New Member with New Puppy (blind and skinny)
 

I am the new mother of an eight-month-old Yorkie girl. She came to me because the overwhelmed person who had her knew she couldn’t care for Lexie adequately when her own life circumstances changed, and she began caring for her very needy two-year-old granddaughter. Lexie was unintentionally neglected socially for the last couple months.

Little Lexie is tiny (3 pounds 4 ounces) and newly blind from granular corneal distrophy. Lexie’s former person had never had an indoor dog before, much less one with a disability.

Lexie is adorable and shy but cuddly. She moves around cautiously but without a problem. She can not only walk on her back legs, but when she takes a whiz, she lifts her entire back end up and walks away from the wet spot on her front legs, too fastidious to get her back feet wet with pee.

I am so happy to be here in YorkieTalk, and I would love to be pointed toward resources which might help with the following questions:

1. Lexie is underweight and bony. How can I put weight on her quickly and healthfully? She came to me on Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrior puppy food, and I just bought a bag of Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy chicken and oatmeal formula. I am happy to prepare meals for her, but what would be best?

2. What ideas do you have for enrichment for a blind puppy? I wear her a lot in a sling.

Thanks to all, Natalie

PS: I haven't figured out how to upload a picture yet. Working on it.

First Welcome to Yorkie Talk. You are quite brave to take on a special needs puppy.


I am not sure if you already have researched the disease - but if not that would be a good starting place. Then if you have not taken her for a full blood work up and a vet health check I would do so very soon.


The skinniness might just be a function of lack of appropriate feeding schedules - or it could indicate an underlying health problem. Her movement pattern if I understand your detail correctly would be of some concern for me - and if it is unlikely to be evidenced when you take her to the vet - then I would try for a video of it before I go.


In terms of weight gain - go for a 5% increase in food volumne a week. Split the meals up to three feedings if you schedule allows for it. I would weigh her daily with her size a food scale is probably big enough to use. If your gal is doing well on the food you are feeding do not introduce changes just yet.


A dog is doing well on a food if their skin is healthy - the hair healthy - teeth - ears - and well eyes clear )which of course would be difficult to see due to her eye condition. Their stool is well formed etc.


In terms of the blindness - do you know if she is completely blind unable to see anything? Some folks with dogs with failing eyesight will use night lights all around. Because of her size I would if I have stairs in my place cordon off the stairs.


Stimulation? You can try toys that make some sounds when played with. You can use interactive toys that challenge her mind. You can use Find the Toy - and have your different toys scented. A smidgen of peanut butter - a small piece of chicken breast under the toy. Those are some ideas for you.


Good luck and let us know how it goes at the vets!

Wow, bless your BIG heart for taking in and loving such a special one :love:. I love it! She sounds so precious and sweet. Would love to see a pic of her!

For putting on weight...try feeding some calorie dense treats like a little peanut butter and cheese...that should help a bit. Maybe some yummy doggie treats too, meat based ones.

For enrichment, maybe Kongs, toys that make sounds etc...for example that one toy that has a ball w/ a tail attached to it - it moves around and makes noises.

I am not experienced enough to be able to offer advice but I want to say hats off to you for taking in a pooch that most people would want no part of. She is lucky to have you !

Goodness.... As Whylie's Mom said, you have a big heart and thank you so much for taking Lexie in! Sounds like you absolutely adore her and more than ready to meet her needs. I bet she'll return the love/caring you give her 3 times over!

Have you taken her to a vet yet? Perhaps the vet can give you better ideas on what to feed her? I'm other members here will be able to share all sorts of great ideas for your new furbie! Hope to see a picture soon!

Considering her size and her age, I would leave her on the RC puppy food.....why are you taking her off her food she is apparently tolerating and eating? If she is not having issues with the food she is on, I would not give her just one more thing to try to adjust to. I would keep RC puppy kibble available at all times (free feed), and increase the canned feedings to 4 per day if your work schedule allows it.

As suggested, calorie dense treats in addition to her meals, I give mine ONLY human grade treats like vanilla wafers, Teddy Grahams, Goldfish crackers, Fruit Loop cereal, .....I am terrified of "doggie treats" bought in stores because of all the toxins from China.....

There is a blind dogs list on yahoo that you might find helpful. There are people there with dogs that are blind for many different reasons and they can help you a lot with your questions about raising a blind dog.


Diana

Lexie Update
 

Thanks to all of you for the support and wonderful ideas!

A little more about me. My husband and I moved out law office home from downtown Knoxville 3 1/2 years ago and we now work from the lower level of our home. I have the blind cat and Lexie with me all day. The other three dogs and the cat get the rest of the house. Lexie sleeps with us.

Lexie received very good veterinary care in Winchester, TN. I am getting her records and will then take her to my holistic vet here in Knoxville. I also have the opthamology department at the University of Tennessee vet school about 5 miles from my house.

Lexie's breeder had her on Blue Buffalo. She came to me with an almost empty bag of Royal Canin which I mixed in with the BB and free feed. Lexie also likes Radar's food (blind cat). I got a tiny red Kong which I will load with peanut butter.

Does anyone know the name of the ball with the tail which moves and makes noises which Wylie's mom mentioned? Lexie's project for today has been to subdue the giant bag of cat food which made it into the office but not upstairs.

I found the Yahoo list re blind dogs! I have also found other resources including a website on blind dog training which is in both English and Japanese.

THanks!

Natalie

Still trying to figure out how to post pictures. Studying the relevant threads.