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Old 08-18-2013, 03:34 PM   #1
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Default Senior yorkie loosing sight and hearing. Tips for adjustments?

Hi! Chuck is my spunky 13 yo boy who is loosing his sight and hearing. Vet says he's healthy otherwise. Nighttime and work days he's confined to the kitchen. I've put up motion light detectors near his food and potty. That helps him to find these things. When DH and I walk him, he sometimes will walk into our feet and we just about kill ourselves trying not to kick him. I read a tip about putting bells on our shoes and will try that.
Does anyone else have tips to share to help our aging boy?

Chuck also needs to gain a pound. Does anyone have treats to recommend? Purchased or homemade?

Thanks!
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Old 08-18-2013, 06:11 PM   #2
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I don't have any experience in this area, but I wanted to bump your thread up so others see it and hopefully will be able to offer tips.

One of the things I have read is not to re-arrange furniture or other things in your home.

It is a challenge to avoid stepping on Yorkies in general. Even with my big boys, we have to do the Yorkie shuffle at home, not lifting our feet too far from the floor and not moving too fast, especially in the kitchen where they really like to get underfoot.

Has his appetite diminished? Is that the reason for the weight loss? If not, did your vet do basic blood tests to rule out health problems that would cause weight loss. If you add treats to his diet, make sure they don't exceed 15 - 20% of his daily intake or you risk unbalancing the necessary nutrients to stay healthy.
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Old 08-18-2013, 07:05 PM   #3
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My yorkie, Kecia, passed away last year at age 17. The last year and a half of her life she quickly lost her sight and hearing and was completely blind/deaf for probably about a year. I was really surprised at how quickly she adapted. I also kept her confined to a smaller space and obviously never moved her water, food, or bed so she was able to find them easily. She would run into walls and stuff but she walked slowly and so no injuries occurred. I found she took great comfort in being held and just being a true lap dog 100% of the time. Try to avoid taking her outside of his usual comfort places. I had to take Kecia to a family reunion where she was with me the entire time but at night when it was time to sleep in the hotel, she was really stressed and couldn't relax/sleep, needless to say neither one of us slept those 3 nights and it was not enjoyable for either of us. Just being there for him, cuddling and reassuring him is the best thing. As for food there is a high calorie brand that is great for gaining weight and keeping their teeth clean. I buy it at my vet's office, it's Prescription Diet, t/d oral health...they come in different sizes and are recommended to use as a treat because they can gain weight quickly from it. Kecia ate it as her main diet and, although she did drop a pound in her old age, it kept her in the 3-4lbs range for her final years.
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Old 08-20-2013, 06:21 AM   #4
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Bumping this for you. Other than what Maximo said, I don't have anything to add.
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Old 08-21-2013, 07:54 AM   #5
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Thanks for the replies.
Yes, he's had blood work and thankfully that's fine. He's never been a big fan of dog food. He's unfortunately fast when it comes to scooping up a dropped potato chip. If I'm quick, I can get him to spit it out on command and he's rewarded with chicken instead. His nose is working just fine.

Maritta, I noticed he is much more snuggily than usual. He's also bumping into walls, etc, but slowly so he's not injuring himself.
A tip for the next time you travel with your pets: we stayed at a lake house with family and there was lots of commotion. Chuck took it all in stride; he was super well behaved, even swam with the kids and ducks. Anyways, I had put an old t-shirt in his crate that I had wiped myself with, to get my smell on it. Even though he was in the same room with DH and me, I figured having that extra "mom" scent he could snuggle into would be comforting. He slept through each night without incident.
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Old 08-21-2013, 10:02 AM   #6
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There is a member here (beachdog) who has a blog she started when her baby went blind. She had MANY many GREAT ideas and pics of things she did to accommodate his lack of vision. It was truly the sweetest love I've ever heard and read. Please PM her, or look for one of her posts and click on her blog link in her signature.
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Old 08-21-2013, 10:31 AM   #7
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There is another member on here with a senior dog that went blind. Check out these threads...

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...halo-vest.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...t-presley.html


My heart totally goes out to the senior dogs!! I think there was also an article here recently about a seeing eye dog for a blind dog.
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Old 08-21-2013, 10:54 AM   #8
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Here is the link to the story about the blind dog and his seeing eye dog...

Blind dog and his seeing eye dog rescued in San Bernardino

I heard a similar stories...one involving 2 mastiffs and the other was with 2 horses. I recently got my senior dog a pal...not because he was going blind, but because he was becoming having health issues and he was becoming less active. I figured a younger dog might keep him going...and it has really helped in more ways than I imagined.
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Old 08-21-2013, 11:17 AM   #9
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Yes, I am the mom to Presley who went blind a few months ago. We have gotten him the Halo vest. It works pretty well I must say. He's been adjusting himself to it. It was not that expensive and they are custom made. About $38.

Just look up Halos for Paws.
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Old 08-21-2013, 11:29 AM   #10
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Here is the link to beachdog's blog about her boy, Paris.

Paris the Blind WonderDog

I have two seniors who are blind. One of them, my George, is also deaf. They are both amazing. The one thing I am very careful to do it not change their environment. Whenever I hold one of them I always put him back in a spot that is familiar to him. Usually a bed that they prefer. Gizmo (a foster) has one special bed he has claimed....George has three of them. They are amazing to watch. .. and they get along so well with the rest of my pups. The others seem to sense that they are not able to see.
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Old 08-21-2013, 12:41 PM   #11
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I have experience and am dealing with a 22 yr. old blind cat right now. I agree with everyone..do not change anything that he is already used to. If I'm not mistaken their sense of smell will eventually go as well. Maybe someone will chime in on the smell part. I feel for you and your little one!
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Old 08-21-2013, 06:41 PM   #12
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They sometimes can get finickier with eating when they age but so do people often. A client of mine said she found a tinned food, Natural Balance Duck and Potato it does not contain liver which is not good to feed a food with liver and she mixes it with a little water to make a gravy type thing and mixes in some dry kibble with it. IT seems to work.
Also make sure you danger proof as an old dog going deaf and blind may not suddenly know about rails on stairs or decks/balconies are quite wide and if he can fit through he can step off and plunge down. A baby gate at the bottom and top of stairs to close even when you are home will help prevent a fall as well.
They can get confused very easy and sometimes will go into dementia. Just like people can.
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