[RoseB4Bros]

Hi all, I really need your advice... sorry for the long post, but I need help :-(

Over the past year my beautiful, sweet, loyal little Rat Terrier/Chi mix (9-10 yrs old), Kelsey Grammar, went 95% deaf and then lost each eye, one at a time. She’s always been super smart, obedient, and just a doll. Now, she cannot see and can barely hear, and she def struggled for a few months this past summer/fall getting used to that. However, she now seems acclimated, having learned her way around our house, finding her food and water bowls, and even searching everywhere for water if her bowl is dry. We live in a ranch house and every single day when I get home from work she comes to find me (bumping and stumbling against all surfaces No matter where I am in the house, but she always finds me). She wags her tail like crazy and tries to play with me to get me to pet her, until she’s content to head back to her bed—just like she did before she lost those senses. (We all know chihuahuas love to sleep it up ALL the time). She still loves to cozy up and licks my nose every. single. time. (Just like before). She’s nearly back to her old self... however most ppl I know say I should put her down Bc she is both blind and deaf and claim that “she lies in bed all the time” and “that’s no way to live.”
BUT obviously she’s still in there! She’s still her normal, happy, loving self, except she can’t see and can barely hear. She does not seem to be in any pain whatsoever, and I have really checked (beyond her wagging tail). I am turning to this group bc I am truly at a loss... If any of us were blind and deaf, would we deserve to die? My peeps’ responses are always, “yea, but a dog is different than a human.” But knowing Kelsey is still in there, I can’t in good conscience put her to sleep :-( I just love her so much and want her to be as happy and comfortable as possible.

please give your candid thoughts. Appreciate any insight from fellow dog lovers and long-time owners!!! TIA!!

 

[Mad Murphy]

some people here already know that my last beagle called Benny went blind but he lived a perfectly full and happy life for a number of years.
of course quality of life counts but if your dog is not in any pain and is otherwise healthy and enjoying life the way that she normally does then I see no reason to have her put down.
Of course we made changes and considerations like not moving furniture , not leaving odd things in his normal pathways , making sure that he was always protected outside because he couldn't see if he would walk into a stick or a bush but apart from that blindness /deafness they really are no handicap to a dog it's when we pamper when we start to feel sorry for them, and start wrapping them in cotton wool that's when they are handicapped.

 

[Rain]

I'd keep her! Heck, I'd take her on if I found her in a shelter when I was looking for a new dog. I've heard of plenty of dogs that are blind, and death, but perfectly happy. They still go for walks, they still play, they still love their owner, and they can still follow at least some commands.

If she's otherwise healthy, and not in any pain, then there's nothing wrong with letting her live her life. You just have to make adjustments so that she stays safe and can navigate her environment. The first thing I'd look into, and I wish I had heard about it when I had my blind, elderly, dog, is a halo. What that is is a harness with a piece that circles around the head / face of the dog and prevents them from running into walls, and stuff. Google halo for blind dogs and they will pop up.

 

[SusanLynn]

Here is a photo of my Miles sporting his halo:

He was completely blind and nearly deaf, and he was still a happy dog. He didn't need to wear his halo in the house, but he wore it on walks and whenever we visited a friend's house.

I'd highly recommend this brand. It's called Muffin's Halos for Blind Dogs. It was created by a dog owner for her own dog.

 

[JudyN]

When I was young we had a Yorkie who lived till 16. Towards the end of her life (by which time I'd left home) she was deaf, blind, diabetic, toothless, incontinent and her back legs were going. But she was happy. Then one day my mum just looked at her and realised that she just didn't look happy any more... it was time to say goodbye.

It definitely doesn't sound like it's time for you to say goodbye to your girl

 

[SusanLynn]

Also keep in mind that dogs rely much more of their sense of smell to navigate their world.

I can't see a single reason for you to say goodbye to your dog now.

With Miles, advanced kidney disease is the reason I had to let him go.

 

[Sunflower_]

I’m prepared to disagree with the previous posts. I don’t know the whole situation so I for sure can’t say that it’s the right decision to put her down. But at the same time I can’t say that It’s the right decision to keep her.

I don’t think any of us have enough information to take a stand in this matter.

It’s great that she’s still playful and that her spirit is still there, that’s very positive. But you also need to see the whole picture and not just the occasional glimpse of joy. The question is if the majority of her time has quality? I also wonder why people around you say that she lies in bed all the time? Is that true? If so, I have to say I can understand their point. Being a deaf and blind dog, just laying in a bed, doesn’t sound like a life of quality.

But on the other hand you haven’t told us how you exercise and activate her. It would be easier if you described what a week looks like, from her point of view. So we could get the picture of what she’s experiencing. Are you still able to enjoy walks and other kinds of exercise? Are you able to stimulate her through activities that includes her nose and sense of smell? I guess the real question is if she’s able (and offered) to do other things in her life besides laying in her bed. I can imagine that she requires a lot support from you to be able to live a life which she can enjoy, since she’s really in the dark.

 

[Rain]

I’m prepared to disagree with the previous posts. I don’t know the whole situation so I for sure can’t say that it’s the right decision to put her down. But at the same time I can’t say that It’s the right decision to keep her.

I don’t think any of us have enough information to take a stand in this matter.

It’s great that she’s still playful and that her spirit is still there, that’s very positive. But you also need to see the whole picture and not just the occasional glimpse of joy. The question is if the majority of her time has quality? I also wonder why people around you say that she lies in bed all the time? Is that true? If so, I have to say I can understand their point. Being a deaf and blind dog, just laying in a bed, doesn’t sound like a life of quality.

But on the other hand you haven’t told us how you exercise and activate her. It would be easier if you described what a week looks like, from her point of view. So we could get the picture of what she’s experiencing. Are you still able to enjoy walks and other kinds of exercise? Are you able to stimulate her through activities that includes her nose and sense of smell? I guess the real question is if she’s able (and offered) to do other things in her life besides laying in her bed. I can imagine that she requires a lot support from you to be able to live a life which she can enjoy, since she’s really in the dark.

Some dogs are just low energy for whatever reason they may have, which is what RoseB4Bros stated is the case with her dog. She said he acted the way he is before he lost his sight and hearing. My own dog only plays a couple of times a day 20 - 40 min tops, and it's usually only 20 min. He goes on 1 to 2 walks a day 30 min to an hour for one and maybe less for the second one. The rest of the time he lays around. It's his choice, if I try to play with him when he does not want to play he refuses, if I try to walk him when he wants to go home I'll be dragging or carrying him. Aside from luxating patella he's perfectly healthy. He's not in pain, not fat, only 7 years old, he's just low energy.

Back when I had Shadow, after he got elderly, and a stroke left him blind, he still enjoyed his walks, he'd still play for a little bit, his arthritic pain was under control, but he was slowing way down. He slept 80% of the time, but he was 16 - 17 years 8 months old. I saw no reason to put him down for simply being old and wanting to sleep most of the time, same reason I wouldn't put down an elderly person for no longer wanting to play most of the time, but wanting to nap. Blind dogs learn to get around just fine if they are given the chance.

 

[Grazyna]

Hi all, I really need your advice... sorry for the long post, but I need help :-(

Over the past year my beautiful, sweet, loyal little Rat Terrier/Chi mix (9-10 yrs old), Kelsey Grammar, went 95% deaf and then lost each eye, one at a time. She’s always been super smart, obedient, and just a doll. Now, she cannot see and can barely hear, and she def struggled for a few months this past summer/fall getting used to that. However, she now seems acclimated, having learned her way around our house, finding her food and water bowls, and even searching everywhere for water if her bowl is dry. We live in a ranch house and every single day when I get home from work she comes to find me (bumping and stumbling against all surfaces No matter where I am in the house, but she always finds me). She wags her tail like crazy and tries to play with me to get me to pet her, until she’s content to head back to her bed—just like she did before she lost those senses. (We all know chihuahuas love to sleep it up ALL the time). She still loves to cozy up and licks my nose every. single. time. (Just like before). She’s nearly back to her old self... however most ppl I know say I should put her down Bc she is both blind and deaf and claim that “she lies in bed all the time” and “that’s no way to live.”
BUT obviously she’s still in there! She’s still her normal, happy, loving self, except she can’t see and can barely hear. She does not seem to be in any pain whatsoever, and I have really checked (beyond her wagging tail). I am turning to this group bc I am truly at a loss... If any of us were blind and deaf, would we deserve to die? My peeps’ responses are always, “yea, but a dog is different than a human.” But knowing Kelsey is still in there, I can’t in good conscience put her to sleep :-( I just love her so much and want her to be as happy and comfortable as possible.

please give your candid thoughts. Appreciate any insight from fellow dog lovers and long-time owners!!! TIA!!

I do understand you are thorn inside and uncertain. I had to put down 3 pets in my life and hesitated a great deal. My advice to you is : do not listen to other people around and use your best judgment; that is what I did. You will know when is the time and you will be ready for it ( like it is possible at all to be 100% ready ). For now enjoy time with your precious furry friend and keep watching her like you do. GG ?

 

[Sunflower_]

Some dogs are just low energy for whatever reason they may have, which is what RoseB4Bros stated is the case with her dog. She said he acted the way he is before he lost his sight and hearing. My own dog only plays a couple of times a day 20 - 40 min tops, and it's usually only 20 min. He goes on 1 to 2 walks a day 30 min to an hour for one and maybe less for the second one. The rest of the time he lays around. It's his choice, if I try to play with him when he does not want to play he refuses, if I try to walk him when he wants to go home I'll be dragging or carrying him. Aside from luxating patella he's perfectly healthy. He's not in pain, not fat, only 7 years old, he's just low energy.

Back when I had Shadow, after he got elderly, and a stroke left him blind, he still enjoyed his walks, he'd still play for a little bit, his arthritic pain was under control, but he was slowing way down. He slept 80% of the time, but he was 16 - 17 years 8 months old. I saw no reason to put him down for simply being old and wanting to sleep most of the time, same reason I wouldn't put down an elderly person for no longer wanting to play most of the time, but wanting to nap. Blind dogs learn to get around just fine if they are given the chance.

I’m aware that dogs have different energy levels and different demands on activity and exercise. But if your dog just lays in bed all day (referring to what her friends said) something for sure is wrong and you need to question if it’s a good life for the dog. And unlike “normal” dogs this dog that is both blind and deaf is not able to get any impressions nor stimulation through these senses. So, if we imagine a life from the dogs point of view: hours, days, weeks, months and years go by without you being able to see or hear, stuck in your bed, just passing time. Yet again, this is based on the comments of her friends.

However, If the dog is able to participate in activities, walks, playtime, gets to use her nose to get stimulation etc, the situation is different. It all comes down to how much quality her life has. To me, lying in a bed day in and day out without being able to see or hear is not a life of quality. She might be happy or excited from time to time but you really need to take the entirety into perspective.

To obtain the quality of her life living with these conditions it will take great effort and support from the human. I’m not saying it’s impossible but I think it’s still at its place to question this dogs living situation.

 

[Mad Murphy]

For me this was the crucial statement She’s still her normal, happy, loving self, except she can’t see and can barely hear. (my bold) it doesnt sound as if the dog is suffering and many of the people around me thought I shuld have first my BC PTS because he hurt his back (and made a good recovery) and then Benny because he was blind...oh thats awful you should have him PTS, well his life was far from over... he managed very well although he did love his bed as all beagles do. He is totally blind in this video.

 

[Sunflower_]

And for me this statement was very alarming:
however most ppl I know say I should put her down Bc she is both blind and deaf and claim that “she lies in bed all the time” and “that’s no way to live.”
Why are they saying that? Is it true? Not being able to hear and see for sure generally lowers the quality of her life so saying that “she’s her normal self expect she can’t see or hear” isn’t that reassuring to me.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m not arguing that a deaf and blind dog can’t have a quality of life. But if this particular dog is both deaf, blind and only lays in her bed all day, the quality of her life for sure is questionable.

 

[Kyllobernese]

I have a 15 year old Shih Tzu x Maltese. He is completely deaf and his sight is steadily going but he is healthy otherwise. I have no intention to have him put down until he shows me that he is not happy. He still asks to go outside,usually barks to come back in but facing away and I have to nudge him so he realizes the door is open. Still eats his kibble even though he only has a few teeth left and is good shape.

 

[ReinSchat]

I do understand you are thorn inside and uncertain. I had to put down 3 pets in my life and hesitated a great deal. My advice to you is : do not listen to other people around and use your best judgment; that is what I did auto clicker. You will know when is the time and you will be ready for it ( like it is possible at all to be 100% ready ). For now enjoy time with your precious furry friend and keep watching her like you do. GG ?

So, if we imagine a life from the dogs point of view: hours, days, weeks, months and years go by without you being able to see or hear, stuck in your bed, just passing time. Yet again, this is based on the comments of her friends.