Are there any owners of blind dogs on here?

At least two I can think of and I used to be until Katy died.

Regards, John

Hi John,
Was Katy blind from birth or through eye problems, also how did she cope with life.

I've actually had two who went blind late in life. Mandy went blind over several years and really you would never have known. About the only way it showed was when she was out in the fields having a little run. At a point you would see her set off, obviously with the idea of coming back to us but probably pointing in exactly the wrong direction! I used to hurry round the field so she always ended up by walking up to me. That way she never suspected that she was ever lost.

My Katy went Diabetic later in her life and went blind in a few short months. She went so quickly that she never had time to adapt. Although she was happy wandering around the house and garden and not bothered about being out on the lead she completely lacked confidence off lead when out so I never worried her with it.

You are obviously worried about something so would you like to talk about it? I may be able to help you with a few ideas. Sight is not quite so important to dogs as it is to us and their powers of compensation are so much better than ours.

Regards, John

I have one who's got very little sight in one eye due to a cataract (about 5% vision), though the other isn't as bad (about 50% vision we reckon). She now likes to have a torch shone on the steps when she goes out in thedark, but apart from that she's fine. We have no intention of having anything done about them, and the vet was agreed it's unnecessary.

Both my previous dogs lost their site later in life, one was pretty much completely blind but was happy wandering around his house and the other walked around close to us most of the time. They both got on ok though, didnt really let them off the lead once they went blind because one of them was always nervous when she couldnt see us out on a walk

My dog has retinal dysplasia, he lost one eye last year when he developed glaucoma, as he was already blind in that eye it never bothered him, when he had his eye removed he had a false eye put in. His vision in the remaining eye is not 100% and he had laser surgery to try and halt the deterioation. At the moment he is probably the best he has ever been, so happy and bouncy. I am worried he may develop glaucoma in his remaining eye or his retina may completely detach. I am trying to do as much with him as I can whilst he is so happy, but deep down I think he will go blind and this is what is worrying me even though I can do nothing about it.

What breed is he Sandie? Who did the laser surgery? What country are you in? I ask the last question because there are few places in the UK equiped for laser surgery apart from vet colleges and I'm wondering who did the surgery and what checks they did on the remaining eye? This is rather important.

Sorry for all the questions.

Regards, John

Hi John,
He is a springer, he had his surgery done in Birmingham at the Willows referral centre.

Sandie im sure he will be fine, if his eye is gradually deteriorating rather than suddenly vanishing he will have time to get used to it and it shouldnt affect him too badly, just check on him and see how he reacts in different situations when he can't see properly, if something distresses him try and avoid those situations

Springer's suffer from the same "Angle Closure" Glaucoma as in Flatcoated Retrievers. P W Renwick is the Pannelist at The Willows so you were in good hands. The reason I asked is because Angle Closure Glaucoma is rarely bilateral so the chances of it occurring in the other eye is strong. The fact that The Willows did the job would almost certainly mean that they were confident that the second eye is ok or they would almost certainly have sorted the drain out. Actually, with the laser surgery they might have in fact done just that.

Getting back to your worry about him adapting, obviously some are better than others but the fact that one eye is already gone and the other is not perfect means that he is already adapting. As to how well he adapts, there are little things you can do. For example, I never moved furniture around. If you need to try to move little at a time so he never gets lost. Keeping him confident in his own abilities to find his own way around is so important. As long as he has that confidence he will be happy. That was why I used to run round the field to Mandy. I never called her till I was in the position for her to come straight to me. Little things like that make all the difference.

Regards, John

John,
The drainage angle was checked and it was ok, does it make any difference if it is classed as secondary glaucoma. You are right about Peter Renwick, he is very good although Christine Heinrich done the laser work.
Is there anything we can do to prevent the onset of glaucoma, how often should he be checked.

Christine Heinrich is very go so you had a first class team! If the drainage angle is OK then you should not have any problems in that respect. The only thing you can do is watch. Redness of the white, Painful to touch, a "Popeyed" appearance, these are all danger signs to be heeded IMMEDIATELY.

Saying the above, the most important thing to say is "Don't panic!" You have some of the top people doing the work so the chances on anything going wrong is remote. Enjoy your dog and don't worry. I know its difficult but these people are very very good so have confidence. :)

Regards, John  

Hi Sandie, my dog is blind, shes now 10yrs+half & lost all sight maybe about 2yrs ago. Unlike Johns dog, she is more insecure on the lead than off, she absolutely hates me putting it on her! She has learned in the past 18mths how to go up to steps in our new house & also find her way around it, I thought I was so clever by putting sliding doors to the living room & kitchen, she has now showed the others how to open them!!!!!! And gets on my new learther sofa to snooze the day away :D She amazes me all the time but shes always been independent & I encourage that.
I am finding now she is more vocal, also is showing signs of deafness but thats more than likely due to old age, bit like us all :) I think its harder for me than her. Now with her getting old sometimes she`s a little disorientated when she wakes up, she neds a bit more time to find her way around both inside & outside. When she gets excited is when she gets a bit onfused about where things are so I mostly keep the pace of to suit her & thats a bit more slower than normal, yet give her a whiff of anything remotely tasty & boy can she move...specially when its dark & didn`t see which direction she went off in ;) :D
Right now shes happy & while she is I am, but I still worry! :)

Christine, Spain.

Sandie someone I know had a Welsh Spr9inger who first lost one eye and then at 12 years old lost the other eye due to Galucoma.  It was amazing to see her still doing Obedience competitons at Exemption level, doing the retrieve and recall off lead, you wouldn't know she was blind except it looked like she had her eyes closed!!!