Why 'Triggered' Immune type Blindness Happens?
Understanding What happened
By Dr H. Gale, Ph D
Help your dog’s self-confidence while adapting and reduce their (and your) anxiety.
Part of what causes newly blind dogs to be anxious, insecure and depressed is their loss of a major, visual, portion of how they recognize and understand the behavior of the people in their world. We learned that the behavior of puppies, all of whom are blind at birth and deaf, who learn to see and those who don’t, are helpful to understand and care for older dogs who become blind.
Puppies: Of course all puppies are blind at birth. In the very first seconds and minutes they entirely rely on sensing heat (infrared) and moving toward it (to reach their mother’s nipples which are the warmest food-places in the nest) [Ref. S. Coren, 2004]
At nine days of age, in the remarkably short time span of three or four days, in preparation to see and then hear, their skulls become nearly twice larger and may change shape abruptly. [Photos are available.]
Obviously, if a puppy’s eyes don’t function on schedule, a puppy automatically instinctively from that time learns to rely on its ability to detect vibrations (sound) with the eight or nine sensors for that. And at the same time, the puppy has begun using its ability to detect and analyze molecules (smells) to recognize what is near it, and then to navigate to its siblings and mother.
Weeks later as their brains and nerves mature more, they learn to see distances and depth in 3-dimensions and hear in stereo (acoustic 3-D), if their development follows the ordinary patterns of their species and breed.
Without unfortunate selective breeding for flashy coats by Breed Clubs with AKC approval, only a few puppies per ten thousand borne would lose full-fledged useful inner-ear hearing by about age 14 days or so, because of genetic based “autoimmune” reactions. Much observational data, and recent research indicate, according to reports, that later in life many genetically deaf dogs partially recover useful hearing [Ref. Dutch report, et al].
Technically, as an autoimmune process the loss of hearing soon after birth might conceivably be suppressed or delayed by such as gamma globulin, and prednisone, etc. Comparable human genetic based autoimmune processes were recently also becoming documented (such as I inherited.)
Likewise a few puppies would almost completely lack ordinary eye-abilities to see, and a number would have unusual eye-features such as blue eyes or odd shaped eye-pupils. From the late 1990s into the next decade progress in genetic research and detailed research seem to have shown that the fundamental mechanisms that obstruct ordinary inner-ear hearing and ordinary eyes-seeing are similar versions of certain comparatively rare biological processes.
Older Dogs: As dogs age they encounter natural internal biological events such as diabetes and external chemical “challenges-insults.” Some external challenges come in outdoors environments from such as toxic plants, snakes bites, toad-toxins, etc and some from human domestic chemical such as insecticides, weed-killers, automobile anti-freeze, etc.
Older age onset of dog-blindness were usually often diagnosed (labeled) as Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) or Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) - genetic diseases, retinal detachment or bleeding or rips, and glaucoma - -which can involve damage or loss of the retina and adjacent nerve ganglions.
As science improved in its ability to examine tiny interior elements of the dogs’ eyes, increasingly there were similar features reported that strongly suggested possible or probably triggered auto-immune processes in the onset and progress of some major sources of blindness. Although medications became available to reduce pain and delay complete blindness, in many instances surgery was needed to relieve intolerable pain, or anyway the vision losses such as SARDs, PRA or glaucoma became complete.
Except for the real difficulties associated with unendurable pain, with its lack of sleep and malnutrition, the surveys of blind and deaf dogs’ owners indicated only extremely rare instances of permanent personality changes toward irritability or aggression.
More common was a fairly short time - weeks to months - of what might be described as “behavior regression” of older dogs to puppyish behavior such as deliberately “bumping” into objects and companions, difficulties traversing down stairs or getting down from furniture after getting up, and a occasional relearning of new ways for socializing with other dogs in the absence of the ordinary dog-dog visual signaling.
Dogs who were only deaf seemed rarely to have difficulty in adapting to losing dog-dog verbal signals such as growling, and anyway deaf dogs are always equipped with a classic set of barks, whines, and growls and breed specific "songs" of their own that they use instinctively (whose acoustic vibrations they feel-sense as they make the sounds and which by "mirror" neuron processes they can learn to recognize from other dogs).
What can be done? (In rough priority, but emphasis depends on what is needed by you and the dog! – IMO)
1. Pain reduction, safety [size aspects], security, day or blue-light, be up-beat
2. Encourage Independence (they can adapt and learn; puppy-like regression permitted)
3. Ample food (happy “sailor” - works for human submariners!)
4. Texturing surroundings - (Actually, sensing their surroundings with their feet - toes and ankles, etc to indentify specific places)
5. Music, voice, or their own bell (for mapping-location by using the echoes, as done by blind humans, bats, dolphins, submarines,...)
6. You Speak, They Gesture: situation and (verb, adjective, noun) [Ref. Sean Senechal, 2009]
Blind and or deaf dogs, despite often being adopted into human families at an age of about eight weeks or a little later (and ordinary dogs) by 24/7 study of their new people’s faces and body-actions learn which of the (dog's) body language and sounds their people pay attention to, (such as pawing or lifting a leg for dramatic emphasis.)
If a dog becomes blind in older age, s-he already has a collection of specific "body gestures" and-or "songs" to communicate to their people. A method useable for blind dogs can confirm their existing gestures, and add vital new signal-gestures in ways that reassure the dog that it is still secure, loved and safe (although the world has changed).
You can help your dog recover her self-confidence while she is adapting and reduce her (and your) anxiety. So the recently demonstrated methods build upon what dogs already know and can do, so that they can adapt to response to voice questions from their people by telling their people:
- what they smell or hear going on,
- what the dog is anxious about,
- where it hurts,
- what it wants, or needs, ....... .
Deaf dogs can were traditionally taught simple versions of American Sign Language (ASL) or SL versions of other countries. [see <deafdogs.org> sketches ] Almost all dogs - blind, deaf or ordinary - mainly rely on gestures to communicate to humans, other dogs and other animals, with a bit of vocalizing for emphasis, as described on other pages.
You Speak, They Gesture – Both Happier
Part of what causes newly blind dogs to be anxious, insecure and depressed is their loss of much information about the way their world is reacting to their actions and voices, and thus a loss of ability to manage their world as best they can.
If you speak, and they reply with Gestures much of that loss can be overcome – both happier. Ms Senechal’s methods and experience can be tailored for educating blind or deaf dogs - they were well described in her book and samples are available on her Web site. Her suggested methods were easily generalized (in our use), for each dog, its people and their homes.
Teaching a blind dog to communicate with specific body-paw gestures, in addition to their former “ad hocs”, can reassure them that they do indeed still have ways to control their world, and get it to react to their needs for security, active “play”, reconfirming bonding and “velcroing” with their people. For health and happiness, their emotional and physical needs are much more far reaching than just food!
Behavior of ordinary puppies as they learn to see is instructive for understanding the emotional and mental challenges and needs for caring for old dogs who become blind. Indeed a blind old dog has to some extent become a blind-puppy again with many of the things that implies!
Inspired by personal observation that her horse, Princess, instinctively initiated attempted to communication to Sean what the horse wanted to do, and its probable opinion of events, Ms Sean Senechal ventured to explore using modern methods demonstrated for Gorillas and other animals. Together they explored Princesses’ ability and willingness to learn to communicate by gestures, and her ability to evaluate simple features of her surroundings such as “how many?”
Results were favorable, documented on digital DVDs, and in books. Our review of Ms Senechal’s methods and results validated her scrupulous care to prevent the Clever Hans and similar known method-faults of previous researchers. We noted further that confirmatory features of the data correlated with events during teaching language to kindergarten children.
A German Shepherd, Chal age about four months, was enlisted for studies of domestic dogs to further affirm (or limit) with other species the teaching logic and methods. Later a member of an additional breed of dog, a Border Collie, was obtained and enrolled in the program at its age of about 12 weeks. Results were favorable. Studies continue with seminars, etc to explore and share knowledge with larger groups and their dogs.
Sean’s personal experience was based directly on two species (horse and dogs) and two breeds of dogs, plus indirectly on work with dolphins, gorillas and chimps. Continuing work with other dog breeds indicated that everything was consistent provided that the abilities and personalities of the specific “students” and their people were taken in consideration – every one of them was unique: being blind was just a “feature” like the length of tail.
From Sean’s experience, and ours, bonding and mutual trust are essential foundations. We would venture from our experience that there would be little hope for effective learning in a people-dog dominance/ submissive training situation beyond the near-robotic responses of a chicken.
Sean in her recent book wrote an excellent discussion of the education methods that were most effective for her, which agreed with our observations. From using her book, Web videos and conversations with her, we figured the main points were:
1. Mutual bonding, trust and “feedback”: Encourage self-confidence, independence and initiative (adapts and learns) and accept and work with their occasional regression to puppyish antics like bumping and mumbling. As we followed Sean’s suggestions, we found ourselves engaged with our dog in sharing agreements of how we and she would communicate.
The dog too “gets a vote” on the details of each gesture and what it will thereafter mean for you both – things like arthritis will make a difference in what an older dog is comfortable with. Earlier life experience of the dog also can have consequences, such as a dog who strongly preferred to gesture-label the local cat a “Toy.”
2. Basics first! Older dogs can often learn most easily, as they already know the basic verbal commands to Sit, lie-down, and come when called. When you speak new commands or ask for new actions to enhance their self-confidence, they can quickly gesture back to you with a response.
This has a valuable effect of mental exercise to keep them alert and interested in life while they’re also figuring out with physical activities (including bumping things like a puppy does, and “spinning”, etc) how to do their location mapping and navigation with sounds and smells.
3. NEXT Situations and (verb, adjective, noun):The next part of education should deal with showing or giving the dog “gesture-words” for specific situations (such as smelling a fire, hearing a telephone, etc), objects (food, water, cat, …) and actions (Get, go, come, bring, up, …).
Our dogs self-generalized the “situation/ object/ actions” into elementary phrases such as “Get Sheep Toy” i.e. Verb-adjective-noun. When an accident happened - one of us needed a ladder-rescue, our dog summoned help by dashing in-doors to gesture “distress” to another person and leading to the place where help was needed.
4. Names of people and other animals: Agreeing on specific gestures to indicate more “name- things (objects)”.
Consistency by their people is important, because the dog is entitled to think you know what you’re doing and what you want them to do. Blind and or deaf dogs, despite often being adopted into human families at an age of about eight weeks or a little later by zealous study of their new homes learn to specifically "gesture" and-or vocalize to tell their people:
- what they smell or hear going on,
- what the dog is anxious about,
- where it hurts,
- what it wants, or needs.
At some point your dog will offer of her or his own initiative new gesture-words and perhaps phrases for your mutual pleasure. That’s when you are entitled to celebrate!
This doesn’t replace basic puppy training. If you’re new to dog training you can use "Dogs Can Sign, Too" with some of the suitable literature suggested and/or dog training classes. It offers lots of fun exercises - and a potential to greatly enrich mutual understanding. There is little to lose and much to gain against old doubts or prejudices!
The dog's confirmation that her message was understood (technically called "feedback") now becomes the dog's hearing of voice response from the person (instead of watching the person's face, hands and feet), and of course their actions. - Much of the loss in mutual understanding between the a blind dog and her people are replaced by the suggested "You speak -they gesture."
By Dr H. Gale, Ph D
Help your dog’s self-confidence while adapting and reduce their (and your) anxiety.
Part of what causes newly blind dogs to be anxious, insecure and depressed is their loss of a major, visual, portion of how they recognize and understand the behavior of the people in their world. We learned that the behavior of puppies, all of whom are blind at birth and deaf, who learn to see and those who don’t, are helpful to understand and care for older dogs who become blind.
Puppies: Of course all puppies are blind at birth. In the very first seconds and minutes they entirely rely on sensing heat (infrared) and moving toward it (to reach their mother’s nipples which are the warmest food-places in the nest) [Ref. S. Coren, 2004]
At nine days of age, in the remarkably short time span of three or four days, in preparation to see and then hear, their skulls become nearly twice larger and may change shape abruptly. [Photos are available.]
Obviously, if a puppy’s eyes don’t function on schedule, a puppy automatically instinctively from that time learns to rely on its ability to detect vibrations (sound) with the eight or nine sensors for that. And at the same time, the puppy has begun using its ability to detect and analyze molecules (smells) to recognize what is near it, and then to navigate to its siblings and mother.
Weeks later as their brains and nerves mature more, they learn to see distances and depth in 3-dimensions and hear in stereo (acoustic 3-D), if their development follows the ordinary patterns of their species and breed.
Without unfortunate selective breeding for flashy coats by Breed Clubs with AKC approval, only a few puppies per ten thousand borne would lose full-fledged useful inner-ear hearing by about age 14 days or so, because of genetic based “autoimmune” reactions. Much observational data, and recent research indicate, according to reports, that later in life many genetically deaf dogs partially recover useful hearing [Ref. Dutch report, et al].
Technically, as an autoimmune process the loss of hearing soon after birth might conceivably be suppressed or delayed by such as gamma globulin, and prednisone, etc. Comparable human genetic based autoimmune processes were recently also becoming documented (such as I inherited.)
Likewise a few puppies would almost completely lack ordinary eye-abilities to see, and a number would have unusual eye-features such as blue eyes or odd shaped eye-pupils. From the late 1990s into the next decade progress in genetic research and detailed research seem to have shown that the fundamental mechanisms that obstruct ordinary inner-ear hearing and ordinary eyes-seeing are similar versions of certain comparatively rare biological processes.
Older Dogs: As dogs age they encounter natural internal biological events such as diabetes and external chemical “challenges-insults.” Some external challenges come in outdoors environments from such as toxic plants, snakes bites, toad-toxins, etc and some from human domestic chemical such as insecticides, weed-killers, automobile anti-freeze, etc.
Older age onset of dog-blindness were usually often diagnosed (labeled) as Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) or Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) - genetic diseases, retinal detachment or bleeding or rips, and glaucoma - -which can involve damage or loss of the retina and adjacent nerve ganglions.
As science improved in its ability to examine tiny interior elements of the dogs’ eyes, increasingly there were similar features reported that strongly suggested possible or probably triggered auto-immune processes in the onset and progress of some major sources of blindness. Although medications became available to reduce pain and delay complete blindness, in many instances surgery was needed to relieve intolerable pain, or anyway the vision losses such as SARDs, PRA or glaucoma became complete.
Except for the real difficulties associated with unendurable pain, with its lack of sleep and malnutrition, the surveys of blind and deaf dogs’ owners indicated only extremely rare instances of permanent personality changes toward irritability or aggression.
More common was a fairly short time - weeks to months - of what might be described as “behavior regression” of older dogs to puppyish behavior such as deliberately “bumping” into objects and companions, difficulties traversing down stairs or getting down from furniture after getting up, and a occasional relearning of new ways for socializing with other dogs in the absence of the ordinary dog-dog visual signaling.
Dogs who were only deaf seemed rarely to have difficulty in adapting to losing dog-dog verbal signals such as growling, and anyway deaf dogs are always equipped with a classic set of barks, whines, and growls and breed specific "songs" of their own that they use instinctively (whose acoustic vibrations they feel-sense as they make the sounds and which by "mirror" neuron processes they can learn to recognize from other dogs).
What can be done? (In rough priority, but emphasis depends on what is needed by you and the dog! – IMO)
1. Pain reduction, safety [size aspects], security, day or blue-light, be up-beat
2. Encourage Independence (they can adapt and learn; puppy-like regression permitted)
3. Ample food (happy “sailor” - works for human submariners!)
4. Texturing surroundings - (Actually, sensing their surroundings with their feet - toes and ankles, etc to indentify specific places)
5. Music, voice, or their own bell (for mapping-location by using the echoes, as done by blind humans, bats, dolphins, submarines,...)
6. You Speak, They Gesture: situation and (verb, adjective, noun) [Ref. Sean Senechal, 2009]
Blind and or deaf dogs, despite often being adopted into human families at an age of about eight weeks or a little later (and ordinary dogs) by 24/7 study of their new people’s faces and body-actions learn which of the (dog's) body language and sounds their people pay attention to, (such as pawing or lifting a leg for dramatic emphasis.)
If a dog becomes blind in older age, s-he already has a collection of specific "body gestures" and-or "songs" to communicate to their people. A method useable for blind dogs can confirm their existing gestures, and add vital new signal-gestures in ways that reassure the dog that it is still secure, loved and safe (although the world has changed).
You can help your dog recover her self-confidence while she is adapting and reduce her (and your) anxiety. So the recently demonstrated methods build upon what dogs already know and can do, so that they can adapt to response to voice questions from their people by telling their people:
- what they smell or hear going on,
- what the dog is anxious about,
- where it hurts,
- what it wants, or needs, ....... .
Deaf dogs can were traditionally taught simple versions of American Sign Language (ASL) or SL versions of other countries. [see <deafdogs.org> sketches ] Almost all dogs - blind, deaf or ordinary - mainly rely on gestures to communicate to humans, other dogs and other animals, with a bit of vocalizing for emphasis, as described on other pages.
You Speak, They Gesture – Both Happier
Part of what causes newly blind dogs to be anxious, insecure and depressed is their loss of much information about the way their world is reacting to their actions and voices, and thus a loss of ability to manage their world as best they can.
If you speak, and they reply with Gestures much of that loss can be overcome – both happier. Ms Senechal’s methods and experience can be tailored for educating blind or deaf dogs - they were well described in her book and samples are available on her Web site. Her suggested methods were easily generalized (in our use), for each dog, its people and their homes.
Teaching a blind dog to communicate with specific body-paw gestures, in addition to their former “ad hocs”, can reassure them that they do indeed still have ways to control their world, and get it to react to their needs for security, active “play”, reconfirming bonding and “velcroing” with their people. For health and happiness, their emotional and physical needs are much more far reaching than just food!
Behavior of ordinary puppies as they learn to see is instructive for understanding the emotional and mental challenges and needs for caring for old dogs who become blind. Indeed a blind old dog has to some extent become a blind-puppy again with many of the things that implies!
Inspired by personal observation that her horse, Princess, instinctively initiated attempted to communication to Sean what the horse wanted to do, and its probable opinion of events, Ms Sean Senechal ventured to explore using modern methods demonstrated for Gorillas and other animals. Together they explored Princesses’ ability and willingness to learn to communicate by gestures, and her ability to evaluate simple features of her surroundings such as “how many?”
Results were favorable, documented on digital DVDs, and in books. Our review of Ms Senechal’s methods and results validated her scrupulous care to prevent the Clever Hans and similar known method-faults of previous researchers. We noted further that confirmatory features of the data correlated with events during teaching language to kindergarten children.
A German Shepherd, Chal age about four months, was enlisted for studies of domestic dogs to further affirm (or limit) with other species the teaching logic and methods. Later a member of an additional breed of dog, a Border Collie, was obtained and enrolled in the program at its age of about 12 weeks. Results were favorable. Studies continue with seminars, etc to explore and share knowledge with larger groups and their dogs.
Sean’s personal experience was based directly on two species (horse and dogs) and two breeds of dogs, plus indirectly on work with dolphins, gorillas and chimps. Continuing work with other dog breeds indicated that everything was consistent provided that the abilities and personalities of the specific “students” and their people were taken in consideration – every one of them was unique: being blind was just a “feature” like the length of tail.
From Sean’s experience, and ours, bonding and mutual trust are essential foundations. We would venture from our experience that there would be little hope for effective learning in a people-dog dominance/ submissive training situation beyond the near-robotic responses of a chicken.
Sean in her recent book wrote an excellent discussion of the education methods that were most effective for her, which agreed with our observations. From using her book, Web videos and conversations with her, we figured the main points were:
1. Mutual bonding, trust and “feedback”: Encourage self-confidence, independence and initiative (adapts and learns) and accept and work with their occasional regression to puppyish antics like bumping and mumbling. As we followed Sean’s suggestions, we found ourselves engaged with our dog in sharing agreements of how we and she would communicate.
The dog too “gets a vote” on the details of each gesture and what it will thereafter mean for you both – things like arthritis will make a difference in what an older dog is comfortable with. Earlier life experience of the dog also can have consequences, such as a dog who strongly preferred to gesture-label the local cat a “Toy.”
2. Basics first! Older dogs can often learn most easily, as they already know the basic verbal commands to Sit, lie-down, and come when called. When you speak new commands or ask for new actions to enhance their self-confidence, they can quickly gesture back to you with a response.
This has a valuable effect of mental exercise to keep them alert and interested in life while they’re also figuring out with physical activities (including bumping things like a puppy does, and “spinning”, etc) how to do their location mapping and navigation with sounds and smells.
3. NEXT Situations and (verb, adjective, noun):The next part of education should deal with showing or giving the dog “gesture-words” for specific situations (such as smelling a fire, hearing a telephone, etc), objects (food, water, cat, …) and actions (Get, go, come, bring, up, …).
Our dogs self-generalized the “situation/ object/ actions” into elementary phrases such as “Get Sheep Toy” i.e. Verb-adjective-noun. When an accident happened - one of us needed a ladder-rescue, our dog summoned help by dashing in-doors to gesture “distress” to another person and leading to the place where help was needed.
4. Names of people and other animals: Agreeing on specific gestures to indicate more “name- things (objects)”.
Consistency by their people is important, because the dog is entitled to think you know what you’re doing and what you want them to do. Blind and or deaf dogs, despite often being adopted into human families at an age of about eight weeks or a little later by zealous study of their new homes learn to specifically "gesture" and-or vocalize to tell their people:
- what they smell or hear going on,
- what the dog is anxious about,
- where it hurts,
- what it wants, or needs.
At some point your dog will offer of her or his own initiative new gesture-words and perhaps phrases for your mutual pleasure. That’s when you are entitled to celebrate!
This doesn’t replace basic puppy training. If you’re new to dog training you can use "Dogs Can Sign, Too" with some of the suitable literature suggested and/or dog training classes. It offers lots of fun exercises - and a potential to greatly enrich mutual understanding. There is little to lose and much to gain against old doubts or prejudices!
The dog's confirmation that her message was understood (technically called "feedback") now becomes the dog's hearing of voice response from the person (instead of watching the person's face, hands and feet), and of course their actions. - Much of the loss in mutual understanding between the a blind dog and her people are replaced by the suggested "You speak -they gesture."