Blindness How Does It Affect Personality?

[Dawnnziggy]

I am concerned about Ziggy. He was diagnosed with episcleritis about a year ago. His eye is mostly blue. The specialist at OSU told us that he could still see out of it but that he would have to have medication for it the rest of his life. Also, we were concerned that he could not see out of it. They thought that he could. Well, we doctor his eye twice daily. He has been getting grumpy with the other two greys.

 

This is what I worry about. He has been "air snapping" at them when he is startled. I am afraid that he will hurt one of them. He has never connected with his snapping but it is still a worry. We had a boston terrier when I was a child and he went blind. He bit his buddy, a cocker spaniel, all the time if he got in his face. He never bit to hurt him and the spaniel never got nasty back.

 

What can I do to help Ziggy? Does anyone have any ideas? Would a bell on their collars alert him that they are on the move? If he hears them coming, do you think he would be so startled? Any thoughts and/or ideas would be appreciated.

 

Thanks! Judy

[TheFullHouse]

When my Emmy went blind, I attached little bells to the other dogs collars so that she would hear them coming up on her so she wouldn't be startled. It worked very well for us because with all these dogs here, she never snapped at a one of them and she was the leader of my pack at the time.

 

I think some dogs handle not having sight better than others. Emmy was 10 when she went blind so she wasn't adjusting as well as others here on GT have, but she was also ill at the time.

Edited March 22, 2011 by JillysFullHouse

[Anne]

My Lynch (greyhound) never ever snapped at any dog or person and he was totally blind for many years. He got snapped at occasionally when he stepped on someone. He was very rarely startled, in fact I can't remember him being startled by me or the other dogs. Lynch was a sweet boy who was very laid back and had not an aggressive bone in his body. He went totally blind somewhere between his second birthday and his third birthday, he had PRA.

[Brindles]

My retriever with PRA lost his sight very gradually. The only thing that changed for him was his tolerance of energetic puppies. We also made a habit of clapping and calling his name before touching him. When he did get startled, I made sure to keep petting him and reassure him instead of vanishing and confusing him.

[seeh2o]

My non-grey, Sheila, went blind at 10 within hours due to SARDS, she adapted really well. I did a lot of things around the house to help her initially. My other dog wore a bell on his collar, I wore a bell bracelet, put an essential oil on each of the door casings (low enough that she could smell it) - a specific oil for each room, bought her a babble ball to play with, etc. She never attacked my other dog, but she did attack Carl and Claire when they first arrived at the house. I kept her segregated from them during the day so she couldn't go after them...she had never been bad with other dogs until then. I joined the Yahoo group, Owners of Blind Dogs, it was hugely helpful and I really recommend it.

 

My non-grey, Sheila, went blind at 10 within hours due to SARDS, she adapted really well. I did a lot of things around the house to help her initially. My other dog wore a bell on his collar, I wore a bell bracelet, put an essential oil on each of the door casings (low enough that she could smell it) - a specific oil for each room, bought her a babble ball to play with, etc. She never attacked my other dog, but she did attack Carl and Claire when they first arrived at the house. I kept her segregated from them during the day so she couldn't go after them...she had never been bad with other dogs until then. I joined the Yahoo group, Owners of Blind Dogs, it was hugely helpful and I really recommend it.

 

Sending good thoughts and wishes your way.

[Guest KennelMom]

It's the running joke in this house that going blind made Hanna a better pet. She's a lot more social and loving since going blind (PRA so it happened over time). Her "hanar" is amazing (Hanna radar)...most folks can't pick her out as the blind dog if we have everyone out together. She's not snappy with the other dogs, though if she were we would give her much more latitude with her communication.

 

The sense of hearing and smell is already FAR beyond what humans experience and it will be heightened even more in a blind dog. If he's not making contact, he's probably just giving them a warning to stay out of his space. I think that's reasonable. If you are worried about things escalating, make sure the dogs are separated when unattended. Also keep in mind that pain can lead to an increase in defensive behavior like snapping and space guarding. I'm not familiar with his particular condition, but if it is painful, make sure you are managing pain levels adequately.

 

Other than basic things like calling her before we touch her, making sure stuff isn't left in her way...stuff like that, we don't do anything special with Hanna. Their senses are so keen, I don't think bells or essential oils are really necessary. Maybe initially in the case of sudden blindness, but I think most of those things are more for the human to feel like we're doing something than they actually help the dog.

 

Is Ziggy partially sighted? Does his condition affect both eyes or only one eye? It's not clear from your post. We also have a pup who's totally blind in one eye and she is no different than any of the other dogs and isn't treated any differently. She occasionally whacks the blind side of her head on things, but for the most part I don't even consider her "differently abled."

 

Sending good thoughts to you and Ziggy!

[Dawnnziggy]

Ziggy has only lost sight in his left eye. He is a normally very nervous dog. Little things scare him. He has always been that way in the 5 years that we have had him. He runs into things when we are out on our walks. He jumps around like he is frightened sometimes on walks. He did that just about an hour ago to me. He looked at me and jumped and ran around behind all of us. I try to use a calm and quiet voice with him when he panics and he'll settle down. It is so strange. He runs into branches and bushes. Last week he ran into a weed and got scared. He ran around in a circle and then approached the weed slowly to smell it. I am a bit concerned that he doesn't see very well out of the other eye or I wouldn't think he would be so startled. He loves the other two greys we have. He lounges on the sofa or on the day bed with Dawson. He plays with him outside. Dawn is the alpha dog and he thinks she walks on water. I am just a bit stumped. I know that you are the people to ask.

 

Oh, I have to take him back to OSU this summer for a reevaluation. I will ask them about it too.

 

Thank you everyone who gave me some insight!

[Guest MonsterMomma]

Please PLEASE Ziggy-proof your yard! My Manny had a devastating run-in with pokeweed in our backyard (his story here)...because we didn't know that he was blind in one eye and had only limited vision in the other. Turns out he had distemper as a pup and survived.

Edited March 26, 2011 by MonsterMomma

[Dawnnziggy]

Thank you for your story! It is very scarey for us. I think it is also scarey for Ziggy. I think that is why he is grumping at his greyt friends. He loves them both and would not hurt either one of them.

[TheFullHouse]

Try putting bells on the other two greyhounds. This way Ziggy will hear them approaching him. He will soon associate the sound of the bells with the dogs coming near him and may stop the snapping.