Any tips from anyone who has a dog who has gone blind?

[Sigarms]

Jack Russel mix. We're guessing she's at least 15 years old now.

Cataracts are getting bad and you can tell her eyesight is going (she flinches a lot if she comes across shadows, and is slowly wanting to just stay in the house where she has a good idea of where everything is at).

Wife and kids are in Tenn on a mini vacation and I'm holding down the fort with the dogs and cats, and being here the last couple of days with them all day, I'm noticing how her eyesight is going a lot more.

Putting her down at this point is not an option. She still seems to have a lot of life in her and she still "dances" running around when it's feeding time (something she has always done). Just can't see putting her down just because her eyesight is going on her.

Any tips or advice? Guess you just play it by ear, but wondering about other's past experiences if you've been down this road.

Thanks!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My daughter's Boston Terrier went blind and she is coping quite well. Of course she stays in the house, and they have to watch her when they take her outside, but she makes her way around the house and yard admirably. She always greets us when we come over, and otherwise pretty much acts like a normal dog. I don't know how they handle the potty training, but I can ask. I know that the dog had bad cataracts that they had removed. She did very well for awhile, and all of a sudden she suffered from detached retinas, so she is totally blind.

I know surgery is a bit pricey, but have you considered it?

 

[Dave Pee]

Sorry to hear. My old dog had bad eyes and hearing - not totally gone, I could still communicate with hand signals.

I assume you have been to the vet. One friend of mine was heartbroken when his dog went blind, where faster treatment at the vet would have saved his vision.

Obviously keep your floors clear of obstacles were you can. Here is an odd-ball idea: use his sense of smell to help him navigate: onion slice on floor where you dont want him to go, and lite perfume where he is safe.

Good luck - and lets us know.

 

[Sigarms]

I know surgery is a bit pricey, but have you considered it?

I have to laugh, you'd be amazed at some of our vet bills:laughing:

Yes, surgery was our first thought, but the Vet (who we trust) stated apparently with this particular dog, he wouldn't want to run the risk of putting her under unless he positively had to do so to save her life. That was a couple of years ago after we found out she was bit by a poisonous snake of some sort after finding the bite mark on her gums by accident after she was in for the visit.

As far as potty training, at best, she goes right outside the door when we let the other dogs out. At worst, since she's so small, little bit of a hassle, but something we can live with for what she's given us over the years.

She's a tough little bugger. I still remember her dragging a ground hog twice her size up the hill to the house LOL

 

[RNeumann]

Dogs are born with their eyes and ears closed. Their strongest sense is smell. My buddy and neighbor has the same breed with the same issue and age. He takes a little extra time to ensure the dog can get out with the other dogs and lead a fairly normal life.
Over reacting or "babying" the animal will do little- the dog doesn't feel sorry for itself but will react negatively to an owner's overreaction.
The family and the pooch will be fine and happy!

 

[Sigarms]

Obviously keep your floors clear of obstacles were you can. Here is an odd-ball idea: use his sense of smell to help him navigate: onion slice on floor where you dont want him to go, and lite perfume where he is safe.

Ironcially enough, watching her walk around the house, you wouldn't know her eyesight is going unless you tried to feed her a treat by hand (hard to be mad when she almost takes a finger off LOL). She came to us when she was at least a couple years old, and being in the same home for the last 13 plus years, she knows the layout very well apparently.

It's not until she gets outside where it sticks out like a sore thumb that her eyesight is going. Now, she won't even follow us and the other dogs down the driveway.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

It's difficult for me to even discuss losing an old dog; for the last 50 years our dogs have been family. It is almost as difficult to lose one of our pets as it is to lose a friend. The pain is pretty much the same.

 

[Sigarms]

It's difficult for me to even discuss losing an old dog; for the last 50 years our dogs have been family. It is almost as difficult to lose one of our pets as it is to lose a friend. The pain is pretty much the same.

Agreed.

The only advantage with pets is I just spent a week with my father for his last sister lying on her death bed in the nursing home (where she spent the last 8 or so years of her life). At least with our pets, we can decide when the right time is to end their suffering in a painless way. Amazing we can't do that with the people we most love and you have to fill them up with morphine and hope it goes quickly at best.

The way I see it, with EVERY "pet" we've ever had, their lives have been ten times better than where they came from or we wouldn't of ended up with them in the first place

 

[Budweiser John]

We too have a blind 15 yr old Jack Russell along with three younger dogs.
It's interesting to watch the pack instinct when we let them out as the younger dogs wait for the ole guy and they more or less stick together as a group. I truly believe a dogs sense of smell is their radar and a sight impaired pup does much better with familiar companions both human and K-9.
B. John

 

[jaxs]

"Any tips or advice? Guess you just play it by ear, but wondering about other's past experiences if you've been down this road."
I have,a number of times starting as a child on the farm over 70 years ago and the last isn't any easier than he first.
Our 12yo 10 Lb Shih Tzu was bit by a Cotton Mouth 5 weeks ago. It happened on a Sunday and the delay in getting treatment was very hard on her. We never hesitated about spending thousands of dollars to give her a chance at survival. Her eyes have been fading for months and her kidneys were damaged from the snake bit but she's feeling pretty good now. I in addition to friends and other family members,I lost 2 brothers and two sisters so I know about loosing loved one's. I also understand how deep feelings can be for a dog. My heart and best wishes go out to you,your family and your pet.