Dog going downhill

[bdog]

I have a black lab. I think he is about 12. We live on 25 acres and he just roams around. I think he is having difficulty seeing now. If you wave your hand in front of his face he flinches so I don't think he is totally blind but something is up. He has been around trucks coming and going, tractors, equipment, etc his whole life and always knew to get out of the way. The winter while pushing snow off my sidewalk I ran him over with the skid steer. Didn't hurt him that bad and figured he would be scared of it and stay out of the way but nope he has gotten way worse.

He seems glued to me now. He wants to walk right beside anything I am operating and stays so close you can't even see him. I was moving some dirt the other day with the backhoe and he would get right behind the tires while I was dumping the dirt in the dump truck and would not move so I could back up. Finally had to go lock him in the shop so I could finish. We have a hard time leaving in our cars because he gets right in the way and won't move. This morning I was repacking bearings on a trailer and normally when I am working in the shop he just lays own somewhere in there by me but today he would get right between me and the trailer where I couldn't work. I had to push him out of the way 4 times and he kept coming back. Finally had to lock him out of the shop so I could finish. I went outside to put some things in the truck and he tried to climb in there and I never let him ride inside the cab.

Any ideas? I am really worried he is going to get run over as we have people coming and going from here all the time.

 

[stuckmotor]

First take him to the vet and get him checked out. If the vet can't help, build him a pen or put him on a chain at those times when he might get hurt. He's a very senior citizen in dog years so make him as comfortable as you can and don't let him suffer in the end.

 

[brasco426]

First take him to the vet and get him checked out. If the vet can't help, build him a pen or put him on a chain at those times when he might get hurt. He's a very senior citizen in dog years so make him as comfortable as you can and don't let him suffer in the end.

Couldn't say it any better. I have a one eye, and blind at that dog. She's a joy to have around, we just try to keep the house safe so nothing falls on her if she bumps them.

 

[rekees4300]

Any ideas? I am really worried he is going to get run over as we have people coming and going from here all the time.

Older dogs have special needs just like people. I also have a black Lab 8 years old and his senses are truly remarkable but I know that the day will come those will fade. Would it be feasible to keep your Lab indoors? At his age he needs a nice soft pillow and safety.

 

[kevin37b]

Vet , yes . Do not pen him up or chain him . You will kill that dog if you put a chain on him .

 

[zzvyb6]

It sounds like he has cataracts. Eye surgery on a dog is common. It will 'brighten' his day. Your's too.

 

[kidr]

My dog is always put away when I operate machinery. I love him to much to risk running him over.

 

[EdwardB]

Vet , yes . Do not pen him up or chain him . You will kill that dog if you put a chain on him .

Agreed. A nice fluffy bed and as much attention as you can give him.

 

[Billrog]

My dog is 16 blind and deaf & we keep her in the house now where she can walk around without getting it trouble spends most of the day sleeping in 1 of her beds. When I take her out side she waits until I aim her at the lawn then she runs ( she was running into things ) full out jumping and rolling around on the grass. It's a chore looking after an old dog but when their healthy & not cripple you do what you have to do.

 

[devildog1]

Take Great care of your loyal Friend who just wants to always be with you, you are everything to him so return the favor and bring him to the vet.
DevilDog

 

[Tomtint]

He may feel more confident when he is near you if he is losing his sight.i think if you keep pushing him away he will be confused. Dogs are the only thing that will love you more than themselves, give him as much comfort as possible.

 

[GLyford]

I second the idea that it sort of sounds like he is losing senses, doesn't like it, and is coming to you for help and reassurance.

Also, canine dementia is a thing, where they can have trouble understanding things they used to and have trouble processing immediate experiences into memory. I'm not saying that is where your dog is, I'm saying it is something to be looked for and maybe ruled out.

I don't necessarily agree about penning him, if it will keep him out of the way of machinery, and he can still tell you are nearby and it is a comfortable spot. I'd say "where he can see you" but that seems to be part of the issue. Where he can hear you and it kind of smells like you, maybe padded with an old jacket?

I had an older cattledog with arthritis in his hips and knees, and he could no longer safely navigate stairs. He went from sleeping on the bed for a decade to sleeping on the couch with the stairs gated off, and seemed to be just as happy that when he was blocked off he did not feel guilty about not being able to climb the stairs anymore and could stay where he was. We ended up putting dogbeds in every room and carpet runners on all the slippery floors, just to make it easier on him. He adapted, and we adapted.

I'm not sure what to say about him suddenly wanting to be in your space beyond that, because my girl lab has always wanted to be in my space...laps are OK, but sleeping on my chest is even better, so I've never let her have run of the place while operating machinery. Plus, I am a worry wart and would hate to have anything happen to her. I'm not sure how much of that behavior is "lab", how much is "girl dog" and how much is just her.

I think a little time between the both of you figuring out a new way of dealing with movement in the yard and around the machines that works acceptable for you both would be well spent, and while there may not be anything that a vet can fix, sometimes just the knowing can help you both deal with what is going on.

 

[rgr33]

It sure sounds like cataracts to me. I am having a little trouble with that myself lately. I don't think the cost for that is overly expensive, even just doing one eye would make a big difference in his quality of life.

First thing first though, a trip to the vet for an examination is in order.

 

[nybirdman]

I am kind of going through the same with my 14 year old German Shorthair.He is now a house dog and not near any machinery.He just always wants to be where I am,I think they feel safer when near someone familiar.I had one lab that lived to 17 years old,blind and deaf at the end.
You will know when it is time;we just had to put down two English Pointers;very difficult but you have to do what is necessary.
On a brighter note;we just got a new GSP puppy and will be getting another the end of May.