Prize-winning Border Collie Jive has his focus back on the big events again after sight-saving care at Veterinary Vision in Cumbria.
Prize-winning Agility Dog Focused On Team GB Trials After Sight-saving Care At Cumbrian Vets
1 year ago 
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A prize-winning Border Collie has his focus back on the big events again after sight-saving care at a leading eye vets in Cumbria.
Six-year-old Jive is a talented agility dog who’s been invited to trials for Team GB ahead of next year’s European Open and World Agility Championships.
This is all the more remarkable because he’s spent the past two years battling back from a serious eye condition which threatened to leave him blind.
Jive was successfully treated at Linnaeus-owned Veterinary Vision in Penrith, where Richard McCallum, an advanced practitioner in veterinary ophthalmology, provided expert care and ongoing support and advice.
Richard said: “Jive’s owner came to us in August 2020 and was very concerned about a recent development of areas of corneal inflammation and pigmentation affecting both of his eyes.
“Our examinations showed that the symptoms were consistent with a diagnosis of Chronic Superficial Keratitis (CSK), also known as Pannus. This is where the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the corneal tissue causing inflammation.
“Over time transparent healthy corneal tissue becomes progressively opaque and if left untreated some dogs can lose vision completely.
“At this point, Jive was already showing natural talent at canine agility classes, so the prospect of any condition that could have caused him to lose his vision would have been very upsetting.
“It would have dramatically reduced Jive’s quality of life; negatively impacting on his ability to navigate in everyday life and would have prevented him taking part in dog agility, which he clearly loves and at which he excels.
“We immediately prescribed medication in a bid to control the inflammation and clear the corneal pigmentation and scarring.
“Happily Jive has responded well over the past two years. At his last examination both eyes were found to be visual, comfortable and free from any signs of active inflammation while the pigmentation has completely cleared.”
Delighted owner Diane Graves, from Durham, is full of praise for Richard and the Veterinary Vision team.
She said: "I first realised Jive had a problem when we were agility training one sunny afternoon in August 2020.
“We were working on a blind tunnel entry, where the dog has to pick up the tunnel entry from an angle that is not in their direct eye line.
“Jive is normally brilliant at these but kept running past so I looked into his eyes and could see the left eye was bloodshot and seemed to have a mark on the lens.
“I thought his diagnosis would spell the end of his competing. Richard reassured me, though, and was positive Jive could continue and would adjust to the limited vision in his left eye.
“Sure enough Jive's eyes have gradually improved over the past two years and at his last visit he has got his vision back.
“That’s a big success story and I would have no hesitation in recommending Richard and Veterinary Vision to anyone.”
Jive has since competed at Crufts and has been invited to try out for Team GB in the pre-selection qualifiers for the European Open and World Agility Championships next year.
Veterinary Vision is equipped for all types of ocular surgery with 11 veterinary ophthalmologists offering a vast range of experience and knowledge in small animal, and equine eye conditions.
For more information visit www.veterinaryvision.co.uk or search for Veterinary Vision on social media.
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