how do you help a dog with vision issues?

I think some depends on your pets personality. I'm chatty, so excuse the long response....

Growing up we had a cat, she was a terror, independent, strong willed. When we moved to CA and had a doggie door, she took to it day 1 where it took me ages to get my sheltie comfortable with it. She was blind, deaf, wandered throughout the neighborhood. We never let her lack of site change her way of life. She dies of old age at the ripe age of 22 never acknowledging her disabilities.

We had a cat who had the unfortunate experience of out-living a break in. The offenders only took a video player and remote, but stabbed one cat, a water bed, emptied every drawer, cabinet in the house. One of our cats ended up blind - vet felt she was either kicked in the head or thrown against a wall. She, too, lived to a ripe old age, even moved round, but took time to acclimate herself to surroundings. She was an indoor cat.

My first doxie lots his sight and vision. Vet felt since there were no other explanations, might be brain related. He faltered sad to say, but we kept him longer than we probably should have - couldn't say goodbye.

I've currently been living with Kooper, our 2nd doxie, who turns 13 tomorrow and is almost totally deaf (once in a while he does react to something - tonight I swear I think he heard Deacon!). He has horrid cataracts and is almost totally blind. To be honest, the biggest thing with him is I don't think he realizes there is anything different about him. He's a scary soul to deal with. He has always been an escape artist and LOVES being chased. Being blind and deaf has not stopped his wild, crazy side. He escapes, goodness I cannot tell you the stress he causes us when he does! I think the fact he cannot see sort of helps a bit because when he gets out, he's going on scents and he gets confused and cannot always find his way. We feel a HUGE load of responsibility where he is concerned, he's got gumption I hope i have in my older years, but holy crud, he gives us such scares. When he gets loose, (and the older he gets, the more conniving and fast he gets while we get older and slower!) it is very, very scary to us. He cannot hear if you call, he cannot see where he is going - he just goes, with complete and utter joy and a smile on his face, he goes.... until we catch him. He has bladder issues now and pancreatitis so he has to pee and poo quite often. Thankfully, he doesn't get far. We have gates up and all, yet somehow he just KNOWS when something is a tad off and runs.

Your brothers pupper will adjust, most likely faster to the loss of vision than your brother will. They have senses we don't, they adjust better than we do. I think the key is to make your pupper comfortable, don't make changes they are not used to adn if you have to make them in small, small increments if possible. I really am of the belief that as one sense goes with my pets, others pick up and become stronger. It may actually become more of a test of your brothers ability to adjust than his pupper!

Best wishes!!!
 
Sandy in CT said:
I think some depends on your pets personality. I'm chatty, so excuse the long response....

Growing up we had a cat, she was a terror, independent, strong willed. When we moved to CA and had a doggie door, she took to it day 1 where it took me ages to get my sheltie comfortable with it. She was blind, deaf, wandered throughout the neighborhood. We never let her lack of site change her way of life. She dies of old age at the ripe age of 22 never acknowledging her disabilities.

We had a cat who had the unfortunate experience of out-living a break in. The offenders only took a video player and remote, but stabbed one cat, a water bed, emptied every drawer, cabinet in the house. One of our cats ended up blind - vet felt she was either kicked in the head or thrown against a wall. She, too, lived to a ripe old age, even moved round, but took time to acclimate herself to surroundings. She was an indoor cat.

My first doxie lots his sight and vision. Vet felt since there were no other explanations, might be brain related. He faltered sad to say, but we kept him longer than we probably should have - couldn't say goodbye.

I've currently been living with Kooper, our 2nd doxie, who turns 13 tomorrow and is almost totally deaf (once in a while he does react to something - tonight I swear I think he heard Deacon!). He has horrid cataracts and is almost totally blind. To be honest, the biggest thing with him is I don't think he realizes there is anything different about him. He's a scary soul to deal with. He has always been an escape artist and LOVES being chased. Being blind and deaf has not stopped his wild, crazy side. He escapes, goodness I cannot tell you the stress he causes us when he does! I think the fact he cannot see sort of helps a bit because when he gets out, he's going on scents and he gets confused and cannot always find his way. We feel a HUGE load of responsibility where he is concerned, he's got gumption I hope i have in my older years, but holy crud, he gives us such scares. When he gets loose, (and the older he gets, the more conniving and fast he gets while we get older and slower!) it is very, very scary to us. He cannot hear if you call, he cannot see where he is going - he just goes, with complete and utter joy and a smile on his face, he goes.... until we catch him. He has bladder issues now and pancreatitis so he has to pee and poo quite often. Thankfully, he doesn't get far. We have gates up and all, yet somehow he just KNOWS when something is a tad off and runs.

Your brothers pupper will adjust, most likely faster to the loss of vision than your brother will. They have senses we don't, they adjust better than we do. I think the key is to make your pupper comfortable, don't make changes they are not used to adn if you have to make them in small, small increments if possible. I really am of the belief that as one sense goes with my pets, others pick up and become stronger. It may actually become more of a test of your brothers ability to adjust than his pupper!

Best wishes!!!
Click to expand...
thanks Sandy- I had told him that dogs can adjust but since it was a sudden loss instead of gradual, he was sure something else was going on. and it was- she is recovering from a stroke and can see again.
like you said with Kooper- she was outside after it first happened and wandered off but neighbors recognized her and brought her home.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top