Jack Russells - Loss Of Vision & Other Aging Problems To Look Out For

jack russells who begin to have vision problems - whether it’s glaucoma or cataracts - can pose a problem for themselves and for you. There are certainly veterinary medical solutions to some visual problems. In the meantime, you can try to substitute auditory cues, like words, phrases, or claps, for things you used to rely on vision to convey to your pet - it’s just the opposite of the hearing-loss problem.

If you used to get a kick out of tossing a treat to your Jack Russell and having him catch the treat in the air, or playing Frisbee with your dog (now he can’t see the Frisbee too well, so he’s getting hit on the head), try tossing the Frisbee or treat to his left or his right with a large motion of your hand so that he can see it a bit more clearly, just from the movement. Oftentimes, he seems less upset than you are at getting knocked in the noggin, but both of you will probably be happier if you toss to either side and then enjoy that special treat time you used to have when everything worked correctly.

As a dog gets older, another thing to be concerned about along with sensory loss is the quality of their normally fun or exciting experiences. Now, when they go to the park and play, do they continue to enjoy these endeavors? Or, since they don’t experience these events with the senses that they used to have, are they still having fun? Actually, things can become dangerously stressful for your pet while you aren’t even looking.

As you leave him at the groomer or take him into the park to see if other jack russells are around for him to play with, notice if he seems to enjoy the experience or if he starts trembling. Pay attention to any changes in behavior. Even though they may not make sense to you, they may indicate that his experience is starting to be different. He’s not smiling as much. He doesn’t spend as much time away from you as he used to in the park. He doesn’t want to walk or run ahead of you in the park like he always used to; now he’s hanging back and avoiding people who might come up to him and possibly hurt him with a too enthusiastic pat on the head.