I found a shih tzu on the side of the road a few years back, fully clipped, in the dead of winter. My vet felt she had been dumped from a puppy mill.
She lost an eye last year and her sight has been deteriorating. I think she is about 13 now. In the last week, she has become almost completely blind. She can see light, like if I open a door, but otherwise seems like she can’t see at all. I have 10 other dogs and a very small house. I keep them separated mostly, but when she is with the others she seems to flinch all the time. I have a five month old puppy that loves her, and the feeling is not mutual. I never would have rescued the pup if I’d known she would go blind.
she does wander around all the time and shy away when she hears another dog approach.
I don’t know if she is getting too unhappy. I’ve never had a blind pet before. I don’t know if i should consider letting her go.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Have you considered rehoming her? While it might sound crazy to say rehome an older blind dog, some people really enjoy that sort of ultimate ‘rescue.’ And it sort of sounds like she’s very uncomfortable not with her life per se, but with life in a crowded household. She might be very happy as a single pet with someone else.
Aww. No, I never considered that. Since she was a puppy mill dog, she is not house broken. She was never given any choice other than to go in whatever squalid cage she lived in, she just goes where ever she is. Because of this, she is also a poop eater.
Not a dog that most people would want.
What about her having to get used to a new place that she can’t see?
thanks for the suggestion, though. It may be something to think about.
I don’t think I would feel right about it.
I believe there might be a blind dog list serve you might consider checking out.
Frankly, I don’t myself consider sight to be a quality of life issue for most older dogs. Dogs have really good hearing and smell, so they gradually rely on their other senses more. If it is causing issues with your others, you might check with rescues. I would check with specifically puppy mill rescues or breed rescues. If you can’t find one and you and your vet feel that it is time, then that may be the case. However, you might also consider separating her from the pack and seeing how she does with that. All in all, I can understand where you are coming from but all of my dogs that have lived to be old lost significant vision and that was never the reason that one was euthanized.
How about making all your dogs where jingling collars? At least she will be able to hear when one of them approaches.
I think she can tell when the puppy is coming by the gallumping feet!
I am feeling better about her. I would hate to lose her, she is a cheery little thing, usually.
I am on my second deafblind dog…I lost one 2 years ago at 14 (adopted at 12) and my current one just turned a year. The former was deaf and eventually went blind, current one was born deafblind, so circumstances slightly different.
Since he’s deaf I don’t have to do the bell thing (although he wears a cow bell so I can keep track of where the hell he is all the time, busy fool) but I think thats a good idea if you don’t keep jingling collars on in the house. I did prep my house for him a bit…I keep all the blinds open, all the time so that the sun warms the floor and he knows where to head. I also usually burn incense or a candle (same scent) at the front and back of my house in case he gets turned around. The other big DO NOT is moving the furniture about…although when we have, he smashes into it a few times and then figures it out.
He, however, has never known sight and therefore doesn’t have anything to be afraid of, and fearlessly crashes through my home like a bull in a china shop. (we’re obviously very proud)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5535007672_5fed185467.jpg
Firstly, BLESS and THANK you for taking on one of those dogs who is truly of special needs. Not many people would be willing to endure that extra maintenance and that makes you a very special person.
I wish there was a fast answer to this but I think its ultimately going to be day to day. She’s going to be afraid and frustrated sometimes…but if she is still otherwise in good health, maneuvers OK and still enjoys tottering about outside or a nice head scratch, living blind is very doable. When she refuses to walk because of fear, starts snapping at the puppy constantly etc, backing into corners, you’ll know as mommy when its time.
Wish I had better advice but I do want to reiterate you’re her angel, and no matter WHAT decision you make I have confidence you’ll do it in her best interest 
Maybe set up a small playpen area for her. She could walk around without the consequences of being mowed over by the rest of the gang. May make her feel safer. Also you could put the pee pads down to help with the potty issue.
thanks for the kind words and good advice. I will try to think more positively about her situation.
IME it is pretty individual to the dog and a realistic owner can tell if the dog is adjusting well enough to enjoy life.
I had a dog that gradually went blind at about 15. She adjusted quite well and lived another year.
Another dog went blind rather suddenly at age 13. He could not adjust. He was anxious and repeatedly hit walls in his own home. I tried for several months and then, when there was no progress, let him go. It didnt help that he was a large dog and more difficult to physically manage.
Have tried taking her to a Vet. Opthamologist? Just a thought, may not help her. We have a 14 + year-old pug that was going blind. Our regular vet didn’t think there was anything to be done . . . but we went to vet. opth. just in case, and he prescribed Tacrolimus & OTC re-wetting drops – I think dog was diagnosed with Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca but not sure if that was all that was going on with him.
Not only did the dog not lose anymore vision but his vision has IMPROVED (not 100 % but much better). Of course, the same may NOT be possible for your girl and certainly NOTHING can be done for the eye that is gone. We didn’t find the meds or Dr. visit to be very expensive and our dog comes right over to have the drops put in so it’s an easy fix to improve his remaining quality of life.
Anyway, you must be a really kind person to have taken her in with all those issues so this is really just a last ditch suggestion for her!!!
I would love to take her to a specialist, but my mare is being treated for EPM, so $$ is the issue.
I appreciate the responses. I do feel better about her.
Well, today was the day. She had also become completely deaf. My vet, bless his heart, is very pragmatic and felt that a dog that loss both sight and hearing was probably not very happy. I am going out of town for 10 days soon and did not think she would do well to find her one constant, me, gone.
I was at the point of having to lead her to water and food. She was still content, but what kind of life is that?
this was a really hard decision.
Rest in Peace, Cutie Patootie.
Oh, bless you for doing the right thing, as difficult as the decision was.
Sending you many {hugs} for being such a loving, caring person.
RIP Cutie Patootie…
Bless you for making the correct decision at the right time. Hugs to you and know that you’ll see her at the Bridge.
Godspeed Cutie and hugs…at least she got some love at the end of her life.
i am so glad you were able to re-evaluate the situation and be comfortable about keeping the dog for several more months…my sympathies for your loss, and thanks for taking her in…
i was REALLY insensed …one time one co-worker mentioned my JRT being blind, and staring off into the wrong direction, sure she was about to pounce on a mouse…she was just chuckling about how humurous it was, not being nasty…when another co-worker broke inot shrieks of laughter…“why would ANYONE keep a blind dog???”…she was serious!..she thought it was unheard of to keep a blind dog…what for???..what good are they?? (and this remark is from someone working with special needs folks, just like i was )…i gave her some food for thought by mentioning the fact that both she and her daughter required eyeglasses in order to see properly…perhaps her family should prepare for putting them down the next time their eyeglass prescription needed to be stronger…
my jrt lived to be 19 yrs old…and thanks to crappy breeding, had glaucoma and was bliind for a good portion of her life…she adapted very well, even when i rearranged furniture…she knew where she was by the difference between hardwood floor and area rugs, and because she was so small, i was able to set up a play area inside a big plastic wading pool…that way, she never lost the ball, and could chase it to her heart’s content…she would walk to the bottom of the steps and wait for me to pick her up at bedtiem, and was always good about staying out from underfoot, whether it was dog or human feet…always managed to find the water bowl, and i just put her food bowl in front of her, so no hunting it…the only thing she really did not enjoy after losing her sight was going to daughter’s hockey games…the crack of the ball on stick was alarming…and going for walks outside the yard…so, i got a sling-type baby carrier for her, and she got to enjoy going for “walks” again
Tally ho, aw, that is such a sweet story about your dog. I think Cutie was happy until she went deaf. Then, it was just too much. I have been looking for another rescue… I know I’m just trying to fill the hole.
Aww, hugs on the passing of Cutie. You did right by her in every way. ((Hugs))
