kalith

Has anyone had a blind dog?

Posted on 08/15/09, 01:53 pm

My Jack Russell Terrier, Roxie, will be 3 yrs old on Sept 30.
Two weeks ago, I noticed some discharge from her right eye. She was also acting depressed and lethargic. I immediately took her to my vet, who diagnosed lens luxation and glaucoma.

Subsequent visits to an emergency vet clinic (her eye was completely clouded and bulging) revealed that she needed different medications, and she needed to be seen by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

My initial reaction, after spending over $1000 for the vet visits and medicine, and hearing the prognosis was grim - that she will most likely lose sight in both her eyes - was to have her put down.

The veterinary ophthalmologist was encouraging. She told me that Jack Russells are very intelligent dogs, who do well without their sight, and since I am with Roxie almost all the time (I''m on disability), she will be fine. She will have a quality life.

Now I have made the commitment to do everything I can for her, to teach her, and lead her. Roxie is a very loving dog. Our bond is strong.

I'm wondering if anyone has/had experience living with a blind dog. I'm in it now for the long haul and I could use some support.

Thanks.

• Reply #1 08/22/09  9:06pm
  
  leileismom
  My schipperke, Leibchen, lost most of her sight to old age. She learned to get around o.k. Just don't move things around without "showing" them first! They can learn to respond to voice commands or clapping and they seem to find their way around pretty well. This is especially true with a gradual loss, as they learn to acclimate very well. She is not as active because she doesn't have anything to do. Play with her, treat her like a dog that can see, take her for walks (always leashed), or do whatever she has always liked to do. It is YOU that has to come to terms with this! Roxie will be just fine. Good luck. Peace
  -----------------------------------
  Not goodbye..... just until
  Marmy always comes back for you
  Leibchen March 12,1994 - November 15,2006
• Reply #2 08/24/09  1:42pm
  
  kalith
  Thanks for your sage advice. It is me that has to come to terms with this.
  
  Initially, Roxie seemed depressed (one of the reasons I knew to take her to see the vet), but now that she is getting drops to control the pressure in her eyes, and the pain has lessened, she is back to her old self.
  
  In retrospect, I think she has never seen well, and since her loss of sight has been gradual, and should continue to be, - the veterinary ophthalmologist says she still sees light and dark and shadows and movement - I know she will adjust. It is me that felt my world turned upside down in an instant. Now that I am adjusting too, we are doing well.
  
  When I think about having to keep her always leashed, I feel sad for her, not me. All her life she has had the opportunity to run free over the 450 acres of private land that we have permission to roam. Unfortunately, in the past, she has gotten a scent and taken off after some unseen animal, only to return much later. I notice that her nose is now becoming her main sense.
  
  She is a Jack Russell. They have an incredible amount of energy. I'm hoping extra training will allow me to still let her explore the land off leash. It's a big project....if it'll even be likely. I do need to think safety first.
  
  I know that she will adjust to everything else. It's the lack of freedom I fear she will miss.
• Reply #3 09/02/09  7:48am
  
  JOYHOLY
  HELLO KALITH,FIRST OF ALL I REALLY THINK YOU ARE A KIND AND LOVING PERSON,YOU MADE SUCH A WONDERFUL CHOICE FOR YOUR ROXIE,THANK YOU FROM ME,THE LORD BLESS YOU RICHLY.I HAVE NO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ,BUT I DO HAVE CONTACT WITH RESCUES AND READ ABOUT DOGS,BLIND DOGS DO WELL AND LIVE A NEAR NORMAL LIFE,IT SEEMS THAT THEY DO WELL WHEN THEY HAVE A COMPANION,THEY TRUST ANOTHER DOG TO FOLLOW ,THIS I HAVE READ FROM THOSE THAT HAVE A BLIND DOG.I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL HAVE MANY YEARS TOGHETER,JUST TAKE EXTRA CARE,THE LORD BLESS YOU ,LUCY,AND OSCAR ,CHARLIE AND PUPPY ALISHA....
• Reply #4 09/02/09  1:07pm
  
  SUNSETYELLOW
  I just want to encourage you to keep Roxie. Our dog is blind and gets around amazingly well. You just have to careful if you move furniture around or watch what you leave laying on the floor. It is just like having a blind person in your home. Roxie will adjust to her sight loss. Ricky does great even outside. I never let him off the lease though when I have him outside. His hearing though is great and so is his sense of smell. He knows exactly when we are eating!!!! He recognizes our smell and comes to us..
  
  As for her freedom, Ricky doesn't seem to miss it much. He was always on a lease from the time he was a puppy so for him there really wasn't much of an adjustment to make. I know Roxie will do just fine and you will be amazed at how well she does. We play with Ricky by talking to him so he knows where we are at. He plays really rough with my hubby and sometimes gets to rough for me!!! He still plays with his toys and can find them, I am assuming by smell.
  
  Debbie
  
• Reply #5 09/03/09  2:18pm
  
  kalith
  Thank you all. Your words are very encouraging.
  
  Each day Roxie seems to see less, but she hardly seems to notice. I do notice. Like the day last week when a rabbit sat very still, only 6 feet away from her, and Roxie was totally unaware, even when it eventually hopped away. Maybe rabbits don't have a strong odor?
  
  The suggestion to get another dog is a good one. I imagine it would be wonderful for her to have a seeing eye dog. Unfortunately, where I am living now, that is impossible. So, as the vet ophthalmologist said to me, "you will be her seeing eye person."
  
  I am still letting her run loose on the farm, and she still see well enough to fly between the fence rails (a favorite activity of hers) but I notice she is staying closer to me.
  
  Thanks again for your support. I'll keep you posted.
• Reply #6 09/14/09  1:25pm
  
  terrys
  My Juju lost her sight at a few yrs of age - about 2 or 3 as i remember - due to steroid side effects. She lived to be nearly 20. The most amazing thing she would do was what i called the leap of faith. She would stand in front of me and look up until i would invite her to "ok come up" then she would leap straight up at me trusting that my arms would always be there to catch her. She never hesitated, i never missed and dropped her. We made a beautiful team.
• Reply #7 09/15/09  1:22pm
  
  kalith
  Thanks for your encouragement. I don't feel as alone with this. Did Juju lose her sight suddenly or gradually? I am thankful that Roxie is losing her sight slowly. It is making the adjustment easier. I was afraid this would change our relationship, but rather, it seems, our relationship gets stronger every day.

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