Blind Dog - Advice

Norrin Radd

We have a lovely 4 year old King Charles/Tibetan Spaniel cross.

In the last number of weeks her eyes have become completely clouded with cataracts.

A visit to the vet confirmed this and her almost total blindness now.

She has become very depressed and just lies around all day (she was a very active dog).

Has anyone any experience of this, what are our options. We want to keep her with us, but we don't want her to suffer either.

Thanks

Blueprint

Ah, poor dog, I imagine that it will take an adjustment period, but I've heard of lots of blind dogs living happy full lives.

You could have a look on here for tips and advice: http://www.blinddogs.com/

tk123

She's very young would surgery be an option?

EDIT - Gilabbey vets have an eye specialist. Shane operated on my dogs leg last year and it honestly was the best decision I made. They took great care of him . http://www.gilabbeyvet.com/rsu.html

DBB

That's terribly sad.:(
Would it be worthwhile getting an eye specialist to have a look at her? There's one vet in the north who I believe to be brilliant with eyes, and I think there may be another specialist in Cork? Or thereabouts.

Groom!

We adopted a blind dog when he was 8 and had him for 8 years. He led a great and normal life and once he knew his way around the house and garden it was fine.
There is a brilliant eye specialist in Primrose Hill vets in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin called Michael Woods.

He will advise you extremely well.
Good luck, it's a difficult time,
Feel free to PM me any time with questions
x:)

Discodog

If you post your location we will probably be able to point towards a veterinary ophthalmology - my Vet is one.

A friend has a blind dog & we have been working on devices to help him. We experimented with a flexible plastic rod (strimmer line) attached as a hoop to his collar so that it acts as a bumper in front of his nose. Initial results are good.

ISDW

+1 on Groom's recommendation of Michael Woods in Dun Laoghaire.

I've had a couple of blind dogs come to stay with us, and they adapt very well. You may have to change a few things at home, but nothing too onerous. If you have tiles or wooden floors, then rugs of different textures helps the dog to know where they are when they walk around.

A water fountain, rather than just a water bowl can also be very useful as the dog will hear the water and be able to find it for a drink.

Honestly, a blind dog can still live a happy and fulfilled life, you just need to think a little bit differently.

Best of luck:D

lorebringer

One of mine is nearly blind due to cataracts, he is too old and too unwell (serious heart problem) to be operated on but the vet did say that if he was younger and didn't have a heart problem that it would be an option for him. Perhaps ask your vet for a referral to an opthamologist just to see what your options are, these kind of operations can be very pricey so be prepared and you don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. At least then you will have all the information and you can make an informed choice.

In say that, my chap gets on grand in the house (he still has some vision, changes in light and cloudy shapes according to one vet we saw). He does get himself a bit confused at times (on walks he will bark at people carrying bags or rolling suitcases, footballs etc.) but, as ISDW said, blind dogs can lead a great life - they may just need some time to adjust to their new situation. My chap is nearly blind and totally deaf, with lots of health problems but he's still trucking around!

seamus

Remember that dogs actually have poorer daytime vision that humans in general, and their noses are more sensitive than any of us can comprehend, so the loss of vision for a dog isn't as devastating as it would be for a person. The loss of vision for a dog is probably the equivalent of a loss of hearing for a human - upsetting and disorienting certainly, but definitely not something which prevents everyday functioning.

Best of luck. You'll probably be completely blown away and inspired by the way your dog handles her disability.

ohmfg

Dogs deal with blindness remarkably well. They don't really realise they are blind and generally just get on with things. We had a springer who was blind from about the time he was 2 or 3. He still managed to "try" to chase the pesky rabbits - worked out well really:), the dog had fun and the rabbits were safe:cool:.

We had him seen by Micheal Woods and he did have surgery but it only staved off the problem - as Micheal had told us it would do - for about 2 years. Then total blindness set in.

joyce2009

We had a doberman cross who got diabeties at age 6 which contributed to her getting cataracts in both eyes one eye was worse than the other leaving her compleatly blind in her left eye and only partial sight in the other,,it was a gradual thing so it really didnt bother her much at all , we left funiture in the same place and kept the garden clear ie not leaving kids bikes lying around and she carried on as normal, in fact to watch her run around the garden chasing a ball was great fun as she would have to wait till she heard it land before she tore off after it:).So if it is a sudden loss I would give her time to adjust but do try and incourage her out on the lead to the garden where smells are familiar and she feels safe,,hopefully she will gain a bit of confidence with treats and praise and time ..best of luck.

Norrin Radd

Thank you all for your kind and helpful posts.

Surgery is not really an option at this stage, massively expensive but no guarantee of success.

We will do our best to make sure she is as happy and comfortable as we can.

hpsheba

Thats lousy especially in a dog so young.
As you say your dog was very active, there is a ball ( hard wearing ) called a babble ball and someone I know found it brilliant for their blind dog. It yaps away BUt the dog knows where it is and can follow it to play with it. Maybe some other toys that make noise and let her/him know where they are to play with or fetch may help them?
Might help to get the dog playing again and cheer them up?

Also have heard only good things about Michael Woods if surgery is ever an option Best of luck xxx