Anyone with experience of blind dogs

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LuvRacing

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Hi,

I'm after a bit of advice please. My dog had been gradually going blind for a long time before having to have her eyes removed due to glaucoma last week.

Does anyone have any tips for walking as we seem to have lost all steering. Before the removal she was walked on a harness on the advice of our vet and we got on fine but now it seems to have gone to pot and keeping her from veering off into the bank. Would going back to having her lead on her collar help?

Sorry for the ramble but just want to do whats best for her.

Thank you
 
I'm not sure what to advise other than lots of voice.

There's a dog at the stables had both of his eyes removed and he still wonders around the farm supervised and still goes for his walks off lead. All they do is talk to him lots.

I wouldn't have thought it would make much difference if it was a harness or a collar but I've not been in that situation
 
ah your poor pooch!

I dont have any experience personally, but my friends mum used to breed dogs and had a few really old ones that went deaf and blind, surprisingly they seemed to manage really well, i think routine and familiar walks are the key, they knew their way round by smell, but they did have about 6 dogs so they did tend to follow each other!

im sure she will ajust, i can imagine it must really really hard for you, just take your time :) good luck
 
I`ve had two,one did`nt adjust well and was PTS,the other managed well in his own charted territory.Neither were asked to go outside their known patch as I thought it was pointless,confusing and not very kind. I would not go there again ,as although the second one had a decent quality of life in his own environment it was`nt a good enough quality for me for any future dogs.
If a dog has a disabling condition and there is no brighter future ,and blindness is one Hell of a disablement,then my opinion is that to keep the dog going is selfishness on my part.
Some dogs, however, do do well ; I used to board a blind standard poodle;the first time she was very confused,but thereafter she had everything mapped out in her brain and no one would have guessed she had no sight.An amazingly intelligent girl ,that one.
 
I used to use a harness like this one:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FERPLAST-DAYT...s_Dogs&var=&hash=item84b6c45ce2#ht_4898wt_907. Instead of attaching the lead to top rings I used a coupler lead (or you could use 2 leads) and attach them to the lower rings which sit just above each shoulder - that way you have a direct line to each shoulder and are able to steer fairly easily. Not sure how well I have described that. pm me if you want more info or I could try and find a photo. Good luck.
 
There's a dog I meet out riding that has had its eyes removed, as I know about it I give the lady time to call it back and put on lead etc, she has other dogs, it listens to her voice and goes in that direction.

I would have thought the lead on the collar would be better for steering.

We had something called a gentle leader for our springer when we first got her she pulled a bit, my OH only used it once or twice, I didn't use it at all but that might be even better as you have hold of her head, you are welcome to have it if you PM me your address, its gathering dust, saves you spending money if it doesn't work
 
Thank's everyone, she is so bright and alert and is fine indoors and in the garden, so much happier than a couple of weeks ago which is really nice to see, just got to practice the walking now. I'm just happy to see her wanting to go for a walk again.

Thank you for the offer Noisygirl, i'll DM you.
 
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