Blind.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Unfortunately my Wire has been diagnosed with SARDS. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. He’s gone blind seemingly overnight. There is no cure.

A couple weeks ago I noticed he wasn’t interested in things -treats mostly- I was putting in from of his face. I thought something *might* be off but dismissed it when he ran the yard and otherwise acted like his normal self.

Yesterday he went to an animal eye specialty center where a multitude of tests were performed confirming his blindness.

G is almost 10 years old. This disease is more common in small breed, middle aged females.

Everything I’ve read said this will only minimally impact his quality of life. He will learn to map out his environment.

It all boils down to quality of life as to whether you need to say goodbye. Everything I’ve read said he’ll adjust just fine. Still, the whole thing makes me sad. He didn’t deserve this shit.

[MikeB]

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

Unfortunately my Wire has been diagnosed with SARDS. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. He’s gone blind seemingly overnight. There is no cure.

A couple weeks ago I noticed he wasn’t interested in things -treats mostly- I was putting in from of his face. I thought something *might* be off but dismissed it when he ran the yard and otherwise acted like his normal self.

Yesterday he went to an animal eye specialty center where a multitude of tests were performed confirming his blindness.

G is almost 10 years old. This disease is more common in small breed, middle aged females.

Everything I’ve read said this will only minimally impact his quality of life. He will learn to map out his environment.

It all boils down to quality of life as to whether you need to say goodbye. Everything I’ve read said he’ll adjust just fine. Still, the whole thing makes me sad. He didn’t deserve this shit.

Sorry to hear that, I have had a bunch of good 4 legged family over the years. The odes are good and you cooperate with him, he will still be able to have a reasonably normal life. Do not rush into saying goodby, give him and you a fair chance.

Good luck, Dave

[Louie Detroit]

He will do just fine, love your friend all you can, he'll always look at you with those big loving eyes!

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Do not rush into saying goodby, give him and you a fair chance.

Never in a million years would we do that. He’ll adapt and so will we.

We think this has been going on a bit longer than we initially thought. Once it starts there is no stopping it.

I’m the worry-wart. If they sneeze I’m loading them up to the Vet. Nothing we did or didn’t do worsened his condition.

[mrvette]

There is a dawg up the street, belongs to a friend/neighbor and is well over ten years old, and it's been loosing sight in one eye, the good one for a while now, and so it seems to get along ok, runs up/down the street for maybe 1/2 a block/ 3-5 houses, and begs food......seems in decent health except the eyes we all note they are white as hell, and of course how the dawg reacts accordingly........AND the dawg in the pix above looks damn similar to the dawg up the street.....

[Don Rickles]

Ahhhhhh, poor baby.

Kisses and kisses!!!

[dwjz06]

Sorry Thomas big adjustments for both of you. All you can do is love and take care of them. They are here for such a short time in our lives.

[Rodnok1]

Been at a few blind dogs, sometimes you do even notice it. Sucks but they adapt much better than humans do.

[Taurus]

So sorry to hear this. Our toy poodle had this same condition but she was much older. You are correct, they will adapt. It's amazing how well they map their environment to the point that sometimes you forget they can't see. Their sense of smell is amazing which is a big part of how they do it so a couple things to keep in mind.

Keep an eye on them when there's a strange smell in the house, it does affect them.

Don't be in the habit of moving furniture, it messes with them.

When they get somewhere they can't figure out they tend to freeze up like my little girl did below (just missed the entrance to her kennel). If you don't see them and they don't come when called they're most likely confused.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Taurus

Don't be in the habit of moving furniture, it messes with them.

When they get somewhere they can't figure out they tend to freeze up like my little girl did below (just missed the entrance to her kennel). If you don't see them and they don't come when called they're most likely confused.

The furniture thing I’d read about but the freezing thing I hadn’t.

Thank you. We’ll keep this in mind.

[jw38]

Keep loving your little buddy and he'll do just fine. It will take some adjustment, but it will all work out.

[LATB]

Sorry to hear this Thomas.
I hope your boy can have many many good years ahead.

We are like you and give our dogs 100% care. We have one with a bad foot and we are working to help her. It breaks my heart to see her limp a little in her walk.

[Onebadcad]

Very sorry to hear, I hope his remaining ten years will be good ones under your care!!
Both of you will adapt well, you will be able to increase your bond, over time the compensations you make will not be stressful, AND they will bring you closer.
As long as you can keep them with you, life is great for both of you.


Our George, a Havachon, had eye issues at 10, was degenerative, but not total loss; cataractts, or something similar--vet said he may not survive a surgery.
At age 12 George had most of his teeth pulled, it was okay, as he hated kibble, and enjyed the full transition to wet food.

It affected him a little, but I always kept him on my lap or at my side when I was home, and did all I could to be at home as much as possible; my wife would make the necessary travels, I stayed at home.

George passed about three years ago, still, easily, the toughest loss I have ever had in life, I rarely discuss him, too damn painful, but am thankful he made it to 14, and his last four years were the best of his life, as he was greatly pampered.

One day, when I meet G-O-D, I will ask him why he did not allow dogs to live as long as humans, as they are better than us, and deserve a longer life.

RIP George, you have no equal, you were the best ever!!

Good luck G & Giraffe, you will be a fine team for years to come!!

[dvarapala]

Poor pup!!

[cptlo306]

[Mick]

Back in the '80s, one of my best friends had a dog that got cataracts so bad, he went completely blind. If you didn't know, you would never guess, He'd be out in the neighborhood, chasing the neighborhood girl dogs, navigated the house and yead without hesitation, always knew who I was as soon as I got there, etc.

If his ears and nose are still working well, they really don't need to see very much, or anything at all, to live a very full life!

Sorry to hear that anyway. I am the same with my dog, I will NOT hesitate to take her to the vet if I think there is even the slightest chance he can help her.

[RedLS1GTO]

Exactly what happened to my buddy a couple of years ago.

Perfectly healthy... until 1 day he was blind and wasn't. Unfortunately it didn't go so well after that in his case. I wish you and the pup the best.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

Unfortunately my Wire has been diagnosed with SARDS. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. He’s gone blind seemingly overnight. There is no cure.

A couple weeks ago I noticed he wasn’t interested in things -treats mostly- I was putting in from of his face. I thought something *might* be off but dismissed it when he ran the yard and otherwise acted like his normal self.

Yesterday he went to an animal eye specialty center where a multitude of tests were performed confirming his blindness.

G is almost 10 years old. This disease is more common in small breed, middle aged females.

Everything I’ve read said this will only minimally impact his quality of life. He will learn to map out his environment.

It all boils down to quality of life as to whether you need to say goodbye. Everything I’ve read said he’ll adjust just fine. Still, the whole thing makes me sad. He didn’t deserve this shit.

One of my country cousins in PA had a dog ('70s-'80s?) who got hit by a car. The dog recovered but it was permanently blinded.

As we know, sight is the third-used sense for dogs, after smell and hearing. A blind dog will have a much easier life than a blind human.

His dog did fine, learned how to get around the house, and even caught and killed woodchucks. I've forgotten, but I would imagine it lived a full life and died of old age.

Good luck, I'm sure your dog will do fine after a while!

[Bill]

Sorry to hear this. Health problems with pets are particularly excruciating for not just the pet, but for you, the owner, because you are responsible, you have to make the right decision for the pet, whether to, or when, to have the pet put down. It's agonizing, and I can't imagine how scary it must be for the little guy to suddenly not be able to see, and to not understand what is happening to him.

Thomas, you've got a lot more experience with dogs than all of us, I'm certain, and I know your heart is in the right place. Whatever you do will be the right thing for your best bud.

For now, all you can do is give him some extra pets and scritches from all of us, while you see how he adjusts to blindness.