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

[flingwing1969]

Just an update for those that might be in the same situation...

Took her to a vet specialist. Eye surgery for the cataracks (sp?) pushed 5k. Due to her age added the fact that they weren't completely certain how effective the surgery would be AND the fact that we'd have to bring her back every 3 months for a checkup, we decided it wasn't worth the effort, time and money.

All that said, anyone have a dog that seemed to have dementia? She's kind of gotten worse, and won't sleep at night, will bark anywhere between 0100-0400 and won't stop until she knows someone is with her. That said, she'll end up in a spot in the house and won't know were there until we touch her. She'll settle down and then go to sleep in the office under the desk. Both my wife and I agree it's getting rough getting up at odd hours in the morning for her (my wife more than me).

Just never heard of a dog getting dementia type symptoms.

My dear dog of 17 years went deaf at about 15 and he dealt with it quite well. Then he went blind, but was used to where he was and dealt with that too, maybe not as well but it did work for him - like your pup, he did get a bit anxious without somebody nearby but, he did okay because his most important dog-sense was still intact, sense of smell. Sadly, that went too and he would awaken and not feel me right next to me and would become frantic, running around trying to find me - he would pass within an inch of me and not know I was there. I think you know the next part and I'm starting to tear up thinking about it again - and it's been ten years.

Anyway, what you are describing may not be doggy-dementia but anxiety due to sensory deprivation.

 

[flingwing1969]

BTW, I doubt your life will ever be as good as hers - when they say a dog's life I never consider that to be undesirable.

 

[Citydude]

The little guy in my avatar was blind four years before he passed and done well with it. Miss him.

 

[cqaigy2]

BTW, I doubt your life will ever be as good as hers - when they say a dog's life I never consider that to be undesirable.

For most of us here that own dogs, truer words.

 

[Jim Nelson]

Our little weiner boy made it to 16 yrs.,6 mo. and 2 days.The last year he went blind then deaf and the last month or 6 weeks dementia set in. One thing he never lost was his appetite at dinner time. I took him for a walk every morning and as we live in a very steep area with some steep drop offs along the road I had to watch him pretty close but he seemed to enjoy the walks.We took the golf cart down our driveway to the private road we live on and when we headed back to the house I drove the cart but for the last 9 months he decided he wanted to walk up the driveway.We were amazed because it's 800' and very steep. The last few days he would get confused and I would have to pick him up and take him in the cart.The day he died we had got back to the house and he went out in the lawn like he always did and I got distracted for a couple of minutes putting water in our koi pond.When I went to check on him he was just walking into the pond and went under water.I had to get a net from the garage to get him out and by that time he had ingested quite a bit of water. My wife came out and we got him dried off and warmed up but he kept vomiting up water.We took him to the vet and they put him on oxygen then x-rayed his lungs.The vet said he might keep him going on oxygen a couple of days but there was not much hope. We had to make that terribly hard decision which was the kindest thing we could do but I still kick myself for taking my attention from for the minute or 2 that he got in trouble bu honestly it was time and we were being selfish trying to keep him going as long as we did.
We are too old and not that healthy either so we won't get another dog but I miss my little buddy every waking minute of every day.

 

[Dftodd]

Or Jack Russel has been showing signs of dementia. He's 15 and going blind. He's also been starting to lose control of his bladder. He's quit asking to go out to go potty. And there's times he forgets to lift his leg. Will just stop walking and let it go.

So now he's kenneled when we go to bed or aren't home. Sometimes he gets spooked when you go to let him out of the kennel. He'll curl up in the back and cower when you go to open the door. Then takes some petting, ear scratches and sweet talking to get him to calm down.

Stopping and staring at something is pretty common. Almost like a person when they walk into a room and forget what they were going to do. He still handles the yard pretty well. But doesn't wander too far from the deck. Especially at night.

 

[Sigarms]

Interesting enough, she seems better at night than day as far as getting around outside the house. Wife thinks it has to do with no sunshine and lack of shadows that makes her feel more comfortable, and she'll actually go off the driveway.

It's the confused state she sometimes seems to be in late that we're completely unfamiliar with and has added a new twist. Vet gave us a different dog food which I'm taking back. She hates it and we figure with the time she has left, give her what she likes.

Jim - I know your feelings as far as wanting to keep them around as long as possible.

The other day on the porch. I forgot I had a treat in my pocket LOL

 

[Gem99ultra]

My worst fear that I mentioned in Message #22 came to be within 3 months. Our little male Toy Rat Terrier, age 15, came down with several organ failures. Vet said they had been malfunctioning for a very long time, but were undetectable, and untreatable. So we had to let little Bleu go. Very sad day; I still tear up when thinking about him.

Then 6 weeks later we lost our 22 pound bully cat Cooper, also mentioned in the same reply. Coop apparently fell from a tree that he was climbing, and broke his back. Surgery to restore his functions was not an option, so we also had to let the Vet put Coop down. I made caskets for both and buried them in one of their favorite spots here on the place.

Now our last little 15 y/o Toy Rat Terrier, Angel, has gone blind in one eye. Cataracts are creeping into the remaining eye. Angel lost all of her teeth about a year ago, and has trouble getting all of her muscles working when waking up from sleep. These signs are sure tell-tale signs that she won't be with us much longer.

I don't know how one can prepare for such; so far I have not been able to. You surely have my sympathy for your foregone dilemma. At least you have some time to prepare to cope with it, if that helps at all.

 

[Sigarms]

I don't know how one can prepare for such; so far I have not been able to. You surely have my sympathy for your foregone dilemma. At least you have some time to prepare to cope with it, if that helps at all.

We've all been there who have loved an animal.

As far as how one can prepare, you made me think of my original post per the topic because it's what I try to do with every one now....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/167941-very-good-day.html

She was the first of the "pack" to go. She was my wife's dog when I met her, and she became our dog (because I got on the floor to play with her when my wife and I first met, my wife knew I had potential). Funny thing is our boys never knew her.

Per the dog in the topic, I hope to do the same with her, then give her a sedative, then the dreded drive to the vets. Not certain as to time frame, but as you've said, at least I have time to prepare.