotti barks and lunges at strangers. It takes time for Gotti to become adjusted to new people, but will become friendly once comfortable. No children living in previous household, but is friendly and playful with the owners two children of the ages 10 and 11 years old. Gotti lived with a medium mixed breed male estimated to be 1 years old. Both together are very playful. No cats in previous home. Gotti is not bothered when the client touches his food bowl while eating. Gotti is also not bothered when the client takes away a bone, treat, or toy away. Gotti did not bite or scratch a person or animal in previous home. He is housetraianed and has a high energy level - playful and protective. Gotti has never had any medical issues and has no known medical concerns. For a New Family to Know: Gotti will bark and lunge at strangers until comfortable. Gotti has a high energy level and is very playful and also protective of the owner. Gotti enjoys playing with balls, stuffed toys, rope and squeaky toys. Gotti is an indoor dog but is taken out for walks twice a day. The owner stated he takes Gotti and Milo out for walks once during the day and once during the night to avoid strangers. Gotti was fed Forest Blue Buffalo wet and dry food and was fed twice a day. Gotti is crate trained and sleeps inside his crate for about 7 hours a day. Gotti is house trained and rarely has accidents in the home. Gotti pulls very hard and also knows how to sit. INTAKE NOTES - DATE OF INTAKE, 2/17/2019: Unable to collar or scan for a microchip because Gotti lunged and hard barked at me when I approached. SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment: 19-Feb-2019 LEASH WALKING Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: None SOCIABILITY Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Sniffing room, checks in, comes over when called HANDLING Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Body soft, stands still AROUSAL Jog: Follows (loose) Arousal comments: None Knock: Approaches (exuberant) Knock Comments: Jumps up socially Toy: No response Toy comments: None PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARIES: Gotti was reported to behave playfully with the other dog in the previous home. 2/18: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Gotti is initially tense and uncomfortable with approach. After exchanging greeting, Gotti appears softer, more comfortable, and engages in gentle play. 2/19-21: Gotti is soft and social with female dogs, engaging in brief bouts of bouncy play. INTAKE BEHAVIOR - Date of intake: 17-Feb-2019 Summary: Lunged and barked ENERGY LEVEL: Gotti is described as having a high level of activity. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: Level 3 Behavior Asilomar TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations: No children (under 13) Recommendations comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. For this reason, we recommend an adult only home. Potential challenges: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression Potential challenges comments: Gotti is reported to lunge and bark at new people. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. MEDICAL EXAM NOTES 22-Feb-2019 Spay/Neuter Summary Post Surgery Note: 11:36 AM Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by ASPCA. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision. Start 1 tablet carprofen 100 mg sid po x 2 days as pain management 21-Feb-2019 Progress Exam Vet Notes: 1:45 PM per behavior, adding trazodone Trazodone 100mg tablet -- give 2.5 tablets PO q12h while in shelter 19-Feb-2019 DVM Intake Vet Notes: 11:33 AM DVM Intake Exam Estimated age:3-4 years based on dental condition Microchip noted on Intake? yes Microchip Number (If Applicable): 981 020 017 365 047 History : owner surrender due to destructive tendencies at home Subjective: tail between legs; h/o reactivity Observed Behavior - dilated eyes and lip smacking; liked to have rear end against the wall even when moved to the side and away from the dog; would easily get attention with cheese reward Evidence of Cruelty seen - no Evidence of Trauma seen - no Objective BCS- 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears- sl tan dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled; mild tartar PLN: shotty popliteals noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI with 2 down MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, hair coat- areas of partial alopecia on dorsum; woods lamp negative on presentation CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment r/o allergies (environmental vs food vs other) vs demodex Prognosis: good Plan: simplicef- 200mg po q 24hrs x 21 d's skin scrape multiple places- negative SURGERY: Okay for surgery *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: https://newhope.shelterbuddy.com/Animal/List Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications.

[talabib]

How To Combat Worry And Have stress-free Life

Worrying is bad for your health and happiness. What’s more, it usually doesn’t achieve anything either. Not exactly an attractive package, is it?

But sometimes it’s just impossible to help yourself. You lie awake at night fretting, your mind and heart racing. Come morning, everything’s as you left it, except the bags under your eyes are that little bit bigger.

This is all down to our evolutionary hardwiring. Our ancestors’ survival depended on constant vigilance. Worrying was pretty useful when there was a good chance you’d stumble across a saber-toothed tiger!

Unfortunately, the human brain isn’t very good at telling the difference between a beast of prey and a board meeting – that’s what makes stress so common in today’s world.

But there’s a way to break out of this vicious cycle. Structured around a series of small steps that make a big difference, this is the ultimate guide to getting in touch with your rational brain and putting your worries behind you.

Worrying, anxiety and stress are all part of a cycle that can affect your health.

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, fretting about an upcoming presentation? Worries can quickly snowball out of control. The key to combating them is remembering this simple motto: “Stop before you spiral.”

Worrying is part of a cycle, where the next stops are anxiety and stress. More precisely, worrying is a mode of thinking that leads to anxiety. That, in turn, triggers your body’s survival instinct – a series of physical reactions that fall under the category of stress. These can include heart palpitations, dilated pupils and a tightened chest.

Worry, anxiety and stress form a feedback loop. Worrying is both a cause and effect of anxiety or stress, and the cycle can be triggered at any stage. Stress can lead to anxiety and worry, while anxiety can also cause worry and stress.

During a holiday in northwest England, Paul and his wife heard a seemingly vicious dog barking from behind a hedge. Fearing an imminent attack, the couple’s “fight or flight” instinct kicked in.

In other words, the barking caused stress while their fear of an attack caused anxiety. Fretting about finding a quick escape route made them worry. It turned out that the Paul had merely imagined that the dog was prowling around without an owner or a leash, as he felt immediately threatened by the unknown growls.

Once you get stuck in this cycle, it starts taking its toll on your quality of life. There are a number of physical symptoms. Stress weakens your immune system and leaves you more susceptible to illnesses, as well as decreasing your sex drive.

Mentally, the cycle robs you of the valuable headspace you need to make sound decisions. To put it starkly, stress makes you stupid, as you’re constantly reacting to a threatening world rather than acting rationally.

Most importantly, you lose the ability to simply enjoy the present moment when you’re stuck in this kind of feedback loop. When you’re constantly preoccupied by worst-case scenarios, you lose your sense of motivation and creative inspiration.

Now that we’ve seen how worrying is linked to anxiety and stress, we’ll take a closer look at the root causes of your worries.

Whether it’s past experiences or a fear of the unknown, confront the cause of your worries.

What’s worrying you? Is it a performance review at work? Or making this month’s rent? Worry comes in all shapes and sizes, but the root causes are often surprisingly simple.

One of the main reasons people worry is their past. Many worriers were conditioned to be anxious during their childhoods. Take your upbringing: your parents’ endless reminders to wrap up warm during winter if you didn’t want to “freeze to death” can take their toll.

There’s even evidence that worried parents can transmit stress to their babies during pregnancy!

Painful experiences are another common cause of worry. Whether it was a car accident or an abusive relationship, what happened to you in the past can shape how you deal with the world in the present.

Past experiences can often manifest themselves as hypersensitivity to potential danger. James’s daughter, for example, was bitten by a dog when she was three. Ever since, dogs have been a constant source of anxiety for her.

It means that one of the first steps to conquering your worries is becoming aware of the way events trigger memories of your past.

Then there’s the fear of the unknown – one of the most powerful causes of worry. Life is unpredictable. Jobs, careers and relationships are all subject to the whims of fickle fortune. That’s what makes stability, security and the familiar so comforting. It’s also what makes questions like “How am I going to pay the rent?” or “Will I ever be successful?” so agonizing.

The unknown is worrying because it’s beyond your personal control. It’s frustrating to feel like you don’t have your destiny in your own hands and have to rely on others.

Formula 1 drivers know all about this. The most stressful part of a race is the pitstop – it’s the one time they’re not truly in control. The outcome of the race suddenly depends on others doing their jobs properly.

But you don’t need to be a Formula 1 driver to feel like life is one big, stressful race. Uncertainty is worrying about whatever circumstances you find yourself in.

Luckily, there’s a way out. When you get to know yourself better and ask yourself why you’re worrying, you’re much more likely to be able to put things in perspective, and that’s a great basis for tackling your worries rationally.

Your rational brain tries to reign in the worries stemming from your primitive and emotional brains.

If you find yourself worrying away about something, blame your brain’s basic survival instinct. Humans are evolutionarily hardwired to detect danger and respond appropriately. That’s what happens when a species spends its infancy avoiding various predators.

Worry is located in the primitive and emotional parts of your brain.

The primitive brain is located deep within your subconscious and controls the “flight or fight” stress response. Its main job is keeping you alive, but it also monitors your nutritional needs and sex drive.

The emotional brain works together with the primitive brain. Together, they release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline during moments of intense stress, which boost your energy levels as well as feelings like excitement, anxiety and fear.

Worrying is part of the survival strategy of these two areas of the brain. By making sure you’re always on high alert, they keep you ready to fight for your life or flee danger.

That obviously makes a lot of sense if you’re battling for survival out on the savannah. In today’s world, however, you’re much less likely to encounter predators than a stressful board meeting.

But the primitive and emotional brains just aren’t very good at telling the difference between the two. As far as they’re concerned, one is just as dangerous as the other, which is why the human body overreacts to everyday events. In other words, these brains are serial worriers.

The rational brain, by contrast, helps keep worries in check. Located in the higher brain – or neocortex – it’s responsible for problem-solving, memory and other complex tasks. It’s this part of the brain that lets you accurately assess the world around you and make sound decisions on the basis of that information.

You can train yourself to tap into the rational brain when your worries are spiraling out of control. Think back to the last time you jumped to conclusions or overreacted, and ask yourself what someone who was more rational would’ve done.

One night, Paul and his friend became convinced that slugs had invaded their garden, and so they started sprinkling salt over them. But in the cold light of day, they realized that they’d spent hours salting leaves that looked like slugs!

That’s a great example of what happens when the emotional brain is in the driver’s seat. If they’d acted more rationally, they’d have waited until morning to see if their suspicions were well-founded before taking action.

Awareness is the first of three steps that’ll let you start tackling your worries rationally.

This exercise is all about increasing your self-awareness. Essentially, it’s a way of tracking a worry down to its source. Here’s how you do it: Ask yourself “Where is my worry coming from?” Next, sort your worry into one of three categories – situational, anticipatory or residual stress.

Situational stress is a form of anxiety related to what’s happening in the present. That could be anything from your health to a conflict with your spouse or coworker.

Then there’s anticipatory stress: This is the anxiety you feel when you’re thinking about the future. An upcoming exam, presentation or interviews are all likely to trigger it.

Residual stress pertains to the past. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a good example of a particularly severe form of residual stress.

So what does reflecting on the nature of your worry actually achieve? Well, categorizing your worries allows you to better scrutinize the source of your stress. It short-circuits mindless anxiety and puts you in a position to calmly ask yourself “Why do I feel this way?”

Once you start doing that, you’ll get a better sense of the kinds of things that trouble you most. That’s an important first step. Awareness means you’re already halfway to tackling the source of your anxiety.

Analyse your worries to understand their root cause.

First, the good news. If you’ve made it this far, you’re well on your way to confronting your worries head on!

Let’s start by sorting out the worries which are simply too hysterical to entertain. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to knuckle down and start doing something about the remaining worries.

The sorting process is all about reflecting on the root cause of individual worries. That means asking whether they’re historical, hysterical or helpful.

Historical worries are a form of anxiety that mirror your experiences in the past. Say you were mugged while walking home one night. If you find yourself worrying as you walk down a dark street, chances are that the prior experience is the cause of your worry.

Pretty rational, right? Hysterical worry is the exact opposite – it’s deeply irrational. It’s the kind of anxiety that makes you fret about shark attacks, plane crashes or contracting an STD from a public toilet.

Finally, there’s helpful worry – a form of rational behavior. This kind of worry is caused by reflecting on a real problem, such as a performance review at work or an end-of-year thesis presentation at university.

Now you’ve sorted your worries into separate categories, it’s time to ask what you can do about them. If you’re preoccupied by a historical worry, your best bet is to seek emotional support and move on.

Childhood trauma and failed relationships can leave deep emotional scars. In serious cases like these, it’s advisable to turn to a therapist, counselor, friend or colleague. Whoever you choose, the most important thing is to find an outlet for your emotions.

Letting your feelings out doesn’t just make you feel better, it also helps provide clarity about the source of the anxiety that’s been bugging you. More importantly, it sets you up to let go of old grudges and devote your attention to the future.

What about hysterical worry? The key here is to contextualize your anxiety by looking at relevant statistics and interrupting your own thought process.

You can always look up the data. The chances of being mauled by a shark – or struck by lightning, murdered by an intruder or contracting an STD from a public toilet – are vanishingly small.

You can also challenge your own thought processes by asking yourself how often your predictions have come true. Not that often? Perhaps it’s best to put the crystal ball away and free up some headspace for more important matters!

The final step to tackling worry is taking action and focusing on outcomes you can influence.

If you think the world is beyond your control, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. You’re actually much more influential than you give yourself credit for!

That doesn’t mean you can control everything, of course. The key is to identify the outcomes you do have some influence over and focus your energies there.

Take it from Stephen R. Covey, the author of the influential book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

In his book, Covey notes that everyone has worries. Some people worry about their health, others about work, relationships or the weather. The problem isn’t necessarily worrying, but the fact that so many people fret about things they can’t do anything about.

Think of the difference between worrying about a terrorist attack and a work presentation: you can affect the latter by working hard and preparing yourself properly, but there’s nothing you can do about the former

In other words, some worries can be addressed while others can’t. If you want to take action, it’s a good idea to start by assessing the nature of your helpful worries. Use a sliding scale of zero to ten – zero means you have no control whatsoever, while ten means you’re fully capable of determining the outcome.

Once you’ve done that, you can start ranking your worries. Focus your time and energy on solving the ones which rank highest in terms of your influence over them.

Assessing how much control you have is important because attitude is a huge factor. The more influence you perceive yourself as having, the more likely you are to take action.

McGee, experienced this firsthand a couple of years ago. The company he was working for was about to close down and let its staff go. Some of his coworkers were convinced they could shape their own future and began landing new jobs or starting their own businesses. Meanwhile, most colleagues who believed they didn’t have any control over their lives felt defeated and ended up taking lower-paying jobs.

But don’t just take his word for it. A scientific study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology confirms as much. It showed that optimistic people who regularly overestimate their influence are less likely to suffer from depression than those with a more realistic view.

In other words, there’s nothing wrong with thinking the glass is half-full. What’s even better is getting out there and filling the rest up yourself!

Your imagination is a powerful tool that can both trigger and alleviate worrying.

You’ve probably come across the old “imagine the crowd naked” trick that’s used to calm your nerves when giving a speech. There’s a reason it’s recommended so often – it really does work!

That’s a great example of how applying the powers of your imagination can help reduce anxiety.

No wonder – the imagination is a powerful tool. But it’s just as capable of triggering worry and stress as it is of calming you down.

Humans are pretty unique in this respect – no other animal experiences stress triggered solely in its mind. Hypothetical events don’t bother antelopes or whales.

The human mind, by contrast, can conjure all sorts of scarily real scenarios. Close your eyes and imagine giving a trainwreck of a presentation: maybe you spill your coffee, or the slideshow freezes, or you forget what you wanted to say.

Just thinking about this humiliating fantasy is enough to make you feel anxious, right? That’s because, as noted earlier, the primitive brain can’t distinguish between real stressors in the present and imagined stressors in the future. Hypothetical events trigger the same “fight or flight” reactions as actual events.

But the imagination can also be put to more productive uses. In fact, it’s a great assistant in the fight against worry and anxiety.

So how can you harness its positive powers? Instead of mulling over stressful outcomes to “what if” scenarios, ask yourself how you can influence the outcome.

Take a cue from a woman who went to a coach for life coaching. Anna became unbearably shy, nervous and worried whenever she had to speak in public. McGee asked her to pick a role model she could imagine herself as next time she gave a presentation.

During her next presentation, Anna imagined herself as Madonna, a self-confident woman who’s performed in public a million times. The trick worked. By channeling Madonna’s fearlessness, she was able to overcome her anxieties.

Another handy idea is to imagine four advisors you can ask for assistance in important areas like work, health and relationships.

Next time you find yourself worrying about a problem, turn to your counselors for assistance. What, for example, would the Dalai Lama say about this particular quandary?

And remember, just because Anna pretended to be Madonna, doesn’t mean you have to as well. Maybe you want to be Beyoncé, or Barack Obama. That’s the wonderful thing about the imagination – its powers are unlimited!

Change your personal worry triggers, stop trying to please others and learn to ask for help.

You’re usually your own harshest critic, and there’s nothing critics love more than anxieties. So lighten up and take a load off.

Easier said than done? Maybe, but there are some effective bits of advice you can start putting into action today.

Here’s a good place to start: stop putting yourself down!

Think of it this way: You wouldn’t tolerate someone else constantly criticizing and undermining you, so why should you put up with it just because you’re the one doing it? Self-deprecation is a surefire way of boosting your worries and anxieties.

That’s because it makes your problems seem insurmountable. As soon as you start doubting yourself, you lose your ability to look at the world rationally and make sound choices.

Imagine a professional athlete telling herself she shouldn’t even try something because she don’t have a chance of winning. It’s easy to see how that would affect her performance, right?

The next step is to stop trying to please everyone around you.

Worries are often rooted in personal relationships. People want to please their friends and families and avoid rejection, criticism or confrontation, and that often means losing sight of their own happiness.

Say you’re trying on clothes in a shop. What’s your first question – do you like the way that shirt looks or are you thinking about what your friends might think? That might be a trivial example, but the same frame of mind can determine your choice of career, school or partner.

Finally, learn to ask for help when you need it, rather than trying to go it alone.

Many people, especially men, tend to hide their problems, deny their worries or try to sort out their issues alone, and that’s often because they don’t want to appear weak. But as strong as that might make you feel now, it’s not a sustainable solution.

If you’re worried about something, swallow your pride and ask for help and advice. There are plenty of people you can turn to, whether it’s a partner, counselor, boss, colleague or trusted friend.

So that’s your roadmap to defeating worry, stress and anxiety. Time to kick back and start enjoying life!

Worry, stress and anxiety are part of a cycle that’s bad for your health and happiness. The best way to get out of this feedback loop is to analyze the source and nature of your worries. Once you begin categorizing them, you can sort out baseless and unhelpful worries and start doing something about the things you can actually influence.

[ronaldmorton]

Problems and Solutions with Cocker Spaniel Eyes

Eyes of melted chocolate: This is the way many describe the Cocker Spaniel eye. Those gorgeous eyes also come with their fair share of difficulties. Here is your guide to problems and solutions with Cocker Spaniel eyes. (note: Most of this information applies to all breeds of dogs and mixed pooches, so read on):

The Basic Anatomy of Cocker Spaniel Eyes

  Eyelids and Eyelashes: This is the outermost portion of the dog’s eye anatomy. The eyelids and eyelashes keep debris and dust out and they also help with the cotnrol of light rays entering the eyes.

Conjunctiva: A thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers the sclera. Sometimes when there is an eye injury or respiratory issue, the conjunctiva becomes inflamed. The conjunctiva is thin and located near the front of the eye.

Sclera: The whites of the eyes, and this is something we as humans have in common with dogs: We both have whites of our eyes.

Iris: This area is responsible for the amount of light that enters the dog’s eye. Looking at the dog’s eye as above, the dark center is the pupil, the colored ring is the iris and outside of that the white sclera is located.

Pupil: The darkened black part of the eye that dilates or constricts to either allow more or less light to enter the eye. In the dark, the pupil dilates whereas it constricts in a lighter environment.

Common Cocker Spaniel Eyes Problems

Glaucoma

Glaucoma deals with the fluid in a dog’s eye. Unfortunately, Cocker Spaniels are among the breeds most affected by glaucoma. All eyes have a certain level of pressure to maintain, called intraocular pressure. Glaucoma causes an increase in the intraocular pressure. As the disease takes hold, pressures build and most often, there are no outward symptoms until there is extensive eye damage.

There are four levels of glaucoma based on the stage of the disease: Class IV is very early glaucoma and Class I means the eye is enlarged and the eye is blind.

A stable intraocular pressure in a normal eye is 15-25 mmHg. There are both primary and secondary types of glaucoma, which a qualified ophthalmologist can discern.

Diagnosing glaucoma includes:

Measuring the intraocular pressure

Visually examining the drainage angle via gonioscopy (Note: gonioscopy is the only test available to diagnose closed-angle glaucoma or hereditary narrow glaucoma).

Symptoms of glaucoma:

Excessive tearing

Yellow or green eye discharge

Red eye

Pupil enlarged and does not move with light shone on it

Frightened pet or pet who is irritable (due to pain) – they may even snap or bite

Keep reading because we will share what you as the pet parent can do and how to stay one step ahead of this eye disease and others to keep your pet’s vision as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

CLICK THIS: Here is an image of acute glaucoma in an American Cocker Spaniel, with an intraocular pressure of 55 mmHg in the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Cataracts

Do you see a cloudy haze forming on your Cocker Spaniel’s eyes? It might be cataracts. Simply stated, cataracts cloud your dog’s lens. Sadly, Cocker Spaniels are one of the breeds with a higher than usual propensity to develop cataracts.

Inherited cataracts generally appear between the ages of one and four years. The spot on the eye with the cataract is an area the dog cannot see through. Cataracts may stay as a mild form and not enlarge while other times they can grow slowly or even cause blindness or lead to other eye problems.

Unless the lens of the eye is surgically removed, there is no universal cure.

Diagnosing cataracts includes:

A complete ophthalmologic examination, which will assess if the dog has vision loss and if there is any other eye issue(s) or nuclear sclerosis occurring.

Symptoms of glaucoma:

Cloudiness on the eye, which may appear whitish, blue, or grey

Bumping into things, seemingly not aware something was there; walking with nose to ground in some dogs

Diabetes mellitus may cause cataracts, and if this is the case, increased water consumption (polydipsia) with increased urination (polyuria) may result.

Do not let a cataract go without being managed, assessed, and treated by the dog’s veterinarian, or even better, a veterinary ophthalmologist you see at least yearly.

Cataracts that are untreated can slip (luxate), flat around the eye, block fluid from draining, and even lead to glaucoma and blindness. Cataracts that are untreated and begin to dissolve can cause terrible pain and/or eye inflammation.  Read more about older dogs and cataracts.

Knowing what a normal eye looks like in your dog will help in potentially seeing an issue in the eye.

Optigen and Cataracts

So prevalent are cataracts in Cocker Spaniels that a molecular genetic study of inherited cataracts in the Cocker Spaniel has been underway.

Cocker Spaniel parents simply take their dog to have their eyes examined and submit a blood sample to help find a DNA marker to eliminate cataracts in Cockers. This, in turn, helps humans who are affected by cataracts.

Interested Cocker parents can call OptiGen at 607-257-0301 or email at genetest@optigen.com for questions about sample submission. Also, visit the Optigen website for complete details.

According to long-time Cocker mom and pro, Debi Lampert Rudman, “There is NO SUCH THING as PERMANENTLY CLEAR cockers. Yes – you read that right.”

She says that the term “permanently clear” with regards to the eyes of a Cocker Spaniel was “made up by cocker breeders many years ago as something to say when their 8 year old cocker had a good clear eye exam.” However, Rudman says it is not a medical term.

When Rudman recently attended an eye clinic for Cockers, Dr. Gustavo Aguirre at the University of Pennsylvania, told her that no other breeds use that term. In fact, he says the term “permanently clear” has been a major contributor to the current eye problems in the Cocker Spaniel breed overall.

The Merck Vet Manual says that in dogs, cataracts that are secondary related to diabetes mellitus are increasingly common.

So why say it at all? Rudman shares that when Cocker eyes are not tested beyond 2 to 4 years of age, those dogs are being bred with the potential for hereditary cataracts. The older dogs are perfect candidates and carry a great wealth of knowledge to the DNA cataract marker research.

Have your older Cocker Spaniels tested for sure and send results with the form to Optigen.

Don’t use the term “permanently clear” she says.

CLICK THIS: Images of cataracts in a dog from the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Cherry Eye

We have way too much experience with this anomaly of the Cocker Spaniel eye: Our first Cocker Spaniel had this condition in both eyes.

All dogs have a third eyelid and this is completely normal. That third eyelid is called the nictating membrane, or sometimes the “haw.” The pigmentation of the haw varies in dogs, but one thing is for sure: There seems to be a higher than normal rate of Cocker Spaniels affected with cherry eye, dubbed so for the cherry looking nature of the gland when it protrudes.

It can be painful if left untreated because this gland is exposed and can get irritated or inflamed. It may also itch the dog, and as dogs do, he will rub his face on something to try and stop the itch. The gland is also responsible for tear production, so the dog is at risk for issues with that if not addressed.

Diagnosis and symptoms can be made by a qualified veterinarian. Back in the 1990s when our first Cocker had cherry eye bilaterally (both eyes), the treatment then was drops. Drops did not work and so the vet actually removed both glands under anesthesia. This procedure is no longer the norm, and it can cause a flurry of other issues: Namely dry eye and the problems that arise from it.

CLICK THIS: A complete slide show of dogs (including a Cocker) with cherry eye can be found at this veterinary website.

Our dog’s littermate, McGee, had cherry eye in his first 2 years of life, which was corrected by tacking (suturing) the gland back into place.

Every now and then, my dog’s third eyelid pops out and I have learned a technique to pop it back into place. It is rare that this happens, so I do not recommend you poke around your dog’s eyes and put your fingers near him unless you are certain what you are doing and why.

This is the video I discovered years ago that helped me massage the gland back into place. Keep reading, there are products to help, too!

Eyelashes: Distichiasis

Those beautiful Cocker Spaniel eyelashes can also be the source of problems if the dog is affected with distichiasis. Dye to the direction the eyelashes grow, they may touch the eyeball surface. Due to this and how harsh the contact is, dogs can suffer from any number of conditions including ulcers, abrasions, inflammation, and eye tissue infection.

Diagnosis is by examination, sometimes with magnification, fluorescein staining if the cornea, and tear duct assessment to survey for damage.  One study in our research reports that English Cocker Spaniels may have a genetic link, although there is no permanent conclusion.

Conservative management includes keeping the eye lubricated or even removal of the portion of the eyelid that is causing the most issue (seek a veterinary ophthalmologist for this). Electoepilation to destroy the follicles causing the issue can also help. Our first Cocker had this condition and we treated it with special lubricant with success. Each dog is different. You may not be able to even see the offending lashes.

Cocker Spaniel eyes are oh so expressive.

Eyelid Abnormalities: Entropion and Ectropion

Outward drooping or rolling of the lower eyelid describes ectropion while entropion is when all or part of the upper or lower eyelid turns itself inward. (my mnemonic device is “en” for inside).

Both conditions may have a hereditary factor, and most experts agree that breeding of these dogs should be discouraged.

Veterinary diagnosis and treatment is essential.

Of the two conditions, ectropion is the more mild one and may be managed and treated with eye drops, unless surgery is needed for ongoing issues.

Entropion may be treated with surgery, ointments, and drops. A qualified veterinary ophthalmologist should perform delicate surgeries of this nature since a risk is removing too much tissue and causing ectropion to develop.

If you made it this far, there are three other common eye issues that affect Cocker Spaniels, though there are more. These are the ones we have experienced and seen in our lifelong Cocker Spaniel passion and ownership.

Dry Eye

Painful and itchy, Cocker Spaniels affected with dry eye need veterinary help. Dry eye is what it sounds like: a drying of the tears that are needed to lubricate the eye, keep infection away, and provide the oxygen and nutrients of the eye. Without tears, the eye is compromised.

The medical term for dry eye is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).Dogs may get KCS from other infections of diseases, as a secondary problem, or from a condition of the tear glands. Even injury can cause dry eye.

One of my favorite resources, The Cocker Spaniel Owners’ Medical Manual, notes that some Cockers get dry eye while on sulfa drugs or atropine eye drops.

Diagnosis of dry eye is with the Schirmer tear test, a normal result which merits 15 mm and 25 mm per minute. Any dog that is under 5 mm per minute is a dog with dry eye.

Here is a Golden Retriever undergoing the Schirmer tear test:

Redness and inflammation are generally present in a dry eye and the eye is itchy. Medications like prednisolone acetate and Atopica may be used until tear function is restored. In the meantime, artificial tears as recommended by your Cocker’s veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist are likely to be used.

Progressive Renal Atrophy

One more eye disease that has a higher rate in the Cocker Spaniel breed is PRA (progressive renal atrophy). Night blindness and an increase in reflectivity of the retina are two signs of PRA. There is another type of renal atrophy that occurs, called central renal atrophy, but for this article we are showcasing PRA.

Early on, dogs may bump into things. Cataracts can occur in dogs with PRA, so Dr. Brown recommends an electroretinogram be done before cataract surgery in Cocker who may be blinded by PRA.

In her book, The Cocker Spaniel Handbook , Caroline Coile, Ph.D., writes, “This condition is progressive and affects both eyes. Nothing can be done to prevent or slow it. It is not painful.”

PRA progresses into day blindness and the dog will eventually go blind.

Conjunctivitis

When the mucous membranes of the eyes are inflamed, conjunctivitis occurs. Whenever the suffix -itis appears on a word, it indicates inflammation. Any number of things can cause inflammation of the conjunctivae of the eyes.

Things like dust, pollen, airborne irritants, distemper, and even other viral diseases can cause conjunctivitis. An antibiotic ointment is generally prescribed. If antibiotics do not help, the concern is a Staph infection. Overall prognosis is very good in this condition.

Cocker Eye Emergencies

Some conditions of the eye are more serious than others, just as they are in people. These are the eye emergencies Dr. Brown says require “immediate treatment by a competent veterinarian.”

Acute anterior uveitis

Acute corneal ulcer

Acute blindness

Anterior lens luxation

Blood in the eye

Bulging eye

Chemical keratitis

Corneal laceration

Descemetocele

Eye foreign body

Glaucoma

Optic neuritis

Traumatic proptosis

It is your job as a diligent dog parent to monitor your dog’s reactions, outward appearance, and behaviors. If you know what is normal, or baseline, you will be prepared when things are outside the norm.

Maintenance Products for Dog Eyes

Have a rinse/flush on hand and in first aid kit:

For maintenance and flushing a dog’s eye in general, I always have an eye rinse on hand like this one from Only Natural Pet:

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  For dry eyes, you need something to lubricate the dog’s eyes, so this is a product we have used on our Cockers under veterinary care:

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  Many dog eyes, including Cocker Spaniel eyes, get tear stains. These wipes can help:

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Vetericyn Ophthalmic Gel: Love this stuff for the eyes of my Cocker Spaniel as needed:

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Terramycin: Treats conjunctivitis and secondary bacterial inflammatory conditions of the eye – check with your vet:

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I love sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun, and these can even help your dog out in the same situation thanks to Doggles!

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  Eye Heal: Treats and Prevents Eye Infections in dogs

Puralube: Used to prevent eye dryness and to soothe irritation

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Cocker Spaniel Eyes Maintenance

Having your dog’s eyes examined with a baseline by your regular veterinarian is a start. For dogs like Cockers who have a history of known eye issues as a breed, seeing a veterinary ophthalmologist for a baseline examination can be helpful.

In addition to the Optigen test listed above, what was once called CERF (certified eye registry foundation) has evolved into the OFA Eye Evaluation. OFA is Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The OFA eye exams take place in special clinics, sometimes at a dog show, or even in veterinary offices or with a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Our dog, Dexter, went to an eye clinic several years ago (2011) as a baseline. It was held at a local firehouse and a team came through with a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist. With a few droplets of a solution in each eye, a veterinarian will assess if your dog is affected with a number of eye diseases. For breeders, this is important, as it is for dogs in the show ring. For pet parents, it is a convenient way to get a baseline on your dog’s eyes.

The OFA eye certification exam does not provide complete ocular health assessment, but it does provide a good eye screening exam. The exam is done about a half hour after pupil dilation drops are placed in the eyes.

These are the actual results from our CERF eye clinic testing.

Can Foods and Supplements Help?

There are foods that your dog can consume for overall good health, and that includes for the eyes.

Here are 7 foods that will naturally support your dog’s vision

The folks over at Natural Awakenings have some good ideas on how to include foods that are good for canine eye health.

Over at Whole Dog Journal, they write that cod liver oil has dramatically lowered intraocular pressure in rabbits, humans, and other animals, and oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax seed oil, also help lower pressure.

What about carrots? Carrots are rich in valuable vitamins and minerals. Low calorie, nutritious, and dog parents love them as an alternative to higher calorie dog treats. Of course, if you have an anti-vegite for a Cocker as I do, consider the Veg-to-Bowl food mix from Dr. Harvey’s. We have been using it for years as regular part of our dog’s diet. (it includes carrots)

Be cognizant of the size of the carrot or the piece of carrot you give your dog so that he or she does not choke on it.

Helpful Links

OPHTHALMOLOGY-RELATED WEB SITES: 

Do some more reading. We spent hours and hours researching some of our favorite Cocker Spaniel eyes and dog eyes websites, and here are a few we like and use:

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists : These are public resources and helpful links

The Blue Book (all 1,003 pages of it): A book that encompasses ocular disorders presumed to be inherited in purebred dogs

Canine Health Information Center

Eye Evaluation Criteria from the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals, as discussed above (OFA)

Eye Registration Resources from ACVO:

Geriatric Eye Changes: Normal or problem?

Not all eye changes are due to age. Sometimes puppies or young adults can get eye issues. This is why diligent dog parents need to have a baseline screening of their dog’s eyes as least yearly. If there is a breed like the Cocker Spaniel in question, it is helpful to seek the services of a veterinary ophthalmologist for a baseline screening and beyond.

The ACVO published a very helpful guide about some of the common age-related eye changes to watch for in your dog.

CLICK THIS: Your Dog Needs Bifocals Guide: Dog Geriatric Eye Changes

Conclusion

I could write an entire book on the Cocker eye, but suffice it to say that eye issues are a concern in the breed. As much as we’d like to know if our Cocker Spaniels’ vision is blurry or his eyes feel itchy, dogs just can’t tell us.

Since eye problems may or may not present themselves in a front and center fashion, we’ve outlined some preventative measures and things to ‘look out’ for in your favorite pooch/pooches:

Are your dog’s eyes frequently bloodshot, bulging, or appear swollen? Don’t use over-the-counter  human eye medications. Have those baby blues (or greens or browns) examined asap by the vet.

Although tempting, it’s not in your dog’s best interest to let his head hang out the window while riding in a car. Fragments,  dirt, and debris flying into Rover’s eyes while traveling even at a low rate of speed can cause serious damage or injury.

Does the eyelid appear to be turned inward or outward? Never attempt to fix these problems, as more damage can be done. Call the vet.

Fido face first. Since dogs tend to sniff the ground and tackle their immediate path face first, the cornea can easily be scratched. Redness, watering, and pawing at the eye may ensue.

A cloudy and/or bluing of the eyes may indicate glaucoma, so a vet visit is in order.

Any sort of growth or formation, especially if causing an inability to close the eye, requires urgent attention.

Discharge or excessive tearing may be signs of infection or a blocked tear duct or may cause irritation to underlying skin. Refer to the vet.

Disturbances in vision and/or early signs of blindness may include bumping into things and your pooch may seem confused. The earlier this is checked out , of course, the better.

Be the best dog parent you can be, and make regular eye screening and maintenance a part of your Cocker Spaniel’s regular routine.

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