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Expert
Posts: 1477
  
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | My 14yr old chihuahua has been completely deaf and is almost completely blind from cataracts. He just about can not function outside in the sun so we bought him some dog sunglasses and those do help but he refuses to wear them more than a couple minutes. I've noticed him getting worse inside too like bumping into things and tripping over things. He won't jump off my bed or the couch anymore but I don't know if that's age or if he can't see the floor. He just stands at the edge and whines until someone gets him down. I'll do what ever needs to be done to take care of him and help him I just need to know what that is. If he was a big outside dog I MIGHT consider putting him down but right now im not even considering that an option. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
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Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | My mom's dog is deaf, she taught her hand signals and obivously doesn't let her run around outside without being in a fence or on a leash. She is a really mindful and great dog, doesn't bother her being deaf one bit.
As for the blind part, that would be a tough one- good luck, poor pup  |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Yes, my mom's JRT was 19 when we had to have her put down, she was blind for the last 3 years but still got around the place, even out side very well because she knew every inch of the 9 acres. She became hard of hearing the last 4 months. She could still jump up and down of the couch, which is where she slept. When she went outside to feed she just buddied up to the big dog or made sure she was next to you. What about getting her a companion dog?
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | run n rate - 2016-03-08 10:47 AM
Yes, my mom's JRT was 19 when we had to have her put down, she was blind for the last 3 years but still got around the place, even out side very well because she knew every inch of the 9 acres. She became hard of hearing the last 4 months. She could still jump up and down of the couch, which is where she slept. When she went outside to feed she just buddied up to the big dog or made sure she was next to you. What about getting her a companion dog?
We have 2 others. Another chihuahua and a Doxie. We've lived in the same place his whole life so I know that helps too |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Can you get her a ramp or stairs for the bed to help that situation out? I 'd think the ramp would be a better solution since it would be new for him and help him find it and go up and down it a few times. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| I saw an attachment to a collar that helped a blind dog. It was on Pinterest. It was plastic and attached to the collar at the point of each shoulder. It almost looked like part of a sewing hoop. It gave the dog a bumper to keep from running into objects. |
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Location: texas | that hoop out front of the dog weamed to give it the confidence to move about more easily
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | run n rate - 2016-03-08 11:55 AM
Can you get her a ramp or stairs for the bed to help that situation out? I 'd think the ramp would be a better solution since it would be new for him and help him find it and go up and down it a few times.
We've always had stairs for our Doxie because she's too short to get on the bed and couch. We tried to teach him to use them too but he never would. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: Kansas | google Halo Vest it is a vest with a hoop that extends in front of the dogs head and prevents them from hitting / running into furniture head on. More of a bumper. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Get one!
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Very cool.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | hoofs_in_motion - 2016-03-08 3:49 PM
Get one!
Most definitely!!! I'll find them and order him one. Just hope they come small enough because he only weights about 3lbs |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| sorry i am just the opposite i would put down how would you feel locked in a silent black world |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Ours still enjoyed life very much as I said, she went out with me almost every morning and night to be a "feeder dog". She missed going to help feed the last 2 days of her life. So much of it is about whether they still enjoy their lives, not how much we have to do for them to make it possible. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| We have a 22ish year old pomeranian. She is an outside dog all the time. She is completely deaf and mostly blind. The other three outside dogs take good care of her making sure she doesn't get into trouble, but she still is perfectly happy chasing squirrels, barking all night, etc. Until such time she doesn't enjoy little things, then she's got a home here. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| You've gotten all the advice I was going to offer. Maybe a ramp for the bed, make sure you always keep his food/ water in the same place, be careful of any changes you make in the house (rearranging furniture and such), he may become more fearful of new things, including people so you have to watch out for that. As far as will he be happy? There are some dogs that wouldn't be but you've been with him a long time, you'll be able to tell. Humans rely a lot on sight and hearing but dogs are incredible with all their senses, especially smell so he will still be getting stimulation, his life won't necessarily be an empty hole. You know what's best for him so we can only tell you our opinion.
(and that halo vest is awesome!) |
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