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Tips on caring for a blind dog?

There used to be a blind dog on my family's cattle ranch, who became blind later in life, so it knew instinctively the boundaries around the main ranch house, outbuildings, etc...

The best thing going for it in its old age was two more dogs that could see, and acted as his guide, if you will, until he passed.

They really looked out for him, but I understand that isn't always possible given peoples' space considerations.
 
X Factor said:
However long he has left, I'm glad for him that he's found a happy home for his remaining years. I used to volunteer at a shelter and a friend of mine took in a blind and toothless old dog rescued from a puppy mill. For 2 years that little dog was constantly at her side and under her arm until the dog died peacefully in her sleep. Thank you, for real, for stepping up for an old dog.
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Not much different from that bumper sticker...

I don't know who rescued who. :)
 
Tanngrisnir said:
There used to be a blind dog on my family's cattle ranch, who became blind later in life, so it knew instinctively the boundaries around the main ranch house, outbuildings, etc...

The best thing going for it in its old age was two more dogs that could see, and acted as his guide, if you will, until he passed.

They really looked out for him, but I understand that isn't always possible given peoples' space considerations.
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We have a second dog as well. Ella. She is a combo Dachshund and Yorkie: a Dorkie? Anyway, a natural herder kind of a dog and the two of them are like an old married couple.

She acts as his guide, as well.

Dogs are really pretty amazing little things.
 
code1211 said:
Not much different from that bumper sticker...

I don't know who rescued who. :)
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I know what you mean. For people like us, we feel we're the lucky ones. I've had the little dog curled up next to me now for just a shade under 2 years and dealing with the loss off the dog I'd had the longest last year would have been so much harder without her.
 
Jack Fabulous said:
Sorry to hear that, X.

I don't really have any advice to give you as I have never experienced a dog going blind but as a dog lover all I can say is that they are extremely resilient and seem to adapt to whatever life throws at them. Give it lot's of love and encouragement and I'll bet that it finds it's own way before too long.
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I have had experience...keep the damn gate locked!!!
Dogs have other senses that keep them an active member of the family...great companionship to my three girls ranging in age from about 5 to 9.
Just keep them within a safe perimeter...as all the kids in the neighborhood were aware to be sure and latch the gate.

Sadly, I came home and found our dog in the street, hit by a car and I had to put him down...the gate was wide open and in the screen door was a Watchtower magazine...good luck explaining it to the kids. JW's still get an earful when knocking on my door nearly 40 years later.

As long as the dog is otherwise healthy...minor adaptation should be all that is necessary, at least that was my experience for a while until...:yt:thumbdown
 
X Factor said:
I'm a complete and irredeemable sap when it comes to dogs.
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When I walk through a animal shelter the ones that tug at my heart is not the ones jumping up and down excited to see you. It is the old guy sitting in the corner of his cage knowing full well that at his advanced age nobody is coming in to pick him.

How someone can give up a dog that is 10 yrs or older is beyond me. I don't care if you live in a van by the river that is his home. They don't want much at that point in their lives. They just want couple meals a day, nice bed, and someone to give them some attention.
And so the aspwipe who owned this fairthful friend thinks the dog would be better on a concrete floor with a cage around it in a place he has never been in before to finish his dying days.
 
Beaudreaux said:
Loodle was a very happy dog. He would wag that tail all the time. Even when he lost his hearing in the last couple years, his sense of smell was fine, and when he would smell us near him, he would wag his tail.

Animals adapt. Loodle would come over to my wife when she was sitting, and put his head on her leg, and he was just as happy as could be. He still went riding in the truck which he loved, although he laid down in the seat instead of sitting up. Toward the end, his joints started going out, and we would have to pick him up to go down the steps and the same going back up. He knew we were helping him, and as soon as he felt his feet touch the ground he would bend his head around and lick us on the hand as if he was saying thank you.

Your dog can live a happy and fulfilling life, still. He'll still be the same dog, just blind. If you keep that in mind, and help them get used to the change, there's no reason the dog should be any different, just slower.

Again, any specific questions, just ask. Yes Ma'am confirmed that she would love to help another family keep their family together.
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I saw him today and I'm already impressed at how well he's navigating the house. He found his way in and out of the doggie door and knew where his water was. He's real careful where he walks so that he just barely touches something in his path before he realizes he needs to switch directions and this is just his second day of his blindness.
 
X Factor said:
I saw him today and I'm already impressed at how well he's navigating the house. He found his way in and out of the doggie door and knew where his water was. He's real careful where he walks so that he just barely touches something in his path before he realizes he needs to switch directions and this is just his second day of his blindness.
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You'll be even more impressed as time goes on. Eventually, you'll not even think of him always as blind. I'm happy for you all.
 
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