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04-25-2009, 04:32 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hauppauge, NY, USA
Posts: 5
| Blindness I have a 10 1/2 year old yorkie who was just diagnosed as being completely blind. It was about a 4 -6 week process. At first she was just walking past me, then she started walking into things so I wasn't sure if she couldn't see at all or maybe she could just see shadows. Yesterday I took her to a specialist and he told me she couldn't see at all. He thinks it's a brain tumor but can't confirm without doing a $2,000 MRI. He said she definitely won't get better only worse. Is it selfish/cruel of me to keep her around being this way? She has other issues as well--bad hips/neck, but she doesn't seem to be in any pain at all. I have no idea what to do. She can find her water bowl and food bowl, but is this too much for her? Any suggestions, thoughts??? Thank you!!! |
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04-25-2009, 06:19 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | I am sorry to hear about your baby. if it was me I would see how she does and if she appears in no pain and seems to be able to maneuver safely around just take it one day at a time. No you are not being cruel, you just want the best for your baby.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
04-27-2009, 10:03 AM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 82
| re: blindness Ebuzz, First of all, I’m sorry to hear that your Yorkie is blind. Please allow me to relate our experience with this. Our Yorkie, Mercedes, was blind the last 3-4 years of her life, and she lived to be 15. It’s not fair, and it is sad, but you might be amazed at how well they can adapt. They create an internal “visual map” in their heads and can actually navigate your house fairly well once they adapt to their condition. Will she still run into things occasionally ? Yes. But her other senses will probably compensate for her lack of sight. Our baby went blind due to cataracts, so I can’t speak to the brain tumor possibility. You did the right thing by taking her to a specialist. We were religious with the application of the eye drops/ointment (so her eyes didn’t dry out) for our Mercedes, of course you need to be aware of where she is at all times (so she doesn’t get kicked/stepped on/into trouble, and make sure she still gets some exercise (when Mercy went blind she put on a little extra weight). And lots of extra love !!!!!!!!!! If she doesn’t seem to be in any pain (we gave Mercy a joint supplement to help with her arthritis), then I say just keep an eye on her, and if you feel she is suffering or has no quality of life, you will know what to do. In the end, our Mercy was in relatively good shape considering her age, unfortunately, she had a collapsed trachea that made it hard for her to breathe. Only you can know when it is time to let her go, and it is a precious gift you can give her that comes from love. Good luck to you and your pet. |
04-27-2009, 04:05 PM | #4 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hauppauge, NY, USA
Posts: 5
| Thank you for sharing your story. It definitely makes me feel better. Roxy has a collapsed trachea also, so I can relate. I honestly don't think she's in any pain so I won't do anything unless it seems like she's really suffering. It's nice to know that she'll adapt to her surroundings. Like I said, she can find her water/food bowls so that's a big thing right there. Thanks again!! |
04-27-2009, 04:22 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA
Posts: 4,327
| I'm sorry to hear that about your Yorkie. I have a 10 year old, almost 11, year old Shih Tzu. We found out recently that she has Glaucoma in both her eyes and she will eventually go blind. I feel for you because mornings are the worst for my Gracie. She also bumps into things and I have to lead her out the door to go. Evenings are better for her though. The vet told me that blind dogs will adapt to their surrounding as long as you don't change the layout of your house or furniture. Good Luck to you & your precious Yorkie.
__________________ Rudy, Zoey & Buster's mom (Dawn) Rest In Peace my precious Gracie girl & Lucky buddie Dogster:http://www.dogster.com/dogs/382659 & http://www.dogster.com/dogs/497315 |
04-27-2009, 04:42 PM | #6 |
BANNED FOR NOT SENDING A GE GIFT! | one more thing Try not to move things around in the house, like her food and water bowls, make sure doors are closed, drawers are shut, etc. It will make things easier for her.....good luck and God Bless both of you |
04-27-2009, 04:59 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Virginia
Posts: 50
| Toto has bilateral cataracts which limit his vision severely. I got him this way from the local pound and I'm so glad no one thought they were being selfish by giving him another chance to have a life! A blind dog is just a dog with a vision problem! Take a wait and see attitude, okay? Callie and Toto and Chester and the rest of the gang here at Mom's House. |
04-27-2009, 05:38 PM | #8 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hauppauge, NY, USA
Posts: 5
| Thanks everyone. I feel soooo much better now and a lot more confident in my little Roxy. |
04-27-2009, 06:08 PM | #9 |
BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 9,999
| So sorry to hear about your little one. I agree with the others. One day at a time. Hugs to both of you. |
04-27-2009, 06:34 PM | #10 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 229
| You got some really great advice here. I had a schnauzer for 17 years and she was blind the last 4 years of her life. She was such a little trooper and never let her blindness hinder her. Her blindness was from cataracts so I never had to deal with the tumor issue. As everyone said, keep things as normal for her as possible and don't move things around. You and only you will know when it is time to let her go. Please make it a decision for her quality of life and not what you think is best for you. Hugs.
__________________ Belinda, Barkley & MollyGizmo RIP http://www.barkleycouture.com/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ba...34616166614056 |
04-27-2009, 06:39 PM | #11 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,421
| Quote:
__________________ Shaunna with Missy (my princess) & Dora (my tomboy) | |
04-27-2009, 07:43 PM | #12 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 171
| I'm sorry to hear. My Fancy went blind at about four from retinal dysplasia. Her sight went gradually, but we knew she was having trouble when she bumped into me when I was standing still. She had an incredible sense of where things were, where to turn a corner. We used to say she had bat radar. She relied on the other senses. I think she knew where things were by the way the sun warmed the house too. She was blind for 10 years and had a quality life. She didn't hug walls like many blind dogs do. She relied on my other Yorkie, Binky. He was her eyes as she was his ears when he lost his hearing. If you have other pets, it may help her. You will know if she is unable to cope.
__________________ I still miss my doggies, but now I have Frankie |
04-27-2009, 09:34 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,268
| I'm so sorry to hear about your little girl. My last yorkie, Kayla, lost her eye sight due to cataracts. She was blind about the last 2 years of her life. It broke my heart but we adjusted quite well. We didn't change the lay out of the furniture or change where her food and water bowl was. She knew where to go to eat and where to go if she wanted to get up on the couch or chair. We had to watch out for her as she could no longer see us to move out of our way. I did have to buy her a bed. She always slept with me and when she walked off of the bed, that was it. I didn't want her to get hurt so I bought her a bed. I called her my "special needs" baby.She was the light of my life. The bond between us was so strong. I was so protective of her once she lost her eyesight. I was always very protective of her especially since she was so tiny but I became more so the last couple of years of her life. I would not have done anything differently. Sorry, I didn't mean to go on and on. I will keep you and your little girl in my prayers. |
04-27-2009, 09:40 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ~*~YorkieWorld~*~
Posts: 8,428
| Sorry to hear about your little one, I remember watching a episode of Cesar Mila the dogwhisper, of a blind yorkie, you can believe how well they do, like Patti said one day at the time ps. maybe looking around in other places, see if you can find MRI done for less money
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04-27-2009, 09:53 PM | #15 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 7,651
| Quote:
But it is just a situation each person, their vet and dog have to come to terms with. There are always different factors for each pet. I wish you well during the time you have left with her and may God guide you in the difficult decisions.
__________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard | |
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