Hello friends

Sorry for the cross post and placing all in the BCC field, but I'm still in 
shock after receiving the news.

Cayla was in training and returned home at the end of August. I could see 
more focus and concentration when she guided me. She handled the route to 
the computer classes very well, even though we deal with pavements with 
broken and uneven
surfaces, loose dogs, people selling items and at the traffic lights the
taxis often drive through the red light. Shortly after she came back to me, 
she started bouts of diarrhea and I consulted my vet, who prescribed ten 
days’ antibiotics. I gave her all the antibiotic tablets and had her on 
intestinal food for ten days, but the problem did not clear up. I consulted 
a different clinic in another town for a second opinion . The dog was given 
stronger probiotics and a change of diet to Eukanuba. Cayla had a follow-up 
visit to the second clinic a week later on 30 September and the vet referred 
us to an eye specialist. Cayla was seen on 2 October.  The dog is in the 
early stages of a retina degradation which will lead to night blindness. The 
doctor mentioned that cases were recorded where such dogs suffered from 
diarrhea. She couldn’t predict how fast or slow it would progress and didn’t 
elaborate on how much her day vision would be affected over time. The doctor 
is willing to send a written report to the training centre. It is a huge 
disappointment as her work improved so much and I wish to complete the 
computer technician's course to improve my likelihood of a permanent job. My 
guess is that the training staff will evaluate Cayla regularly over time and 
will make the decition when it's time for her to retire. I pray that I'll 
find a good foster home for her. Emotionally I'm not sure if I have the 
stamina to face taking on and losing yet another dog in time. Mobility wise 
the cane won't be a very easy option. It's a pity there are no local support 
groups to help and enable me to talk to others who have faced this.

I feel overwhelmed after facing my father's stroke and how hard it is for 
him, losing my grandma as well as guide dog Astrid and facing Cayla's 
diagnosis. I can only ask to be kept in prayer for whatever lies ahead in 
the future and that I'll make the right choices.

Thanks for reading
Coco