Need HELP with My Little Girl
 

Good morning! I am the happy owner of a well-trained, beloved, never-yappy-in-her-life, 13y/old Yorkie. Because she's become blind, I recently removed her Doggy Steps from the sofa b/c I came home to find that she got "lost" and messed on the sofa (she's used these steps for over 3 years now so I don't understand what suddenly happened! :eek: ), as well I feared that she would take that wrong step and crash into the hardwood floor and break her tiny bones. So I bought her a big, fat comfy bed in place of the steps and in the morning she goes to the comfy bed and curls up after her brekkie and business are done. But 10 minutes after I'm gone, all hell breaks loose! Now she yells at the top of her lungs (something she has NEVER done!), waking my guest after I've gone to work early in the morning. My guest will go to her and try to comfort her and Trixie's quiet for a few moments - then she starts right up again after my guest goes back to bed. This goes on for a couple of hours and I've got to do something to end this for my guest and I are frustrated. I've called the vet to see if maybe he can prescribe a calmant for her but other than that, I'm at my wits end. I've read some of the good folks here and surely you must have some suggestions/solutions? Anything at all will be welcome - thank you so much!

My first thought, maybe putting a piece of your clothing that smells like you and you don't mind her having just in case it gets torn up or something. That might help with calming.

dog
 

Is there any way Trixie can sleep with the guest. I bet she is lonely and just wants to be by somebody. Yorkies are people dogs and they are happiest when they are next to someone. Try that and see if she calms down. Lonely Yorkies are never happy Yorkies.

Poor little thing...Is she the only dog in the house???

Do you leave the television or a radio on for her?? Maybe the noise will sooth her.

Maybe your guest would be willing to go lay out on the couch and sleep while she lays in her new fluffy bed.

I am sure it's got to be scary to loose ones eyesight...especially being a dog and not knowing what's happening. I've also heard that dogs, like people, can start going senile in their old age. When my cocker spaniel got older, I am fairly certain that is what happened with her, along with loosing her eyesight.

If she has recently lost her vision she may still be adjusting to the change. Most blind dogs do very well as long as they are in a familiar environment. I have known dogs that live in houses and apartments with steps and have done well with them.

Apparently she was very accustomed to sleeping on the couch. These little dogs know where the comfort is. My Gracie will sit in the dog bed only momentarily, like when she is waiting for me to return from the bathroom or something but when she is doing some serious sleeping she is either on my bed or the furniture in the living room. I guess being up off away from the drafty hard floor is important to her. Little dogs feel even the slightest change in temperature and warm air rises.

Maybe you could return her steps and work with her on getting up and down on them again. It could be she just had a gastrointestinal issue that day and could not get up fast enough. You could throw a blanket over the couch to protect if from any further accidents. I really think she will do well once she adjusts a little more to her new situation.

Other than that you might consider getting her one of those snuggle or cuddle sacks they make for little dogs. They are thick, fluffy bag like beds that the dog can climb into and snuggle up. You could put it in her dog bed and she could snuggle up and have a soft, warm bed, however, I think she is only going to be comforted by having her couch back.