Our 10Yr Old Dog Has Gone Blind...

[Neenee]

Any advice greatly appreciated....

Last week our 10yr old West Highland White was diagnosed as over 90%blind at the vets.

This has happened literally over the last 5 day . It came as such a shock to us.

We took him to vets last week, with what we though was an out of sorts dog. As he was off food sleeping a lot and shaking.

It turns out the vet diagnosed the blindness and the symptoms we were seeing were the consequence of him losing his sight so quickly.

My question is this....

The vet says dogs cope very well if they go blind. And cope very well especially in the home environment.

All we have experienced the last few days is our dog constantly shaking and quivering every 2nd he is awake. He is heavily panting and shaking and off his food. We have followed advice online and are very vocal with him reassuring his every move and that he's not alone. Yet we feel that due to his severe shaking and panting surely this is cruel as currently he isn't enjoying and coping very well.

Has anyone else experienced a pet dog which has lost its sight so quickly and is our dog showing classic signs of trying to cope or are what I have described a struggling to cope dog. Other pro me we talk to say we have to give him time...however he isn't the same.dog as he was 2 weeks ago and I feel he is suffering and we are being cruel.

I just don't know what to expect from him or do for the best....

My next thought was a further trip to vet... hut I just don't know.

[furrypusscat]

I would do a return visit to the vet and be guided by his advice and if he suggests the dog needs more time to adjust, trust his opinion.

[Baldric]

I think you've got to give him time to adjust to things as they are now, imagine how your life would change if it happened to you, Good Luck!

[UKSWF]

I am no vet, but why has he lost his sight? I too have a Westie and they speak so much with their eyes (I am sure you know what I mean!) 10 is so young for the "Rainbow Bridge" but sometimes it it for the best. Sorry. I am no help to yo, so sad for you and your little mate x God Bless x

[jakep]

Our dog went blind over about a year so it was a lot easier for her. I too think it is early days and he needs more time to adjust.
Is it possible for him to have something like Valium for a few days? I would phone the vet and ask as it may be possible to avoid taking him to the surgery again.
Sorry this sounds stupid but is the blindness confined to his eyes or is secondary to something else that may cause further problems.
My best wishes to you.

[Neenee]

We have no idea how its happened. Its just so heartbreaking seeing him like the way he is. We are so used to him greeting us at the door full of energy when we get home and wagging his tail. Now he is just stuck on the spot or hardly moving or walking in very slow motion in the home environment and shaking out of control....that can't be right surely.

[UKSWF]

I would give him some time.... but perhaps prepare for some long term difficult changes, I so hope I am wrong xxx big hugs for me and my Westie "Arms around hugs"

[wolf63]

Is there any other health problems? My last dog went blind over a few months and it didn't seem to bother him. But your little one seems either distressed by the change (understandable) or maybe something else is ailing him.

Best wishes to both of you, getting old is not much fun.

[paddywak]

Of course you must prepare for the worst but please give him a chance to adjust before you do anything,imagine how you'd feel if you went blind overnight and how disorientated you'd be.As other posters have said check with the vet to see if there's any cause for his blindness,but please give the old boy time to adjust lots of pets overcome disabilities and continue to live a happy life.

[Neenee]

He's had all his bloods done and that showed all his organs working correctly. He was put on a drip overnight and it was the following day with a full day inspection they picked up the blindness and said its something they can't correct.

[Neenee]

We are more than willing to give him time... we don't want to think of the inevitable. He has been our gorgeous boy and part of our family for 10 years and was a ball of fluff in our hands at 8weeks when we had him. I just wanted advice regards the shaking if it was normal behaviour for dogs to try and adjust. Xx thanks for all your advice.

[seekeerz]

The blindness onset seems very quick to my mind, and the other symptoms would indicate another problem rather than a reaction to sudden loss of sight.

We have two Westies and couldn't imagine life without them, especially Jamie, my first Westie, he runs this household inspite of what we think !!

I'd be looking for another opinion for your chap, it's very hard when your dog is so distressed, for all of you, but I feel there's more to it, an underlying cause the vets haven't picked up.

We'll be thinking of you and hope all goes well (woofs from Jamie & Charlie )

[Veebird]

I've known of blind dogs coping very well and some being helped by another dog. If he is otherwise well and given time, could that be something to look into?

[rsvp]

Just some practical suggestions based on having a blind dog for a few years.
Don't move anything around or leave anything lying around on the floor. Confidence to move around without bumping into things is critical to the dog's state of mind.
Speak to the dog before touching it - maybe pat the floor to let him know you're there.
I used to put herbs by my dog's water dish and different herbs wherever there was a step - after a while she coped brilliantly.
I was very lucky as my dog was obedience trained - exercise is critical and I had a place where she could safely run free without any problems... this meant she could have a good gallop, however, she would drop and stay still on command so don't do this unless you are very sure your dog is trained
It's very sad your dog has to cope with a sudden loss of sight but he will cope but must have reassurance and absolute confidence in you as he's very confused at the moment - (wouldn't you be!) and if you adjust together he'll cope with his loss of sight.
If you don't have a definite diagnosis from your vet, maybe a second opinion may shine a light on the reason.

[Veebird]

Just had another thought which is maybe not much use because I know my situation is entirely different to yours which is much more serious, but I had a Jack Russell that was terrified of fireworks. He was frantic, panting and shaking and scraping at the doors all night. My instinct was to reassure him and soothe him but it actually made him worse. At the risk of sounding completely heartless I read that by making a fuss you reinforce to the dog that there actually is something to be frightened of. Obviously you have to try and help him so it's very hard. Hope you find a way.

[furrypusscat]

I have heard of this being used to calm stressful dogs. Whether or not it would help in your situation until he got used to his blindness I do not know. Have a look at the link. Obviously it will take him some time to adapt but there is some helpful advice in the replies from Abers.

http://www.adaptil.com/uk/Fearful-Situations-for-dogs/Stress-in-Dogs

[islasmum]

Poor dog, and you as well - how very frightening for him. I was having a look around the internet and came across this atricle

http://www.eyevet.ca/sards.html

if you click on the link at the end of the article it gives some useful advice about how to make things a bit easier for a blind dog.

[jourdain2]

Dogs use eyesight less than their other senses (check James Herriot and serious veterinary texts) and if you keep taking him on his regular walk he will know what is around and be perfectly happy. It is less serious for a dog than for a person.

He is obviously shocked at the swift onset of the sight-loss; is there anything else which could be upsetting him? I honestly join others in saying 'give it time'. Why did the sight go so quickly? That could have something to do with it. You sound to be doing everything right, lots of vocalisation etc.. Good luck to you all.

[Neenee]

I would just like to thank each and every one of you for your help and guidance. Unfortunately our dog was put to sleep on Friday morning. We went for a 2nd opinion with a vet who had a specialised interest in eyes as our dog had got progressively worse over the following days of my post. With the new symptoms our dog was experiencing and further checks it was confirmed he lost his sight due to a brain tumour. We were devastated and sadly the only outcome was to put him to sleep there and then. we were heartbroken. In the back of my mind I knew he wasn't right which was what initially prompted me to write a question here. We miss him terribly and he was our best buddy. But we know we did the best for him and he had an amazing 10years with us. Thank you to you all for her help and guidance.

[wolf63]

I am sorry to hear that the Vet found the tumour - I think that you made the correct decision. As you say ten years of happiness is more than some dogs experience.

It is really hard when a loved one dies and it is then that we realised how intertwined our lives have become.

Take care

[furrypusscat]

Sorry to hear your sad news. You did the right thing. You will always have your fond memories.