Have you a dog that has gone blind?

[waynedear]

Our boy Malcolm the nearly nine Bichon, has lost sight in his left eye due to some long named disease and cataracts treating with human glaucoma drops, it is not getting better, but not inflamed causing pain.
He was at the vets yesterday, they say he is getting it in his right eye so 99%going to be blind.
Everything I have read so far is saying they still have a good life.
Anyone with experience ?

[garythesign]

waynedear said:

Our boy Malcolm the nearly nine Bichon, has lost sight in his left eye due to some long named disease and cataracts treating with human glaucoma drops, it is not getting better, but not inflamed causing pain.
He was at the vets yesterday, they say he is getting it in his right eye so 99%going to be blind.
Everything I have read so far is saying they still have a good life.
Anyone with experience ?

We fostered a guide dog who was losing his sight. The Vet reckoned he had about 20% vision.

When he was with us for about three months you wouldn’t know he had any impairment. He was still working until a few days before he came to us.

He now has a wonderful home where he is very happy and much loved. Not surebif his vision has deteriorated any further.

I wish you luck

[spikeyhead]

I often see a happy looking but blind Jack Russel following it's owner who's shaking a little bell to give a sound to follow when out on it's walk. It seems content enough.

[fatbutt]

Our jack Russell is passing 16 years old and is going both deaf and blind. She gets the same love she always got and wags her tail just as hard as ever. She's just fine.

We've also had a blind cat. She lived a good 5 years without sight and seemed happy enough. Old age got her in the end.

[Drive it fix it repeat]

Toward the end of my jack Russell cross’s life his hearing and sight deteriorated quite a lot. Very pleased to say I’m certain he was as happy as always. Dogs are truly astounding in how they can adapt and cope with many different situations, blindness being just one of them. Christ I fking miss him

[rxe]

Local JRT is blind as a bat, and has been for years. It just follows its mate about, presumably using smell to navigate. Even our dogs, who are not great at tolerating bad manners seem to realise the dog is blind and make allowances.

[benm3evo]

My Parents had a Border Terrier who lived to 15 & he was almost completely blind for the last year or so. You wouldn't have known it though when he was at home! As long as furniture etc wasn't moved around he was fine.

He even got lost the field on his walk one evening, long story short (& lots of panic!) my Mum went home to get a torch & there he was sat by the door waiting having got himself the half-mile or so home, including crossing 2 village roads!

I think his sense of smell seemed to over compensate & even his hearing, that wasn't great, seemed to improve after his eyes went.

In short, it's remarkable how they can adapt & still have a very fulfilling life. Much better at dealing with it than us!

All the best to Malcolm. Cheers, Ben.

[Marniet]

I had a bichon who was diagnosed with diabetes age 10, quickly followed by Cushings disease . Her sight deteriorated rapidly after this. She lived another 9 years after her diagnosis and I can honestly say she lived a happy and fulfilling life up until the very end . She enjoyed her walkies and treats and we still managed to take her away on short holidays . She adapted so well to loosing her sight and like others have said don’t move your furniture around too much and as he ages, stick to his routines . Mostly just continue to enjoy him and give him his belly rubs . Bichons are amazing little dogs. They’re not with us long enough .

[waynedear]

Thanks everyone, this all puts my mind at rest, I did not want him vexed and unhappy.

[crofty1984]

My in laws have a dog that is completely blind. He lives in a house with 10 other dogs and it's complete chaos. Have no idea how he copes, but he does. Wanders about the house with the mob, comes when called, eats his dinner and seems to be doing OK. OK, he's a bit calmer and more careful, and occasionally knocks into things, but he just gets on with it.