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05-12-2009, 12:27 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st paul, mn
Posts: 35
| Newly Blind Yorkie!! Sammy suddenly lost the remaining vision in the eye that had some sight left. (cataracts) we will go to the vet next week to determine if he is a candidate for eye surgery (veterinarian eye specialist). meanwhile.. my poor baby is soo scared! He runs into walls, so he has decided that standing still is the safest thing. If I set him down near his litter box, he will usually use it, but he can no longer get off the couch safely by himself (he misses he steps by a foot). I'm wondering if any of you have any ideas? I'm talking to him as much as possible so he can follow my voice. I say "oops" when he is going to walk into something, and I have removed everything but basic furniture. I have an area rug in one room, floor grates he can feetl with his paws (he can tell when to turn to go into his area). I did get him to follow my voice once today, (he is still a fairly recent puppy mill escapee, so no obedience training yet), and he will walk around upstairs fairly well, as he has not run into anything major up there, so he's not afraid... yet. HELP! My baby is scared (and I am grieving, but trying not to, 'cuz the dog whisperer says it makes things worse). |
Welcome Guest! | |
05-12-2009, 12:38 PM | #2 | |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
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05-12-2009, 12:50 PM | #3 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| He needs time to adjust to this new condition from what I've read on blind dogs. They actually do very well when they adjust but it's important not to change things around once they find their way around. You sound like a wonderful mommy for this little one. I'll keep him in my prayer's in hopes the eye specialist can help his problem and restore some sight back into his eyes. Hugs to both of you, |
05-12-2009, 01:20 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st paul, mn
Posts: 35
| thank you so much... i'm trying really hard not to cry right now. i set sammy down in his area, near his food (he doesn't eat easily), and let him be. he wandered out, banged into a wall, and started to growl and yelp at it... I tried not to interfere, but he ran over and hit my exercise machine (which i have covered with a soft blanket), then freaked out and hit the wall next to it before i could pick him up... he was totally hysterical.... |
05-12-2009, 01:23 PM | #5 | |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
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05-12-2009, 01:43 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KS
Posts: 3,289
| I am very interested in what you are going through. My little Rosie is losing her eye sight. It's not drastic yet, but it's coming. I am very impressed with what you already know. Thank you for that. It must hurt so much to watch him. I'm sad when I watch Rosie and she still sees. Hugs.
__________________ Joanne Eli ChipperEva Snowboy Rosie(R.I.P. 1996-July 29, 2013) Cocoa(R.I.P 1998-April 26, 2012): |
05-12-2009, 08:16 PM | #7 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North
Posts: 1,324
| HI I have a 6 year old that is blind also with catarcts. How to help.. google halo for blind dog. Bell yourself so he knows where you are. Scent mark things.... ei orange for danger. Rose for door jams. Vanilla for beds.. etc Spokane has a good eye vet and you need to make sure who you see is board certified. Cost is in canada.... 5000. IN US in spokane 1200 per eye if done one at a time. One last thing it may not work and the dog will not see normal or like they did before catarts. I know just how devastated this is for you having just gone through it and still trying to deside if I do the surgry. Wish you best of luck. JL
__________________ "The truth about an animal is far more beautiful than all the myths woven about it." Konrad Loranz |
05-12-2009, 08:27 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Blind dogs do very well once they adjust. Most diabetic dogs like my Lady go blind (she was one of the very few that didn't) and their owners always describe how frightening it was in the beginning, but how well they learn to cope later on. I still remember one woman's joy at being able to jog with her Lab again. Once her dog regained his confidence, she tied his leash to her waist so they could run together again. This website has been very helpful to owners of newly blind dogs: Home Page |
05-12-2009, 09:04 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,267
| Oh my. I know exactly what you are going through. About 2 years before I lost my last little yorkie, Kayla, (last July) she developed a large cataract very quickly. My vet referred me to an eye Dr. She had surgery and it was not successful. I guess one thing was her lens was so much smaller then she expected. So, Kayla had sight in one eye for a short time. Then she slowly developed a cataract in her other eye. She could see very little. So, I had a discussion with her eye Dr. and we could have gone through with another surgery and hope for the best. I decided not to put her through that again. She was 12 years old at that point. She adapted to her surroundings quite well. It took a little time. We never moved the furniture or put anything new in as she knew her way around. She knew right where her food and water bowls were. She new where the sofa and chair was as she came to one of them when she wanted to get up on it. We did have to watch her like a hawk so she didn't walk off of the sofa or chair. She always slept with me and after she walked off of the bed, I decided to buy her a bed. So she could no longer sleep with me. I referred to her as my special needs baby. I was of course heart broken to learn she would no longer be able to see. I was in tears. The bond between us became so much stronger (if that is even poss.). She was now totally dependant . She could no longer get on the sofa,or climb up the stairs by herself. All in all though, she did very well. She was the light of my life and to this day I miss her so very much. I'm sorry for the length of this post. I didn't mean to ramble. Please let me know if I can be of any help |
05-13-2009, 08:16 AM | #10 |
My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-)
Posts: 7,190
| BIG HUGS!! I know what you are going through. My Bichon went blind, it started gradual like not seeing well in the dark then he lost sight completely. (He was diabetic) The most important thing to remember is that it is soooo much harder on us than it is them. I so remember crying and thinking what kind of life can he have if he can't see? Well he did have a good life with out his sight, it just took me longer than it took him to accept that, lol Your baby will adapt, but don't move things around in your house. keep his food and keep the water bowl, potty place etc, in the same area you have it now. It will be easier for him. When they lose their site, their extreme ability with the nose takes over. Just be there with him to help guide him as he gets used to using his other senses to get around. Before you know it, you will be amazed at how well he has adapted. When people came to my house that didn't know my Bailey, they were amazed when they found out he was blind. Big hugs
__________________ MaryKay AprilLove Wubs Moosie R.I.P. Bailey & BitsyRoo |
05-13-2009, 08:21 AM | #11 | |
My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-)
Posts: 7,190
| Quote:
I know this is hard for you, but instead of not interfering at first when this happens you might want to go over to him and guide him in the right direction using only your voice, and let him walk his way around while following you.
__________________ MaryKay AprilLove Wubs Moosie R.I.P. Bailey & BitsyRoo | |
05-13-2009, 03:32 PM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st paul, mn
Posts: 35
| thank you all so much for your unconditional support and love for our dogs. sammy fell down the stairs today... he is fine (THANK GOD), but now i know i can't leave him for a second upstairs. i placed a strip of rug on the hardwood floor in front of the stairs, so hopefully he will learn that means the stairs are nearby. the scent training might work very well with him-he uses his nose all the time. (though he missed his litterbox a few times-i moved it and he's fine now). I'm giving him small doses of independence with success-setting him down on his litterbox, then moving away and talking to him. i say "oops" when he is going to bump into something, and already i notice he is doing better, though very, very tentative. so by the time we go to the eye vet, i should have a better idea of how well he will deal with things if he doesn't recover his sight. and even if he doesn't, he will still be loved! and we did take a shoping trip to target (in his new kwigy-bo bag), and he really enjoyed it, i think. (ok, so he slept the whole time lol) i will be visiting the websites and the herbalist for scents. i hope you guys know how much this is helping us, cuz i would be at a loss emotionally and knowledge-wise without you. |
05-13-2009, 04:33 PM | #13 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York
Posts: 490
| There was an excellent Dog Whisperer show on recently about a blind Yorkie. He adapted very well. His owner felt so sorry for him (of course that's only natural) and Cesar said that makes it worse for the dog. Maybe you could find the episode on line. It would be really helpful. You sound like an excellent mommy and your Yorkie is in good hands. Sending warm wishes and thoughts your way.
__________________ Donna, Sadie, Joey and Nicky (and Buddy the cockatiel) |
05-13-2009, 05:03 PM | #14 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California
Posts: 329
| I wish I had some of this info when I went through this with my first yorkie. She lost her sight for the last 2 or 3 years of her life. As she went with me pretty much everywhere, I tried to keep her life pretty normal. She did fine as long as I let her know when there were obstacles. When we came to a curb or a step... I said wait, and then said jump up, or jump down. Occasionally she'd run into something, but I just said "you're okay" and we'd continue on. Of course, she got carried around quite a bit -- but not any more then I did when she had her sight. I wanted her to keep her independance for as long as possible. At home, I did the same until she knew her way around. I'd tell her wait to let her know something was there, and then she'd find her way from there. Just stay as calm as you can with your baby, and work through it with him. Before long, he'll be getting around as good as he did before. Just don't move things on him without working him through the changes! Lots of love and tummy rubs are in order! |
05-14-2009, 12:42 AM | #15 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| Your story brings tears to my eyes. I know your yorkie baby will thrive under your care! Put a bell on him and on yourslef and talk to him constantly so he knows where you are and where walls are. People and animals alike will develop thier other senses to make up for what they are missing. Caesar Milan is right, if you sound nervous the doggy will pick up on it (just like human kids). Talk to him like everyitng is ok, don't treat him like anything is wrong, and he will eventually think "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ME! : ) This is a part of life and I am AWESOME!"
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
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