Ady and Jake (probably not for the faint-at-heart)

I believe most who read this know that Jake and Ady are our canines. Jake is 9 years old and really becoming an "old man" so-to-speak. He's had epilepsy since he was a year old. One medication he took for it for many years caused him to have some severe liver disease about 9 months ago. Thankfully it was something that could be reversed, so there was improvement in his health. But he lost sight, balance, some sense of smell, and perhaps a little hearing as a result. These seem to have grown worse with time. As a result he has begun nipping, not in an aggressive sort of way, but more as a way to compensate for the lack of senses. This troubles us greatly even more so since the nipping apparently turned into something more one day when he and Ady were alone in their dog run.

As I began to brush Ady one afternoon, I found a huge gouge on her neck. She had not been anywhere alone where this could've happened but with Jake. I had always suspected that she, being the alpha dog, would be the one who would go after Jake. Scott and I were able to do a little first aid and the gouge has healed well in a week (but left some thick scar tissue). Meanwhile, Jake has to be highly supervised with the boys and he remains gated in the kitchen (as he did previously due to chewing issues) or in the dog run for a little fresh air. We still walk them together at least once a day, but it makes me sad that he has to be so separated from us.