Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Living with a Blind Dog Successfully

Dogs and humans are different in that humans rely more on their eye sight while dogs rely more on their sense of scent or smell. This is a main reason why many dog owners do not notice the first signs of blindness in their dogs.

Above Photo Courtesy of Julie Ann's Shih Tzu
Please note: The above dog is NOT blind nor does any of Julie's Ann's dogs have blindness in their lines. The photo and link above of Julie Ann's dogs is here to "showcase" a sample of Julie Ann's Shih Tzu. The article is information for any dog breed owner who happens to have a dog that is blind. Blindness can occur in any breed of dog and usually it is result of growing old as it is in human beings.

Dogs use their sense of smell and hearing to get around in their environment. My dog Duke is blind at 18 years of age. He has never had a health problem of any kind. He gets around quite well using his sense of smell and hearing, although his hearing is not as good as it use to be.

Some dogs become fearful or aggressive at sudden blindness. It is disorienting to them. In this article, I will discuss ways you can help improve your blind dog's quality of life.

We need to keep in mind all dogs thrive on routine. Blind dogs depend upon the routines of a house even more. Avoid changing his important landmarks for survival such as moving or rearranging his water and feed bowls. You will also need to avoid moving the furniture around a lot as this can be very disturbing to a blind dog. He or she is use to where the couch sits. If you change it often, you will risk upsetting your dog. Of course, over time, the blind dog will find the new location, but still yet, the more changes you can avoid in his environment is all the better.

Objects that may be a problem for your blind dog to locate are:

stairs
pools
sharp edges

You can prevent accidents by blocking off the stairs or entrances to pools or other high risk accident areas. When you are away from home, seriously think about crating your blind dog or at least confining him to a completely safe area away from sharp pointed side tables, etc.

Doormats can help your dog find the door. Lay down gravel or wood chips along the perimeter of your yard to help prevent your blind dog from running into a fence. Use nonslip rugs or runners on slippery floors such as hardwood and tile floors.

Blind dogs still need daily exercise to stay healthy, however, being blind impairs the dog considerably. Consider providing now more than ever toys that make noise such as balls and other toys with squeaks or bells so he or she can locate toys easily. You can even attach noise-making devices to your shoes or belt to help your dog feel more confident while on walks as this makes it easier for the blind dog to know where you are during the walk.

It is now more important to talk to your dog and keep him reassured to help reduce his anxiety and/or confusion. Be sure to always have the dog's attention before you pet him to avoid startling the dog all of a sudden with your hand touch. Advice children and strangers that your dog is blind and that they must approach to pet slowly.

It may be necessary to teach your blind dog new commands such as:

wait
step up
step down

Products that may be helpful include:

Muffin's Halo: This product acts as a bumper that prevents your dog from running into things head first.
Anti-anxiety medications may be necessary.
Behavior modification training may also be necessary.

You might actually find your bond between dog and human is even closer and deeper at this time.

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