• Our Story
    • In the News
    • Contact Us
    • Rolling Dog Farm Privacy Policy
  • Meet the Animals
    • Animals For Adoption
    • Happy Endings
    • Gone But Not Forgotten
  • Support the Farm
    • Donate Online Now
    • Planned Giving
  • Our Blog
  • FAQs
    • Disabled Animal Myths
    • Top 5 Myths About Blind Horses
  • Resources & Books

Rolling Dog Farm

A special place where disabled animals enjoy life.

  • Support the Farm
  • Donate Online Now
  • Planned Giving
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • YouTube
You are here: Home / Dogs / Beagle Buddies

Beagle Buddies

October 1, 2018

Here are two boys you haven’t seen on the blog in quite a while — our blind Beagles, Austin on the left and Louie on the right. Alayne took that photo a few weeks ago when they were enjoying a late afternoon nap in the dog yard. Austin and Louie look almost like twins, have the same disability, and are the best of friends.

Austin came to us as a blind puppy way back in 2008 from Atlanta Beagle Rescue. Louie arrived later, in 2011, also from Atlanta Beagle Rescue. Both boys had eyes when they came to us. Austin had been born blind with a retinal deficiency, but later developed glaucoma. Louie was blind from both progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts when he arrived, but those two conditions later produced glaucoma as a secondary effect.

We’ve often described eyes as a “house of cards,” because a single once-manageable disease can later cause secondary diseases — and ultimately the whole thing comes crashing down. The end result is painful, blind eyes. Sometimes an animal can have “just” PRA, or cataracts, for example, but frequently these conditions over time lead to other diseases. This is why diagnosing eye conditions can be difficult, because the symptoms can be complex and confusing, and multiple eye diseases can be occurring at the same time. In cases like this, it’s really important to see a veterinary ophthalmologist if at all possible.

Because both Austin and Louie were blind already, and their eyes had become painful from glaucoma, we had their eyes removed to provide permanent pain relief. Last year Austin became a “double disability” when our veterinary surgeon in Burlington removed his left front leg due to a painful joint disease.

Both Beagles are doing great, but they are sorry to see a long, beautiful summer coming to an end!

Comments

  1. Barb Ribinski says

    October 1, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    Side by side, you can definitely see how much they look alike. It’s always good to have a friend to share a nap with. (pardon that grammar!) Pretty soon they’ll all be by the heat of the wood stove. For those of us still in the 60s and 70s, it’s such a relief from all the summer heat. Just wanted to ask how Aaron is doing and if he is still coming into the house at night. Or if he plans to now that it’s going to get cooler? He’s such a big beautiful dog.

    • rollingdog says

      October 1, 2018 at 8:07 pm

      Barb, Aaron is doing great, and yes, he is still coming back to the house in the evening … then I take him out in the morning to the pasture for “guard duty.” Unlike the other dogs, he’s enjoying the arrival of cool weather!

  2. Tonya Allen says

    October 2, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    What sweeties! They look so contented together. It’s nice to see these guys again.

Search our site

Check out our Blog!

Visit Our Blog!To keep up with our disabled dogs, check out our blog! Click here.

Most Recent Posts

  • Feeling The Warmth
  • I’ve Got An Eye Problem
  • Yes, I’m Still Here!

Stay updated on our animals

Subscribe to our Blog

Our Newsletter

Rolling Dog Farm Winter/Holiday 2022 NewsletterOur Winter/Holiday 2022 print newsletter is now in the mail. You can read it online here. Go

Check out our
BlindHorses.org website!

Blind Horses Dot Org

Watch our animals in action

YouTube
See videos of our disabled animals on our YouTube channel here.

Quick Links

  • In the News
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map

How can I help?

  • Support the Farm
  • Donate Online Now
  • Planned Giving

Copyright © 2023 · Rolling Dog Farm P.O. Box 150 Lancaster, New Hampshire 03584 · SITE MAP · PRIVACY POLICY