Blind Yorkies

[Rescuemomma]

Ok, it's been a REALLY long time since I've had a completely blind dog. Lily doesn't appear to be able to see at all. She's actually adapting pretty well, but is there anyone else that can give me advise on how to make the transition easier? So far, no accidents and she's eating wonderfully (I have to smile, the shelter said she'd barely eaten the entire time there!), but if she can hear me and can't get to where she can touch me, she starts crying because she doesn't know where she is. She will also wonder into a corner and can't figure out how to get herself out of it. I tried crating her when I can't be right there with her, but the crate really freaked her out when she kept bumping into the sides of the crate, so for now I'm just baby gating her into my bedroom when I can't closely supervise her.

[chachi]

Poor baby I dont have any experience with blindness with dogs but mine are 8 so im sure i will in time. Imbumping this up so this thread doesnt get lost and maybe you get some responses

[Rescuemomma]

The shelter said they thought Lily was about 8, but I'm not so sure, in my experience with Yorkies, they don't age as fast as many other dogs, and Lily already has significant arthritis, cataracts to the point of blindness, and is noticeably an older dog. Benji was about 8, and he didn't act it at all! I'm guessing she's at least 10, maybe older.

[Teresa Ford]

I feel for you. I was not helping them learn their their way around by picking them up and carrying them out side, to their food etc.. After talking with other trainers I used sound and smell to help them find their way to things. They do learn the layout. One time we had to use a soft cone to protect a blind dog from banging into things. But that dog had dementia and could not memorize the way to his food or crate. We also used a soft sided crate for blind fosters. Thank You for bringing her into your heart and home.

[avemike]

Hi
I lost my darling yorkie age 11yrs in May this year. She went blind two years earlier..due to an accident. She was depressed for a long time and then adjusted and accepted..but her life was never the same. She lost her lovely spunky character and was anxious especially if she got wind we were going out. This was activated by the smell of my perfume or the hairdyer..she would cry out consistently. I had to passifiy her & give her and her sister a bone. Poor little thing..R.I.P. my darling Bo xx

[Rescuemomma]

The shelter I rescued her from had said that Lily wouldn't eat, and would lash out at anyone that tried to touch her. They didn't realize she's blind. She was terrified! I haven't had a single problem with her eating, and haven't even heard a growl! ALL she needed was some love and security. She actually seems pretty well adjusted, but she does cry out if she can't find me, I've blocked all stairs because she'd GI up a few steps and get scared and I was worried she'd fall back down the ones she'd climbed. She knows to go slow and make sure she knows what's in front of her before she takes a step and is really careful, but she does lack confidence, and that's the biggest thing I'd love to find ways to help her gain so she doesn't feel she has to walk hunkered down and slow to avoid bumping things. Right now her injured eye is also pretty painful, so I'm sure that's not helping any, either!

[gracielove]

You can continue to walk her around each room where you live. Slowly let her feel and smell the objects in each room. She will eventually learn the lay of your home. It may take her a while since it sounds like your home is fairly new to her. It must be frightening to not be able to see in a place she is unfamiliar with. If you have several rooms than just do the ones she will be in the most at first. Dogs do adjust to blindness. It is the new area that she needs to adjust to right now. Continually introducing her to each object in each room will help her greatly.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Rescuemomma

The shelter I rescued her from had said that Lily wouldn't eat, and would lash out at anyone that tried to touch her. They didn't realize she's blind. She was terrified! I haven't had a single problem with her eating, and haven't even heard a growl! ALL she needed was some love and security. She actually seems pretty well adjusted, but she does cry out if she can't find me, I've blocked all stairs because she'd GI up a few steps and get scared and I was worried she'd fall back down the ones she'd climbed. She knows to go slow and make sure she knows what's in front of her before she takes a step and is really careful, but she does lack confidence, and that's the biggest thing I'd love to find ways to help her gain so she doesn't feel she has to walk hunkered down and slow to avoid bumping things. Right now her injured eye is also pretty painful, so I'm sure that's not helping any, either!

I am amazed at how poorly trained some shelter personal are at assessing the dogs that come in. Very sad. Many are labeled as hopeless because they are so afraid or have been abused so they growl and bite to defend themselves as any dog would.

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I am amazed at how poorly trained some shelter personal are at assessing the dogs that come in. Very sad. Many are labeled as hopeless because they are so afraid or have been abused so they growl and bite to defend themselves as any dog would.

Exactly My Benji was a death row dog as well - Simply because he had no teeth. They weren't even going to give him a chance. It breaks my heart to see Yorkies on death row, Lily was just misunderstood.

Yes, she is very new to my home, I just rescued her from the shelter yesterday. She has a horrific injury to her one eye that we're treating and hoping the eye can be saved right now, but even then the eye is covered with cataracts, as is her "good" eye. She's completely blind.

I have been trying to mostly confine her to my bedroom and the living room, but she's having a hard time with that, if she hears me and there's a baby gate or something to keep her safe that prevents her from getting to me it really upsets her right now. I'm sure alot of her anxieties about that will improve as she settles in and realizes that I'm not going anywhere, and she's not going to get abandoned again!

[CouversMom]

My childhood dog is a shih-tzu who lives with my parents and is completely blind and gets around just fine. She knows exactly where the furniture is and doesn't have any problems. If they move any furniture, it just takes her a couple days and she begins to figure it out.

I just always make sure to let her know when I'm going to pick her up so I don't scare her. Her hearing is bad too, so I just talk kind of loud, make loud steps and pet her softly so she isn't frightened.

[lillymae]

I went through this about 9 yrs ago with a little very old girl Poodle/ShihTzu I took out of the shelter. She was in the exact same spot in her kennel @ the shelter for 3 days & on the 4th day I went back to see if her owner had come to claim her & they had not & again she was curled up in the same position & spot. When I got a worker to get her out 4 me the moron looked @ me like I had lost my mind & said "This dog, you really want to see this dog???" in an angry voice I said YES, THAT DOG ! when he picked her up & I saw her little face it made me gasp & when he handed her to me & I felt EVERY bone in her little body all I could do was hold her to me & cry. Usually this shelter keeps very old and/or blind small dogs in the cat room in a cage by themselves but for some unknown reason they had put her in with 5 other young small dogs. She was in there for 8 days & no one noticed she had not eaten as she was blind & the younger pups would bump into her & startle her so she just went & curled up in the corner to die all alone on the cold hard floor. She went home with me & had a bath w/medicated shampoo as she also had green goo oozing out of her eyes & PP & RED itchy skin & all the hair burned off her face from the severe yeast all over her little body. After a bath I put food down for her & she ate like no tomorrow, went out of the kitchen & found a bed & went to sleep. About half an hr later I went outside for a smoke & came back inside to find that she was NOWHERE on the 1st floor of my home so I went upstairs to find her standing @ the end of my bed yipping & jumping in place. I believe she followed my scent to the bed as that's what would have probably my strongest scent. The fact that she was near death just hrs earlier to going up a flight of stairs with a landing & then a turn back up & then down 1 hall to another being totally blind to find my scent was just sheer WILL because she could barely stand from starvation & weakness. She was my sweet little Gracie Mae till she had to be PTS due to renal failure 4 yrs ago & I still miss her silly little attitude & loving personality & STUPBORNESS. R.I.P GracieMae
Lily may not maneuver your home as fast as Gracie did mine but & bet it will be no time before Lily is rite @ home in your house.
She will become the love of your life, you'll see.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Rescuemomma

Exactly My Benji was a death row dog as well - Simply because he had no teeth. They weren't even going to give him a chance. It breaks my heart to see Yorkies on death row, Lily was just misunderstood.

Yes, she is very new to my home, I just rescued her from the shelter yesterday. She has a horrific injury to her one eye that we're treating and hoping the eye can be saved right now, but even then the eye is covered with cataracts, as is her "good" eye. She's completely blind.

I have been trying to mostly confine her to my bedroom and the living room, but she's having a hard time with that, if she hears me and there's a baby gate or something to keep her safe that prevents her from getting to me it really upsets her right now. I'm sure alot of her anxieties about that will improve as she settles in and realizes that I'm not going anywhere, and she's not going to get abandoned again!

You know some people who are training puppies tether the pup to themselves with a leash and just take them every where they go. That way they can observe them at all times and when they start acting like they have to pee get them outside or to the pee pad. That might help with your little rescue girl. Just keep her on a leash with you as much as you can. That way she will feel comfortable being with you and you will at the same time be training her concerning her new surroundings. Of course it may slow you down a bit but I think it would help her in many ways. She does need to have at least one room where she feels comfortable when you are away. I'm so glad you saved her. Just imagine the nightmare she has been through!

[Juliealfies mum]

I'm so glad you have found this little one, I think once she is a little more settled she will find her way around .my first little one went blind and started to bump into things at first,which was heartbreaking but he did really well adjusting and as long as we did not move things around he got around pretty well

[Yorkie24U]

I have 2 blind yorkies now. Eye problems were inherited from their same parents, litters 2 yrs apart. I didn't know back then the breeder did not get the parents tested for eye problems. Anyways, Now 15 yrs later I have a little girl with PRA, progressive retina atrophy. by the time I found it, the vet said there was nothing she could do, so Lacey, 3 yrs ago, has found her way around ok and adapted. Just recently her little sister Lindsey became blind in the only eye she has left, with a cataract. Her other eye had to be removed due to glaucoma. Lindsey is having a hard time adapting, just keep yourself positive, as they will react to your every emotion. They do learn to adapt, some harder than others, but love them at first when they need it. Start them in a small safe area. I've bought so much of the foam pipe insulation, the clerk knows me by my first name to wrap on furniture legs.
Recently lindsey was in the ER for a nose problem, she keeps sneezing, vomited, and hard breathing. She was xrayed, heart was ok, and lungs were clear, was on oxygen for 12 hrs. they couldn't figure out what it was, other than maybe a polyp and wanted to further the care with a scope up her nose. I decided to wait and see if anything came out or if it could be allergies. Blind dogs are wonderful, go to their site, Blind Dogs.net - Where dogs see with their heart! - Home and theres lots of information there. Also if you are on Facebook, there is a group there to answer your questions on anything with blind dogs instantly at Blind Dogs group. There is a resource book called "Living with Blind Dogs" which is very helpful to read also. I'm so glad you found your little one and are compassionate with her needs. She'll be ok with a lot of love, she'll build confidence within herself and adapt. Wishing you the best and hope to see you in Blind Dog group where you can ask any questions. We all have been there and working thru and will help you. Dogbless your little one <3

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by Yorkie24U

I have 2 blind yorkies now. Eye problems were inherited from their same parents, litters 2 yrs apart. I didn't know back then the breeder did not get the parents tested for eye problems. Anyways, Now 15 yrs later I have a little girl with PRA, progressive retina atrophy. by the time I found it, the vet said there was nothing she could do, so Lacey, 3 yrs ago, has found her way around ok and adapted. Just recently her little sister Lindsey became blind in the only eye she has left, with a cataract. Her other eye had to be removed due to glaucoma. Lindsey is having a hard time adapting, just keep yourself positive, as they will react to your every emotion. They do learn to adapt, some harder than others, but love them at first when they need it. Start them in a small safe area. I've bought so much of the foam pipe insulation, the clerk knows me by my first name to wrap on furniture legs.
Recently lindsey was in the ER for a nose problem, she keeps sneezing, vomited, and hard breathing. She was xrayed, heart was ok, and lungs were clear, was on oxygen for 12 hrs. they couldn't figure out what it was, other than maybe a polyp and wanted to further the care with a scope up her nose. I decided to wait and see if anything came out or if it could be allergies. Blind dogs are wonderful, go to their site, Blind Dogs.net - Where dogs see with their heart! - Home and theres lots of information there. Also if you are on Facebook, there is a group there to answer your questions on anything with blind dogs instantly at Blind Dogs group. There is a resource book called "Living with Blind Dogs" which is very helpful to read also. I'm so glad you found your little one and are compassionate with her needs. She'll be ok with a lot of love, she'll build confidence within herself and adapt. Wishing you the best and hope to see you in Blind Dog group where you can ask any questions. We all have been there and working thru and will help you. Dogbless your little one <3

What is the name of the facebook group? I am on Facebook