[Rhodes22-list] Blind Dog Advice

[thenacarville at bellsouth.net]

Brad,
We had an older dog that was blind for the last few years of his life...it did not slow him down much...if you simply work with her and for a little while treat her like you are her "seeing eye persons" you will be amazed at how fast she can learn almost any drill...go slowly on the stairs with her and talk to her while you guide her....talk her through anything you want her to do and she is likely to amaze you....most people did not know our dog was blind...sometimes I think he forgot....only new situations/places throw them off....once she "adjusts" to her new circumstances, and uses her other senses a tad more than before, she will be beating you to bed...you will have to adjust a little and keep your eyes open for her and do a little more talking to her, but if that is the only sign of old age, you will find it not so bad...good luck....I would love to know how she does over the next couple of weeks....sounds like a real sweetie....
Thena



> 
> From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
> Date: 2006/12/27 Wed PM 03:25:04 CST
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Blind Dog Advice
> 
> Slim,
> 
> Thanks for all the advice and consent, you and everyone else.  Gracie just
> came back from the vet and the prognosis is that she's old.  She had a rough
> first five years of life but has had a good last eight years, both for her
> and us.  My brother is here for a Christmas break from the MS Gulf and we're
> already talking about how to build a carpeted ramp so she doesn't have to
> negotiate the steps from the deck to the back yard.  Gracie is comfortable
> in her own backyard but struggles finding her way throughout the house.  She
> may have to sacrifice sleeping by my bedside on the second floor and settle
> for her alternative spot on the first floor in the foyer.  This is painful
> to witness but she's an incredibly smart dog and will figure out a new
> routine.  Getting old sucks!  What else can you say?
> 
> Brad
> 
> 
> On 12/27/06, Steven Alm <stevenalm at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > Brad,
> >
> > So sorry to hear about Gracie.  It's weird that you should mention this
> > because we just went through this with our dog Rio.  He went to the
> > groomer last week and when he came back his eyes were infected with
> > something.  He was holding his eyes closed tight and when we pried his
> > lids open, the cornea on both eyes were white!  The vet gave him some
> > pain meds and also some antibiotic goop to put in the eyes four times a
> > day.  We still don't know what caused this.  The groomer used three
> > products on him--shampoo, ear cleaner and ear powder which she had used
> > on him before with no problem.  But it could have been the hair dryer
> > that could have burned his eyes or dust or other matter could have
> > caused irritation.  We don't know and the vet couldn't nail it down
> > either.  It took nearly a week but he's OK now.  In fact it was just
> > yesterday he went back to the vet who gave him a clean bill of health
> > and he's now off the meds and 100% OK.
> >
> > Because Gracie's (and Rio's) problem came on so quickly, it's unlikely
> > that it's cataracts or anything permanent.  It's more likely to be an
> > infection/irritation and can be treated.   Rummy's idea of an allergy
> > might be right.  Good luck!
> >
> > Slim
> >
> >
> > On Dec 26, 2006, at 11:04 PM, Brad Haslett wrote:
> >
> > > Dear List,
> > >
> > > Since 'da list' is so resourceful for so many things, let me float this
> > > problem by you.  Our dog, Gracie, has gone blind in a period of less
> > > than a
> > > week.  She's roughly 13 years old (a Shelty/Border Collie/Mutt rescue
> > > dog at
> > > approximately 5 years old) and in good health but in the last week her
> > > eyes
> > > have clouded over and she can't see a thing.  I'd think cataracts but
> > > it
> > > came on too quickly.  Anyone had a similar experience and/or came up
> > > with a
> > > solution?  I'm taking her to the vet this week but would like to hear
> > > from
> > > other's experience.  She follows us by voice and smell but it is
> > > painful to
> > > watch her struggle.  Her tail still wags when she's around family.  Any
> > > suggestions?
> > >
> > > Brad
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>