Thresia Williams wrote:

Our 15 year old Airedale is almost totally blind. Recently, he had two accidents in the home. We thought it was because he was afraid to go outside or he thought he was outside. Turns out we were wrong on both because he had a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). We have found that he does not go far from home to take care of his business especially at night.

tom wrote:

my dog is blind and just recently fell out of my queen size bed where he sleeps is there anything i can do to keep him the bed without him falling out.

Diane Ledger d.ledger@ntlworld.com wrote:

Our silver poodle, only 7, has gone blind because of PRA. We still allow him to run loose in safe places and I have found that a gun dog whistle helps to get his attention if he starts to go the wrong away. I don't have a very loud voice and he always stops and listens for me if he hears the whistle. Thanks for your page, at least I know there are others in the same boat.

bhuman wrote:

interesting, helpful Thank you.

Peggyv wrote:

My husband and I have recently (yesterday) adopted a toy poodle who is going blind. I feel a little stressed but, I'm hoping that I can do what is best for Buddy. He is 10 years old and was beautifully groomed, with a fleece coat and new collar and then left by the side of the road.

Cynthia wrote:

Hey Carol, I know exactly how you feel, my dog does the same thing, I also cry some times. It’s sad knowing he’s afraid of something he used to do without even thinking twice. I also cry because of all the other sad stuff that comes along with having an elderly animal. Sorry I didn’t have any advice, I wish you and your dog the best : )

carol wrote:

My dog was going blind for awhile. now she is 8 years old and totally blind. It is difficult to put her outside at nite, for her business because she is afraid of falling off the deck. I tried numerous times to take her on a leash and let her go do her business.. to no avail. I let her off the leash to see if it helps and she ran back to the deck only to hurt herself. I brought her in and tried after awhile still nothing. She went out in the morning no problem. Any suggestions...this seems to really bother her at night now. It makes me cry to see her this way.

Tammie in Texas wrote:

Hello my fellow pet lovers!!! I have a 4 year old shitzu with blindness caused by dry eye. She came to my house(literally just walked in) a year ago with a chemical burn over her entire body and she was completely blind in one eye and 80% in the other. They say that the blindness is caused by pigment over they eyes. She has medication for her eyes to avoid removal. She is generally happy in our home-she loves to snuggle and cuddle. But I would like to give her more. She has fallen down our stairs twice and has many many times been caught under our feet (having a 4 yr old, and a 18 month old with cerebral palsy, we have a busy house). My children are great with her and I have made them understand that she needs to be left out of the "games." Right now I guess my big question is this... Is there anything that can be done for pigment over they eye? Does anyone know someone good near Houston? How much does the procedure cost(if there is one)-we have already spent over 1000 on rehab with her (the chemical burn was BAD) and with my son having CP and myself not able to return to work with his condition I don't know how much we can afford.

jesssands wrote:

we have a 16 year old jrt, he is blind and deaf, suffering diabetes. But hey, he loves to bark and eat and wags his little tail, so we can only assume he is still happy. His favorite hitch is coming downstairs, where he gets stuck and barks to be rescued!

friendly advice wrote:

Nick, if your dog has cataracts then there is a surgery for the removal of the cataract(s), it could cost any were from $1900.00 to $2000.00 per eye and there is still a big risk from having the surgery, scroll down and read what chili’s mom wrote. You should go to a vet for an eye exam, eye exams are usually under $70, he will probable suggest an eye specialist for your pug. Until then remember to love your little pug as much as you can no matter if (s) he is blind. Just because your dog is blind it doesn’t mean (s) he is going to pass believe me my little dog went blind 3 years ago from old age and he is still his old self. I think my dog going blind hurt me much more than it did him, and the only reason it hurt him is because it hurt me so bad when I found out. Now that he is blind, I just have to guide him away from curbs and walls so he will not run into them. You sound like a great owner, good luck with your little pug I hope every thing works out.

Nick wrote:

My Pug just went blind im very very sad. Is their any surgeries it can have to see again?

jackie wrote:

i like wot they do for people

jackie wrote:

i like wot they do for people

Cynthia from San Francisco wrote:

My dad got me my Bichon from the SPCA when I was 13. He got Sammy (then 7 years old) for me so I could get over this depression I was in, my family had been through a traumatic Experience and every night and day I cried. I had horrible thoughts about my family dieing and not being there for me, it was horrible. Then one day my dad asked me if I wanted a dog, I said yes even though at that time I was terrified of dogs. When we got Sammy everything in my life was fixed I wasn't afraid of dogs anymore, I didn't have my depression any more, I stop crying and the best part is that at night when I would get horrible thoughts I would just reach over and pet him and all my worries in the world were gone. Sammy is 11 now and I am 17 and He has developed a cataract in his right eye and he is mostly blind in his left eye' now we are noticing that he can only hear high pitched noises. It’s really sad when he bumps into walls and begs for food at a chair with no one sitting in it, people have told me that euthanasia would be best for me, so my life would be less stressful. I am not going to end his life just because my life would be less stressful, it would actually be more stressful if he died. Thanks to my little dog Sammy I want to and will become a veterinarian. This site has been very informative thank you so much for making it; it makes me realize that nothings wrong with me I’m just in stage 7 of the stages us dog owners go through with blind dogs.

gene wrote:

Well, thank you for this message board. Yesterday I found out my beloved 12 year old cocker Sunny was blind. Came about pretty quickly, maybe a month or so that I noticed it but he is in very familiar surroundings everyday so he may have been going blind for a while. I blamed it myself, was mad at the Vet, cried, felt sorry for Sunny all the stages listed above. Then I watched him last night. He was fine, got around the house and yard like before, maybe a bit tentative but knows his territory. In the house you would not suspect blindness because he has his routines. When I watched him closely I realized he used the wall and couch as guides to help him get where he wanted to go. He has been doing this for a while that is why I suspect he was going blind and we didn't notice. I am going to a vet opthomologist in 2 weeks to see if this is treatable. I think not but need to hear it from an expert. I will give him the best life possible-not much different from what I do every day. The way I deteced blindness is that when I threw him the ball as always he would not know where it was. I LOVE MY BEST FRIEND SUNNY.

Elaine Baker wrote:

I received a puppy in August of this year. I was told when he was five weeks old the kids in the family put him on a chair he fell off and it gave him a brain injury that left him blind. I love him so much, i know i baby him to much. I can't get anything done around my house any more because i'm always with him. I don't know how to potty train him or if it's even possible. I really could use some advise on how to take care of my little bundle of joy.

tazamo wrote:

I have a very independent fiest (jack/ rat terrier) he loves to chase a med. size ball around our big yard. When he started to go blind he would loose site of it and would have to locate it again before the fun could continue. So I went to the baby section of our local dept store and got him one of the hard plastic balls with the tumbling beads in it and now he can follow the sound and never has to search for it anymore.

sarah wrote:

ihave a old dog ,she just went blind and she also has losed alot of weight, and she really looks bad .i cant take her to the vet. cause of money problem , but we love her alot. we had a certain spot for her to wee,wee but she cant see to find the pads now and so she wee,wee , every where , need some help or advice . thank- you

Darla Cross wrote:

i'm looking for help for my dad he need's catarac surgery and we can't afford it.we need help with the bill, sincerrly Darla

ashley odietus wrote:

If you leave a door open it mhint walk into the door him are her it might hert it self.Doni't laef sharp things arond the house it might sit are step on and get hert. Donit leave charis out it might walk into it and hert it self. At frist it might not get op and walk around as much as he did when he could see. Your dogs heareing will get bater whane he is blind .When your dog is blind to give your dog a happy live is to keep on loveing your pet.When your pet is blind he will shake. Give him alot of love and attention.

ROSIE wrote:

HI MY DOG IS A 10 YEAR OLD POODLE AND HAS AJUSTIDE BUT HOW CAN KEEP HER PLAYFUL AND HAPPY

Donna wrote:

My Beagle Smokey just had to have her last eye removed. I am really amazed at her adjustment but she has problems with steps and tries so hard to see. She is much more attached to me and wants close to me or the other dogs but I do not think that they realize that she has a problem. I think time will help.

cassie wrote:

Lo-rider[my grandma's dog] is now getting blind on her left eye. Please prey for her. I'm asking with all my heart.

sammy wrote:

my dog is twelve years old and she recently got sprayed by a skunk while me and my family was on holiday! when we got home we noticed she smelt like a skunk so we bathed her and the smell would not go away! so we brought her to the vet and they said she was going blind! well now she is completely blind. i really want to know if it is possible for a dog to go blind by being sprayed by a skunk? possibly in the eye! please if u know anything contact me at curlysu92@hotmail.com

Kathy wrote:

We learned a few months ago that our 13 year old doxie has lost her sight - But Petey is truly amazing in the fact that she has paper trained herself as she is not able to field the stairs- It is amazing to see how she can get around - she knows where her treats are kept - her quilties-and the loss of sight hasn't stopped her from begging when she thinks that someone is eating !!! By the way -David Higham- are you a '71 graduate of GHS ???

Dave says "GHS, Grays High School? No, I left the Warren in Dagenham in 1970."

Cassie wrote:

My grandma's dog has to have an operation on the right eye because it's blind. They have to take it out. She will love it if you would prey for lo-rider.

Bailey wrote:

uhhh...i just got a new dog...we think he is blind but we don't know

Cassie wrote:

My grandma dog is very old and the dog's right eye is blind. I'm worried if the other eye will go blind too. What should I do?

Suzyljank wrote:

I just found out today that my little silky terrier is going blind and you are right. I feel just awful. We did the rounds of vets and finally an eye specialist. There is nothing that can be done to help her see again and it's breaking my heart. Your web site has given me a bit of comfort though and I just wanted to let you know . I'd like to know how to prevent her from bumping into the wall when she get excited though. Any help would be appreciated.

Lorraine wrote:

Hi--My parents have a blind and mostly deaf Springer Spaniel, Pandi. I am a college student and am only home 1-2x a year, but every time I visit I feel so much sadness to see our dog bumping into things, walking in circles, having accidents on the floor, and looking all-around confused and disoriented. My parents and I are unsure of what the best course of action to take is. Pandi has been blind & mostly deaf for about 2 years and doesn't seem to have gotten her bearings yet. I'm worried about her health and safety. I suggested getting some obstacles out of the way so that she doesn't bump into things as much (she lives in one very cluttered room), but I've seen on this site and others that one should not move furniture. But why hasn't Pandi adjusted yet? She seems to only hear high pitched whistles. She can find her way outside (through the dog door) but can't find her way around the one room that she's always been in. Any suggestions? Thanks so much in advance. -Lorraine

Jessica wrote:

My dog just got shcked by lighting,and now he is blind....does anyone have tips for me and my family?

laura wrote:

My sharpai pup is constantly nipping human hands with teeth Is that her way of "seeing" the world or is it just "puppy" behavior? Wanting to pet her usually ends up a painful experience

Renee wrote:

I have a one year old pomeranian. She is very active and playful. But when she goes outside she may see something that wasn't there before (like a stump or a lawn mower) and she will bark at it but not get too close to it, being leary of it. Also, she could have seen a family member standing in one place and now a few minutes later they have moved somewhere else....she barks at them like she doesn't know them until she gets really close and sees she knows them. I'm telling you this because I'm worried my pom may have an eyesight problem and I don't the signs. Her eyes are not clouded or anything. Maybe I'm just over-reacting. Please advise if possible.

Leigh (Sister of "The Buffet") wrote:

My dog Koko is both deaf and blind. I really should have named her Helen (ha ha). Anyways, she falls down the stairs and everyone laughs but me. But sometimes I get distracted by Koko's inabilty to take care of herself and I forget simple things, like toasting the bruschetta. What should I do? How can I balance my love for my blind and deaf dog with my domestic and social life?

Kathryn Clevenger wrote:

I am the foster parent and am going to permanently 2 cocker spaniels who have recently received cataract surgery with limited recovery of vision. These 2 dogs have been blind since birth, so they are really struggling with their new reality. The came from an Animal Shelter, so we do not have a lot of their history. I am trying to deal with their new aggressive behavior and comforting them through this transition. I have other pets that they are very gentle with, but will fiercely attack each other. I do kennel them when this happens, but when they are out their behavior can change within a breathe. Please advise. My email address is katclevenger@peoplepc.com. Thank you, Kathryn

iamoz2694@cs.com wrote:

Thank you so much for the much needed advice. It sounds like Einstein will do just fine if I stop crying everytime I looked at his seablue eyes. I'm going to return to being the alpha mom and let my companion be the joy he's always been for me!

Brenda wrote:

I really enjoyed this article, I think my dog is going blind but I am not sure so this article really helped me

Marlene M. Fleming wrote:

03/01/04

Marlene M. Fleming wrote:

My Little 10 year old Schauzer Tyler, went blind suddenly. I have been using plastic locking ties (like the ones used for hand cuffs)That I attached to Tyler's collar. They come in many different lenths. I have found that they Help Tyler. He hears them touching the walls or other object and then goes in a dfferent direction. I use bells and a piece of pvc piping when walking him. I think he's adjusting faster than I'am. Marlene Afpups3@aol.com

Poppy wrote:

How do you potty train a blind puppy?

Mike and Twyla Turcotte wrote:

Two years ago when our pride and joy "Jake" was diagnosed with PRA, our lives were shattered because we thought his life was shattered. Through our tears and grief, we began to notice that Jake was adapting better than we were. It became appartent that Jake knew he was going blind before we knew it. Yes, Jake did run into walls and other obticles in his path, but he soon leanrned the layout of the house. He learned very quickly to walk slowley and use his sense of smell to get him around. After two years he still bumps into things on occassion, but only when he gets excited. Usually people dont even realise he is blind when they come over. My wife and I were so very afraid when he went blind. We knew nothing about blind dogs. Now, everything is so normal after we accepted the situation and learned to live with PRA. If you are struggling with PRA, drop us a line at turc11@telusplanet.net .

Detha & Bonnie (Bon Bon) wrote:

Thanks for this website. I had been meaning to search for advice and finally did. Glad I found it. I found out at Thanksgiving that my almost 14 year old shih-tzu (who is my one and only baby, for 13 1/2 years) has lost a lot of eyesight. They did not tell me why, I guess age. I was very upset but have tried to be positive. She seems to be handling it very well. Thanks for the tips, especially since I'm new at this. Thanks for all your stories and encouragement. It is wonderful seeing so many other people love their babies as much as I do. If everybody loved them like we do, the world would be a better place.

nanto3@aol.com wrote:

my 15 year old poodle cannot se i am giving him can c drops in his eyes which makes his eyes look great except for the blind spots which hav enot gone away, it's the constant crying once he starts that is so upsetting i feel he needs some time of calming, i use dr. bach's rescue remedy but it doesn't help aenough. any help pout there

Debbie wrote:

My moms boston terrier developed glacoma, and eventually has had to have both of her eyes removed. Although she is 15 she is otherwise healthy. she has done very well with the surgery. but now unlike before the surgery she lays and whines and whimpers .. we are not sure if she is in pain or just wanting us to know she is awake. as she sleeps like a log at night without a peep. and remarks would be greatly appreciated.

kim bruce wrote:

My dog Max has recently gone blind and seems very depressed, which I could understand, but I don't know how too assure him he'll be o.k? please contact me at tbf4always@hotmail.com for any suggestions.

Lisa and my baby boy Angel wrote:

my dog recently fell off the bed and recieved head trama and the cause is so hard to indore hes not even 2 years old yet and he is blind from torn retinas in both eyes doctor says no hope for the right eye but 20 percent chance for the left, me I can cope but the lille guy (a minature poodle) is crying and winning all the time. What can I do to help reasure him?

Myra wrote:

At first I felt cursed but since October when this blind rat terrier found me.......she was asleep on my patio I feel blessed to have her in my life(my cats don't feel that way but they are adjusting and learning). Sweet Pea has since had to have an eye removed to do severe pain (gluacoma) and the other is already bind so she is always winking at me! I found her a home with a wonderful lady who had experience with blind dogs so I figured it would be perfect. I guess Sweet Pea wanted to come home because she became aggressive to the other dogs and cats.....several serious fights!! Since she has been home on Christmas morning she has not growled or anything at my cats.... and she is very happy......no accidents either and at her old house she had several! I think it is just meant to be.......I need advice cause I really do not have experience with blind dogs.......I have experience with blind and deaf/blind people so I think I'll manage. She is a sweetie and has adjusted rather nicely. She is so much happier now that she is no longer hurting and all that.....it takes time because she was depressed but now she is full of life even without her sight! I honestly believe that I along with my family will learn a great deal from this little dog.........there's a reason she showed up on my patio and then was sent back! Thanks for all the great information!

Esther Falcon wrote:

Is it possible for an Opthamologist for animals to do cataract or other vision transplant to restore vision? If so, is there a foundation of Vet that offers aid or will take payments as it would be worth it to us?

Chili's Mom wrote:

First of all you must know Chili is my baby. My husband and I have no children we have Chili. The sweetest little girl you would ever want to know. The smiles, laughs and love she has given us PRICELESS. Chili found us at 5 months of age after being at 3 different homes. She is Boxer/Austrailian Sheppard Mix. We found out Chili had Diebetes in March 2003 (she gets insulin shots twice a day) and then Thyroid October 2003(she take one pill twice a day) and that's when we started noticing Blue in her eyes when light shown in them. We took her to our vet who advised that she deloped cataracts from diebetes and that she would go blind unless we got an operation to remove lens/and cataracts we asked if she was healthy enough for this type operation they advised she was. We went to an optomologist the best in Ontario we understood who also advised she was a good candidate for this surgery and the sooner the better the chance of success.Chili had the surgery ($4000) November 11, 2003 it was a Wednesday. The surgery went fine and on the follow exam the next day they advised us that she had regained 100% sight in both eyes AMAZING! NOT! Saturday morning we noticed fluid in her lenses we took her to our vet (optomoligist only open mon-thurs) our vet said was beyond his experience we then went to an emergency facility same thing beyond their experience and she need to be admitted we went to another emergency where she stayed "blind" until Monday back to surgeon. Optomologist advised aaahhh very bad may be infection be inflamation. For 5 days my husband and I gave 5 medications 4 times a day trying to save these eyes Chili was very sick we were devesated. At the end of 5 days optomolgist advised nothing we can do we have to remove the eyes. We thought she would die we couldnt give her another surgery we were so scared guilt ridden for giving her the operation. That's about when I found your site. THANK YOU THANK YOU to all of you that have shared your storey. And THANK YOU FOR THE EMERGENCY KIT. We had Chili's eyeballs removed December 1, 2003. Two weeks later my girl goes up and down our second floor stairs, jumps off our bed (yeah that's right she sleeps with us), goes from couch to back door down back deck steps out to yard does her business comes back. She loves plush toys with squeeky in them. I found some that have long song or squeeky in them and we have started to play again for short periods. Going blind is NOT A REASON TO PUT YOUR DOG DOWN. I really wanted to tell Chili's story for those who also consider the surgery only because I was not aware of the worst possible outcome which was removal of the eyeballs. But that too has now past. I look forward to the future with my squiggly little wagga tail monkey Chili. To walking in the park, watching tv while she lays on my lap. Eating good food together. Playing with plush toys, greeting me at the door with toy in mouth wagging her tail. All these things she still does. SHE CAN SEE. SHE CAN SEE HOW MUCH WE LOVE HER!!!!!!

Kim wrote:

I have two sighted dogs and one blind Maltese. I have put bells on the collars of the sighted dogs so my Maltese knows where they are. It seems to give her a sense of where she is and where they are and what is going on around her.

lil p and da blind dog mc wrote:

HI I recently found out that my puppy is blind i wasn't really bothered but my sis was so upset so heres my advice. *Don't put u r dog down unless he/she is really suffering' *If you have to get rid of the dog don't put it in a dog shelter give it to sum 1 who has experience. and remember a dog is for life no matter what.My little pup is now as happy as larry i love her so much.

victoria+paula wrote:

hi i founed out my dog was blind and went trough the above points in ONE night and now my dog gets LOTS of T.L.C (tender love and care) Hope you get on well with your dog. victoria P.S>don`t put your dog down if it`s blind after all it has a life to and it deserves it.you wouldn`t kill a blind man/lady/boy/girl would you?

Val Skinner wrote:

I live in France and rescued a poodle that was about 18 months old at the time, his eyes had been surgically removed for some reason. He was standing in the middle of the road. I thought he had been hit by a car because he had blood all over him. This was not the case, it was because of flea bites - his coat had grown so wild he literally had flea nests in his coat. I took him home - bathed him - which was terrible - I have NEVER seen so many fleas. Also it must have been a terrible experience for him too - not understanding what was going on. But he seemed to understand that he was going to be okay. His name is Whoops. That came about because he kept bumping into things and Whoops was always being said. He very quickly he seemed to respond to that name. I have now had him 4 years and love him dearly. It has been a privelige to have him. He is so brave and never seems to give up. My problem is when I take him out if he smells another dog he goes absolutely crazy. Barking very very loudly and pulling on the lead.He appears very aggressive, but of course he isn;t really. I am so worried that he will get attacked by the other dog. He has even gone beserk at a Great Dane!!! The other problem is I am moving back to England, and I am so worried about how he will settle. Can anybody give me any tips how to cope with - one, when I take him out, as I end up nearly having a heart attack, and two, what is the best way to relocate him to his new home.

wrote:

ginger wrote:

my yellow lab chester has only recently become blind. he developed diabetes and before we new it, his eyesight was nearly gone. chester just turned 7 and he is my best friend in the world. i get so scared thinking of him and just hoping that he's doing okay. plus, i feel really bad when he runs into things. hopefully, my family and i can use some of these tips and information to help us help chester.

Alice & Rip wrote:

My dog is now going blind and you have helped me somewhat. He has been my LIFE for the last (almost 11 years). Please pray for us!

Amy wrote:

I am looking for a dog opthamologist on Long Island.

Danielle Childers wrote:

I need help. My puppy is blind. 6 weeks old, has seizures, is blind. Someone tried to drown him 2 times. I've had numerous dogs before but sheew. This ones going to be tough, I can handle it though. Thanks for the site!!!!!!

Pink Panther wrote:

I am so worried about my blind dog with diabetes. How can I check if she can see a little or a lot. She bumped into a tree today on our walk. Should I wear a bell? How can I check her vision to see how much she can see? I don't know if there is a dog opthamologist near us. Thanks for a great site. I have learned alot.

Renee wrote:

I adopted a 2 year old blind doxie. She was born blind & has adjusted very well to her new home. We have only had her for about a week, but already she knows where things are. She is most outgoing, friendly little thing we have ever seen, at first I felt sorry for her but now it's all too clear that she has never felt sorry for herself & not having sight is totally normal for her. She has brought so much to our lives & she is truely a gift. Just becouse she can't see with her eyes, does'nt mean she can't see with her heart.

Brittany wrote:

I had my puppy's face looking towards the scanner, he walks a little weirdly now, and I dont know if it blinded him...Please help :(

Sacha's Response to Roseman wrote:

My Sharpai Sacha has Cists on her body that are hard and puss up as well. I found out that these cists are a cause of "Sharpai Fever Syndrome" or "Hawkes Syndrome". Its a disease that runs in Sharpais and eventually she'll pass b/c of it. The same fluid in her cists is slowly building up in her lungs. I hope your dogs situation is different.

John and Scott wrote:

We just adopted an older blind yorkie from the human soc. We were wondering if anyone had any other great tips besides the ones listed on this great website.

oceangoddess08@yahoo.com wrote:

im getting a 10 week old chiuahua and it was born blind if u have any suggestions that might help me please email me

Savanna wrote:

There are pet water dishes that have running water. You plug it in to the wall and fill it up. Your blind dog can hear where his water, and food, is! :)

Candy wrote:

I just adopted a blind tea cup poodle that was skin and bones and covered (literally) with ticks. He was born without eyes so he is pretty good at navigating around the house and yard and burning it all into his memory. He had to have his body shaved due to matting and to get at those ticks but it is very warm here right now so he is fine. I have never had a blind dog but I do give sanctuary to special needs birds so I am just using some of the birds "rules" for my little guy. We have only been together 3 days and we are already learning how to communicate and I really enjoy his company. He is teaching me so much and I love him every moment I can. Love has no boundries or eyes.

kirsten wrote:

Why don't you start a story thing like with stories with dogs that did an amazing thing?

Kate Sharp wrote:

My 12 yr. old Bassett has intense Glaucoma, and the doctor gave her one week on new medicine before she removes one or 2 of her eyes. We are very sad and scared. We enjoyed reading this - it helped.

Karen Wilson wrote:

Loved my Yorkies Mom lived to 19, son lived to 17, got blind at 16. Am "Empty - Nester+ & miss my daughter. Need something to hug. Have house & fenced yard set up to care for new love. Call me. Karen 949-786-0792

Zachary wrote:

How can I help the blind dog assoation?

Allison wrote:

How can I help the dogs?

Jessica wrote:

How can I send you money to help the dogs?

roseman wrote:

our sharpai has big cists on her body. one is hard yet swells up sometimes. the dr wants to remove it but the stress Pal goes through to have surgery is so terrible. she is a rescue and hates cages. the cists does go down. are cists common?

cuteone_1188@hotmail.com wrote:

I'm 14 years old and i found out yesterday that my dog is blind from my parents I can't stop crying I love my dog, Buddy so much and I just want him to be able to see me again it hurts to see him look all over the place for me when he hears my voice, please e-mail me for any words of encouragment

Jill Ehrp wrote:

I shared the life of a sweet Australian Shepherd mix that was born blind in one eye (micropthalmia) & could barely see out of the other (coloboma AKA: keyhole iris plus cataract that increased over her life span (13 yrs) Now get this, she was also born completely deaf! Found her in grocery store parking lot @ 3 mos of age (vet's estimate) with milk teeth & puppy pot belly. Clean & fat, seemed fine. Tried to find her people to no avail. Sheila was the smartest dog I ever had & got along great. Called her by stomping on hardwood floor inside. Outside at night flicked porch lamp off & on. Daytime outside moved my hand so it created a shadow on her "good" eye & moving it back & forth to cause same effect as flicking porch light off & on. She also would sniff the air for cigarette smoke to find me. (A positive plug for the evil tobacco demon!) Another way to help her find me when out walking in the park or countryside unleashed was to put Patchouli oil on my ankles. (Yep, old hippie lady here.) Her favorite thing was little kids. I'd take her to a park with playground & she would just quiver with delight & make odd little deaf dog squeals as the kids all petted her. She instinctively knew to be gentle with the little ones; When she gave a kiss it was very dainty & not wet. She was my baby girl all her life, slept in my bed with her own pillow. Top dollar food, lots of toys & chews, baths in special shampoo to make her white coat gleam, massages expecially on her hips as she got older. She passed over in my arms on a winter night @ 3am 3 years ago. I miss her still. Blind dogs can have a good life, so can deaf dogs & even my Sheila had a great time with only partial sight. She loved being petted gently on her face & nose & around her eyes & mouth, that settled her down. When stressed or scared (as at vet's) I would gently hold her nose & breath softly into her nose & she'd relax. I suppose if I'd had the money I might have looked into having cataract surgery but that option was impossible. Lots of love always helps.

nanaspug@mohaveaz.com wrote:

My newly blinded pug dog (4 yrs.old) really has adapted to the tapping of my foot. Kinda like morris code. Still looking for for a diagnosis, but no one knows. I am leaning towards SARDS at this point. Nice web site. Thank you, it is much help. Linda Koon

Goerge wrote:

Keep the dog safe.Ring a bell, if you don't have oneuse your keys.The dog will hear it and come to you.Let the dog sniff your hand and bring it to its food,and water.

Michele wrote:

Thanks for all the encouraging words. My little shuh tzu Suzee is blind, one eye she has a detached retina, the other seems to have gone blind, still checking on the right eye, she goes for tests tomorrow for this. They don't know at this point. Tonight I spoke to my regular vet and he said it's a possibility that she might have to have both eyes removed, scary but it's a possibily. All this is so hard to believe and take it all in right now, I want whats best for her, and her comfort. It seems we suffer right along with them, but they adjust better than we do! Anyway please say a prayer for Suzee, she a tough little girl and hopefully we can handle this stumbling block. Thanks for listening, I appreciate all your sharings. Michele in Pa. (with her furry friends).

Tricia wrote:

My 6 year old Rotty has gone completely blind in just three days. Doctors it is due to lyme disease. He is currently taking Tetracycline and Pedriosome steriod. I am as is my family heart broken. He is an alpha and finding it very difficult to adjust. Of coarse I know that it is too soon to expect him to adjust, but I am very upset. He is my friend, my companion, and a true love to me. I love you Harv, you're the best dog in the world. Love Always Your Family

jason wrote:

help!my dog peanut is blind,,,he has caderacks and diabetes is their a way you can fix his blindness. m familly don't care how much it cost just please help us we dont whant 2 put him down after 7 years

chaos wrote:

How can i tell if my dog is blind or if she just has a unusual light eye

Sam wrote:

Hi Thanks for the great info on the site really helped me. I have a springer Spaniel in the uk, we have just been told he will ne going blind in the next 6 months to a year (heredity). Please can anyone give me any advice. My email address is sjones7719@aol.com

Stoneslp wrote:

HELP!!! My jack russel/ beagle mix is blind! I just realised this today! she is 6 yrs old and has recently gained 10 lbs, been very lathargic, and appeared stiff- she's had a host of vet visits and bldwk- results of 2 weeks ago showed neg for hypothyroid, diabetes, kidney, liver problems- last weeks results showed elevated results for rocky mountain fever & lyme- but the lab needs to re-run both and do specialized test for lyme since she has hx. of vaccine which can skew results. An x-ray showed all intenal ok except for mild degeneration in spine between only 2 vertebrae- the vet said may be due to lymes so prescribed antibiotic "Doxycycline" and anti-inflam "Rimadyl". She's now been taking them 5 days. This morning I realized when I drop food or a treat for her she doesn't always realize where it is & I have to point it out for her(pick it up to her nose) Then I noticed she bumped into vaccum I left in living room- My husband then noticed after eating she was "loking up the stairs debating whether to go up- but when I called her name (from the couch) she came over- she seemed surprized like she didn't know I was there! She ALWAYS follows me from room to room (always has-I'm her favorite. I feel so stupid- I don't even know how long this has been happening.I know that up to 4 mos. ago she would play with stuffed toys, me, and her "sister" (puppy 6 mos old) and now won't do anything like that! My vet is closed today & I'm really upset- should I stop antibiotic until I speak to vet tomorrow? Has any one had similar experience? Is this more common at her age or in her breed? any help greatly appreciated!

Jana wrote:

Our 2 yr.old Aust.Cattle Dog has suddenly gone blind. We're taking her once again to an eye vet tomorrow for an electroretinogram to determine if it is PRA. Maddie has become very uncooperative and aggressive, which is a 180 of what she used to be. Has anyone out there experienced this with their blind dog? I would appreciate any advice that can be given.

Miki D. wrote:

My mother just got back from a special vet with Roberta (6 year old, mix breed) who has seemingly gone blind in about 4 days. The vet says it is a condition in dogs that causes sudden blindness (sudden retinal degeneration). It only occurs in dogs. Roberta is in no pain, but a little confused. The vet says she should adjust to her new way of life and should be fine. We are delighted that it is "only blindness" and not something fatal. Just remember, the Robertas of the world love us just as much even when they can't see us. And we love them even more for it.

Erik And Emma wrote:

Thank you all for this (always in our heart page). Our Dog whent to sleep Today after some time of Blindness. We miss here so much....so Much.(sight)White Love to all of you...E&M

Betty & Steve wrote:

Our 6 year old Cocker has almost overnite gone blind in both eyes from gluacoma. It happens so fast! We now are trying to decide if we continue with the meds or have his eyes taken out for comfort from the pain he has. It's a tough decision, but he's too sweet to suffer any more and us keep paying vets for useless visits that won't return his sight.

Eden Cross wrote:

Don't forget to talk w/ your dog, just like you would with a human being. They understand and they need to know what is happening and that you still love them as much, and that you'll still be there and will help them. You also have to remind them what their "job" is, and praise them for doing it well, even if it's to eat their food, or just that they are to give their family their love. We all need to be needed - dogs are no different. And, we all need to be reassured - often.

Susan wrote:

I too had a blind sharpai forover 2 years, she had laser surgery and it did nothing. One thing I did was tack dark socks on white walls at her eye level. Sometimes she could see the contrast or just the scent helped her thru the house. ( did the same around coffee tables ) She passed away from cancer, not from being blind and my other sharpai seemed to be her guide dog for nearly 2 years. Now my second one is going blind, could be the breed, but being blind doesn't stop them from enjoying life.

Valerie Tucker wrote:

I have a 14-year old cocker spaniel (Chula) who recently went blind as a result of glaucoma and poor advice from the vet. Anyway, she's understandibly reluctant to get out and walk--her hearing wasn't so great before this happened. And she seems depressed. Will she adapt and be happy? Or is she just too old?

Jenifer wrote:

My dog is losing her sight. Recently when she "escaped" from the house (she is a strictly inside dog usually) she bite my sister's friend when she went to get her. Is this a normal reaction because of her sight problems? She has never shown any signs of aggression before? I was just wondering if maybe anyone has any ideas to help out. My parents think that the best decision is to put her down, but I think that would be a little extreme since this is the first incident of this type. Any suggestions?

Bubba wrote:

My dog just went blind and I'm pissed. If we wouldnt have been home he would have just walked around in circles and died of heat stroke and dehydration. ....well damn But he's doing ok now, I guess he'll live

Beth wrote:

advice to "dspence555@aol.com....FIND ANOTHER VET!!!!!

jen wrote:

my dog just recently went blind and I learned when I were coming up and petting out dog, or when I were on the couch with her, and I had to move to a different position, to cluck to her to let her know we were near or that we were moving. It really seems to help.

Amy wrote:

Check out www.blinddogs.com for a place to interact with other owners of blind dogs.

palacie (again) wrote:

Please disregard my last comment. I was on another of your links and just now found the message board. It wasn't on the other link. Thanks.

palacie@juno.com wrote:

I wish you had a message board instead of just asking for comments. It would be nice to be able to interact with those who have similar problems.

Jolene wrote:

I have a concern regarding my blind, 83-pound, four-year-old Dalmatian. He gets aggrevated and whines when trying to eat. He knows the food is there but he keeps moving his head around the bowl. His water bowl is the exact same kind of bowl as his food is and he knows right where the water is. When we first got him about a month ago, he would tip the dog dish over so the food would spill out (all over actually) but since then we have built a box to keep both dishes inside. Do you have any suggestions as to why he does this? I have racked my brain trying to figure this out. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Melissa wrote:

My little GSD girl, Rhapsody, was born with canine optic nerve hypoplasia, she can see shadows up to 6 ft, then nothing much else. Find a warm hearted dog trainer to help you with specialized problems like I found with Cat Klass. Rhaps is a therapy dog and full of life and love. She's absolutely perfect the way she is. Also, my regular vet is totally supportive of her needs and helpful. I have been very lucky.

kathy deon wrote:

I just learned that my cocker spaniel,age 8, Sindi, has glaucoma in her eyes (at least 1 eye is totally blind)&other looks like its getting there. This morning I looked @ her & both eyeballs were back in her head,only the whites(red)were showing. took her to vet & now I have to go to specialist.She doesn't seem in pain. What are your suggestions?I don't know what to do?I don't have a lot of $ for surgery?

colhev@yahoo.com wrote:

My 13 yr old Cocker, Ginger, has just lost his sight. i just want to be there for him like he has always been for me.

Melissa wrote:

My little Chinese Crested Bria is having her left eye removed on Monday 5/6 due to glucoma. I can't afford to have the right one tested, I just have to be hopeful that she'll have 1 good eye. I am so glad that I found this site as I felt so alone in this. She is 10 and has been with me since she was 6 weeks old! I dont want her to suffer but it's nice to know that I am not the only one facing this. Thanks for this site and the information!

amy wrote:

My Mom and Dad found an abandoned poodle when they went fishing, and when we took it to the Vet, he said that she was healthy except for having been blinded by blunt force trauma. She's less than 2 years old, and very sweet, although frightened. I am pretty sure that my parents are going to adopt her, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to prepare both her (Annie), and our seeing dogs, Delilah and Samson (pomeranians) and Mei Li (pug) for her coming into the house. The vet asked us to quarantine her for a week before introducing her to them, so that she could get used to us, so she's been staying in my mom's quilting building. Any suggestions on making the transition easier for all of them?

Jessica wrote:

I wish I knew about this site when my chow chow went blind due to glaucoma. She's had two surgeries in the past year and a half, injections to permanently relieve the pressure in her eyes...they both have failed! :( I am now going to have to have them removed, wishing I had done this from the beginning. I have to say, the idea of such a major surgery on my sweet girl breaks my heart and has me scared to death...because before she went blind, she almost died from bloat. She has been my lil trooper through everything, alway's seems to just smile at me when I come home from work. I do need to ask, does anyone think this surgery should be avoided? She is 8 years old and has been through alot health wise, I just want to do what's best for her. I would love some feedback...thank you for this wonderful site!
Jessica, if those eyes are causing discomfort or pain, they have to come out. I'm sure you will still love her the same as before. Dave

dspence555@aol.com wrote:

We took our 5 week old Chinese Sharpai to a vet to have her eyes tacked back (excess wrinkled skin around the eyes) and the Vet advised us that the pup was blind. The Vet refused to treat her and refused to give worm medicine. The Vet thought that the pup should be put down instead of our thoughts of "Who cares if it's blind, we'll care for it anyway. Any comments anyone?

Rancher wrote:

thank you for your helpful hints! I just want to ad, please breeders get your dogs DNA tested for PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) so people like me won't have to come to a website like this!

Annette wrote:

We have a 15-year-old blind poodle named Sparky. He has always been given a lot of TLC

Mark wrote:

Thank you for a inspirational webpage...My dog is at this very minute in route to the eye doctor as he has glaucoma and has lost his last eye.We are frightened indeed and your page is helping me to feel a little better about the situation at hand....I will give an update as soon as I get word on whats happening...Thank you again....Mark

Sandymento wrote:

Our dog's food/water bowl was in the kitchen before she went blind. Once we knew there was a sight problem she also started to have appetite issues. Thinking she couldn't see the bowls (same color as the tile) or that the kitchen was too "busy" for her we moved the bowls near a patio window with no foot traffic, dark contrasting carpet etc. and all eating problems disappeared. She nows drinks more water and eats her food in a manner her Vet wants.

eve strachan wrote:

My YORKIE HAS GONE BLIND ALMOST OVERNIGHT SHE IS ONLY 5,aFTER READING ALL THESE MARVELLOUS COMMENTS,i DON'T FEEL HALF AS SAD.o.k. she is going to have to adjustand so are we,but I feel now she will be O.K.WHERE BEFORE i FELT HER LIFE WAS AT AN END,THANK YOU .

lisa wrote:

to the letter from Kate-----Do NOT "put your dog down". Your dog is still the loving pet who will wag his tail when you enter the door and stand ready to give you a big, wet kiss when he senses you are depressed. Would you kill a person because he is blind? RECONSIDER!!! My 7 year old baby is going blind--probably 95 % there-- but she is still my little angel. she doesn't realize that she is blind. When dogs go blind later in life they adjust quite well. don't move the furniture too much. She already has down the pattern of the house. Nobody who enters my home guesses that she cannot see. she goes right up to them to be petted. it didn't take much work by me to "adjust." Actually, she is the teacher. she has taught me that you love IN SPITE of handicaps. She will always love me unconditionally, and so will your dog!!!

maureen owner to the lovely blind cocker spaniel vincent wrote:

it is better to be loved than not loved at all...

Janet LeBarron wrote:

we brought a blind puppy not knowing this at the time of purchase, when we learned he was blind all we ask was our money back from the purchase and ask if we could give him a good home. My 15 year old that wanted the puppy loves him even more, but she gets heart broken when he bumps his head we haven't moved any thing he is now 8 weeks old and still hitting the same objects what to do

steve wrote:

How do we introduce a new blind dog which is approx. 1yr old puppy who suffer a head injury which resulted in some limited movement resulted from a car hit and run to our seven other dogs who ages range from 1yr to twevle yr? He will occupy his separte kennel run with a dog house . .

new visitor wrote:

Stumbled over this site entirely by accident looking for something else. Couldn't imagine what it could be all about - but deeply impressed. I don't have any dog at present but would certainly recommend this if I knew anyone who did, and will find out whether my vet knows about it. Have you thought about getting people to put the web address up in their local vet surgery ?

Gwen Keiley wrote:

My beloved Jenny has just, two weeks ago, gone blind. It has been a very tough adjustment for me and for her. This information has been very helpful, although both Jenny and I are "learning" a lot of these things all by ourselves. Thanks.

Dave Higham wrote:

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Frasier's Mom wrote:

First of all..thanks for making this website....SARDS is a very scary diagnosis; and yes, much worse on the pets caretaker than on the pet...at least in my case. I spent many sleeplessness nights crying over his loss. Frasier sensed my distraught, as he always has, and was trying to make ME feel better by snuggling and 'kissing'. He appears to be handling his sudden blindness quite well..he's always been a happy dog and still remains that way! He has taught me alot!! I'm not quite sure how old Frasier is...I got him from the SPCA in 1994, he had been turned in at least twice...once by current owners and then again by adopter family that brought him back after 4 days. I think he is about 9 yrs old. Fras is a Lhaso Apso mix with a cute under bite that makes him look somewhat "ferousis" but he is the kindest, gentlest dog you could ever meet. I manage a Veterinary Hospital owned by my brother, a very skilled D.V.M. Imagine my horror in discovering that nothing can be done for Frasier! As I said before though, Frasier doesn't seem to be near as bothered by the blindness as I am. He still runs with (sometimes) reckless abandon...trying to keep life the same as he as always known it. He still jumps up on the bed most every night and does his best to keep up with his new little (Yorkie) brother "Bad Andy". It does break my heart though to see him run into walls etc. I want to get one of the devices (halo) to go around his head so he doesn't end up with brain damage from running into things! Twice while at my parents house he has fallen in the pool...he must be supervised at all times...he is super confident at times. Just wondering....have any of you SARDS parents noticed sight coming and going as I have (or think I have) with Frasier at times?

A Follett wrote:

My Dog Tess 14 years (staffordshire bull terrier) has just had a eye removed after suffering cataracts for many years which then turned into Glucoma. I put this off and now seeing how happy and pain free she is wished I had done it months ago. She couldn't see out of the eye anyway so knew she wouldn't miss it but I was a bit upset at the thought of my dog only having one eye but she still looks just as loveable as she always has and hopefully means she will be with me for a few more years yet. She was playing with the ball the next day after the operation so made me feel it was well worth it to see her recover so quickly

billy williams wrote:

thank you the helpfull hints for me and my dog bear. she;s our life and pray with time will be back around on her feet. thank you so. Mr Bill Willaims

Nancy wrote:

A SOON TO BE LOVING OWNER wrote:

sherrill wrote:

help me please, my dog is now suddenly blind because of diabetes...but the big problem is that on top of it she is deaf!! What can i do???

Meg T wrote:

Our 3 yr old longhair mini dachshund just went blind July 2001. It seemed so sudden to us, but the vet opthamologist said her retinas are both detached, and that this had been going on for awhile. She had been compensating so well that we never noticed til the end. Anyway, she has adapted amazingly well and quickly (this dog LIVES to play fetch, and she still can!), and we are past the initial shock. My only problem is that she has peed in the house 4 times in the last 3 weeks. This could be a big problem. She has a doggy door, and has no problem finding it, either. Any suggestions to alctoro@pacbell.net.

Jennifer, Birmingham, AL wrote:

My 12 year old mini-dachshund, Skipper, "suddenly" lost his vision on July 31. 2001--my birthday. We grieved initially, but soon realized he didn't seem near as upset as we did. He is doing so well--a real trooper!! However, after all these years of being my sweet, love-puppy he has bitten me twice in the last 2 weeks and snarls quite often at the prospect of being picked up. It is necessary to carry him upstairs to bed each night. I talk to him and let him smell me before picking up, but for some reason, at night he becomes aggressive about it. Any clue from a more experienced owner?

crissy wrote:

I just adopted a 10 week old pug carly{one of the loves of my life}she had glaucoma and had both eyes removed,{she still doesnt know it,never will}i am using a play connected to other play pens right now to give her room to run without all the bumping,she runs around the house though only bumping when she tries to chase her big brother riley,I think having her has been a challenge but i am loving every minute of it,and could use any suggestions or comments anyone has to give.......

Dee wrote:

My9 year old American Eskimo has recently been diagnosed with SARDS. We are on our second week of trying to adjust to all the new changes. Not very succesfully I might add. I was given the name of the Living with Blind dogs book by Caroline Levin's. But I was also told that this book was best for dogs that develop their blindness with time. Does anyone know the name of a book or any other resource that I may be able to get for dogs that loose their sight suddenley? Please email me at TexDee@aol.com. Thank you!

kate wrote:

Buddy is only 4 and is losing his sight we are talking about putting him down but a part of me doesn't want to. My husband and I both work and do not feel we can teach him the things he needs. Buddy seems so sad now.Help!

jo staggs wrote:

there may be help for the pain of glacoma in dogs, the procedure is freeqing the eyes with liquid nitrogen, which is promising to reduce cells in the eyes that produce to much fluid. my dog was just diagnosed and this is a very hard disease to adjust to for the owners. thanks jo

Sandi's Mom wrote:

My girl appeared to go blind on Wednesday 7-18-01, yet she appeared to be sighted on Tuesday. She has diabetes and I know that cataracts can be a complication. I am VERY interested in getting her evaluated for surgery and would like to know of a GOOD doctor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Any information would be greatly appreciated at Pandasandi@netzero.net Thanks for any help you can give.

pat wrote:

a week ago I wrote in this section since then I have had a good cry,my dog Rusty went blind and I had morentrouble accepting it than him.Now with the help of my friends here and prayers we are both learning to ajust,thankyou

sweetpea's mom wrote:

My dog lost sight in her left eye about a year ago. We had no idea it was glucoma. We thought she hurt her eye outside playing. Then just three days ago she went blind in her right eye literally over night. My husband and I were devasted. We had no idea what to do. We had plans to put her to sleep today, but thank goodness we came to our senses. We've decided to make it work. Reading all of the happy stories about how other families have gone through this has made a huge difference for us. Thank you so much!

pat wrote:

when I realized my dog rusty was going blind I felt helpless.I am glad that I found this page it has helped me

sandy wrote:

give your dog love and support be patient and understanding.Give you and your dog chance to ajust

gloria manatee wrote:

What a blessing this website is! Our dog, Kuwae went blind suddenly about 6 months from SARDS. I can honestly say she adapted much more quickly than I even thought would have been possible and wears a smile ever single day. People are amazed when I tell them she is completely blind because she gets along so well, you would never know it. One thing that has made a major difference is that I replaced her usual collar with a harness and that really seems to give her a much greater sense of security. It is also easier to direct her while walking and keep her out of troublesome areas.

karen wrote:

Our golden retriever went blind with retinal atrophy when she was two. We had picked her up as a stray. This past summer we put her down at the ripe old age of 12 and she was ready to go. I remember our vet of the time, after the diagnosis, remarking that even though blind, she could still lead a productive life. He was right. For all you new comers, hang in there. They do adjust. One avenue of treatment I wished I had found earlier is homeopathy. There are several homeopathic vets around the country. I highly recommend it. Homeopathics relieved her of chronic ear infections she developed in conjunction with low thyroid levels. The VA/MD Veterinary Teaching Hospital gave up on curing her ear infections. Eight months of homeopathics did the trick.

nan wrote:

i just found out that baca has PRA and it's in the latter stages. I would like any suggestions for baca-she's a black lab. She loves to play ball, and jog with me-we're up to an hour a day-she love to go on her runs. this is all new to both of us.

Taz's Mum wrote:

i'm new to computers and dog blindness so was tearfully thrilled to discover Im not the only one with a blind dog and there are practical things to make like easier for us all.Some hints mentoned came to me instinctively but the doorway had proved a problem when taz became "lost" till i I read your tip about "Scent" the good and bad areas.

Darlene Peters wrote:

I have a Golden Retriever puppy and she is three weeks old and she is blind. I feel so guilty and hurt I really dont know what to do about it yet for my pups sake and mine.

Pepe's Dad wrote:

The simple answer Pauline is - there is a high probability things WILL get better. Also a high probability it will take less than 2 months before you say, "I wonder why I worried so". Go to Pepe's main page, look for surveys, there you will find how long it took for some. These are from people who have blind dogs, one day you can add your experience to it. Love from Pepe.

Pauline Rader wrote:

My dog has been blind for about 2 weeks, SARDS. She is having a hard time dealing with this. She is very depressed. Just whimpers and shakes most of the time. Has lost her appetite. I give her as much attention as possible. Advice from others have been to put her down (not an option). She is bumping into walls, chairs, etc. and not getting any better. She has no way of knowing where she is and goes to the bathroom sometimes even on her bed. From most of the messages I read, the impression I get is that it will get better. Is this true or not. Any bit of advice is appreciated.

Piper's Mom wrote:

Along with not moving furniture close all closet doors and close low kitchen cabinet doors - If I open the cabinet to put something in the trash can I always make sure I close it. Also the dishwasher. I left it open and answered the phone and sure enough...Piper walked into it.

Karen Thomas wrote:

I am having such a hard time with this because Lobo my Sharpei/husky mix is blind in both eyes from glaucom. I can't even afford the appointment with the eye doctor let alone pay for his surgery. I'm at a loss here, this boy saved my life from certain death. Can't I repay him his? What can I do? Please anybody with any suggestions. E-mail me at Goofeythang@aol.com

patricia wrote:

i can only counsel patience, reassurance, as much contact and cuddling as he will allow, familiar things and sounds, and more patience. (in addition to doctor-prescribed things). and don't ask me what i'd like to do to the one who did that to him!

RobandStaci@aol.com wrote:

We just adopted a little poodle mix guy named Patrick. Patrick was viciously attacked by a human in Jan.,2000 and kicked and beaten on the head. As a result his brian swelled and he lost hearing, vision and vocalization. He appears to have recovered full vocalization, most hearing and dark/light vision (?). After a year in a foster situation he was so emaciated that he has spent his first two days wit us in an ICU clinic being rehydrated. We suspect he may have received some brain damage, but will not be able to tell anything until he is strong enough to walk on his own again. If anyone has any thoughts on how to help our new baby please write us. We are feeling quite overwhelmed. He's a true survivor and we want to make his life as wonderful as possible.

Robbi wrote:

I resqued my "pound puppy," Freda from the Orange County, California Pound in 1992. She's half pug & half german shepard. Really, no kidding! I find that if my dog, Freda, who is 8 years old loves to fetch the flotable, cloth frisbee when she hears it as I throw it in front of her and it makes a noise on the sidewalk. She is so very proud to fetch it back to me. Also, I find balls that have various indentations for grabbing by their teeth. The odd noise as it goes down the sidewalk helps her find it easily & she grabs it and fetches it back as proudly as any sighted dog would do. Freda was fully sighted when I got her at 8 weeks, and didn't notice the cataracts growing until she was about 3-4 years old. I did try to pay a fortune to have her eyes surgically restored, but she was not a "good candidate," since she freaked out during the exam. We have lived in the same community association, so she knows her way around by smell, hearing & the paths. Only recently have I noticed that she is beginning to lose more of her sight and she is becoming increasingly aware and therefore, depressed. Her eyes are noticeably watering and gumming up more & more. What, if anything can I do for her?

Trey1316@aol.com wrote:

There is nothing more that I can do, my home is not right for my dog, I can't give him what he needs. If anyone knows of a good, loving home for him, please let me know.

Trey1316@aol.com wrote:

I adopted a blind cocker spaniel about 7 months ago, I care for him greatly but he refuses to stay in his pin, which we have for him to keep my other big dog away. Instead we have to let him out and put both dogs on a chain to keep them apart. My blind dog barks constantly, especially in the pin. He used to be ok with going in it at night time to sleep, but now he either starts barking as soon as we put him in there, or barks all during the night, or wakes at early around 3 am and barks non-stop, or usually all of the above. I know it makes my neighbors very mad, plus I can't sleep. I have got to do something soon. Any suggestions please email me.

Dannette & Tim Flaherty wrote:

After years of owning only cats (we are the proud parents of 8) we have taken on the task of a new dog. We are the proud owners of a 1 year yellow lab "Max". Max was born without vision and was brought a month ago to the Veterinarian clinc where I work by his previous owners who felt could no longer care for him. After frustrated attempts to find him a new hime they chose euthenasia...well I couldn't go for that after 3 weeks of keeping him at the clinic I decided to take him home myself. I cannot begin to expalin the joy he has brought us. Sight has no bearing on the enormous love and loyalty he has given to us. At first at times it was little frustrating but each day is getting easier. I could not imagine not having him here with us. The cats are adjusting, some better thatn others, and our children, who have begged for a dog for years, love him dearly. They could care less if Max can see, he plays tug of war, chases his ball (with a bell in it..thanks for the tip) and sleeps in the middle of the bed with me and my husband. For all you who are just beginning it takes patience and it gets better. Max is taching us as well as us teaching him. He loves to be in the same room as us and it is a privelege that he trusts us to be his eyes for him. Good Luck. The flaherty's and Max

Greg & Gretel wrote:

I came home from my secretaries wedding on Saturday 4-10-01, and my buddy Gretel could not see. I was brought to tears as I thought more for myself than for her. I thought about if I would have to put my 6yr. Dachsund down and was VERY sad. I am now only 5 days into her rapid blindness, but she has acclimated so well I think she has sight. PLEASE send me an E Mail if you are in the same boat. Rolencoast@yahoo.com

Grace Saalsaa wrote:

I'm fostering a blind, abandoned Border Collie. He's heartworm positive, very anemic from hookworms, low thyroid, skin infection, very skinny and weak from it all. Through all the hardships of having wandered alone with such a list of illnesses, Cluney has such courage and a quiet gentle nature. Each week he improves. My goal is to get him healthy again and find a loving home for him. Thanks to all for putting up this wonderful web site, for the contributions by