When it rains, it pours...

[mustangwagz]

well, its official, my dogs going blind.. Poor ole bugger, i feel bad for him. i need to see if vet can do anything, however he's got some years under his belt. Ole Mac is gonna be 14 on April 25th of this year. He's a blue tic heeler, and by far my best/most fav dog ive ever had, hands down. I noticed for sure tonight that in the dark, he's pretty much blind. he walked right into the side of my sideXside and was like "Hmmph...what was that?" Then when i call him he kinda slowly comes towards my voice then finds me. during the day light, he's ok for most part...but you can see the fog in his eyes.. Man that sucks. i feel so bad for the old boy...He's had an awesome life, and by no means is he ready to "retire" so he'll keep on raising hell, barking at cars that pull off the road, and still wanna chew the tires off my attex. lol ill love the ole boy regardless of how it turns out, and i KNOW he'll feel the same for me. Just sucks guys.. thats life though. it happens to everyone and everything. sorry had to vent, sure you all understand.

-Zac

[LarryW]

Man thats bad news. When I was a kid we had a stray cat show up once. I remember trying to catch it and it ran right into a cement foundation to an old barn. Thats when we realized it was blind. It was around a while then disappeared. We figured it fell into the well under the windmill. I guess you will have to baby sit him a bit more then normal. Maybe wear a bell on your shoes so he can hear where you are, lol. Just joking around so dont take it serious. Hopefully the vet can do something and cheaply. If not Im sure he will just learn his way around. Maybe if its mainly the dark he has issues with you should keep him inside during the night just to be sure nothing happens. Or get him a head lamp.

I wish him well. Keep us updated on any news.

[swamp donkey]

I know how u feel buddy I have a 14 year old treeing walking vie had since a puppy. Best coon dog I ever had. He road many a mile in that 99 vanguard 2 with me. Now he's got so old he can't jump in the back of my max if he wonted to and he wonts to. It will be a sad day when he's gone.

[Obsessed]

Wow..know how you must be feeling mustangwagz...just had to put our dog "Sunny" down this week. I've hade some really great dogs but she was the best, and she raised several other really nice dogs for us. She was almost 16 years old and almost 100 by our standards.

We had her in a litter of pups when my oldest son was just a toddler...gave her and the others to very good homes and told them each that if they ever needed to they could bring them back home. The young lady that took her cried when she had to bring her back after 9 months and a change of living circumstances. We kept her and loved her for 14 more years. She seen about a half a dozen other dogs come and go over the years as we have always tried to keep 2 or 3 at a time for company and safety from predators.

About 5 years ago she was injured...not really sure what happened...and developed a limp...eventually started walking on just 3 and that was about the same time she started to develop cataracts, and a little arthritis (which we were able to help with daily medication). For the last year or so everyone who remembered her as a younger more fit dog would stop over and see us, they would often comment that she looked like her days were numbered, but I always figured that if she could still come out and greet us then she still was enjoying herself a bit.

This last week she quit being able to get in and out of the garage so we knew she had given up. We waited till my boy was home for the weekend from college, so we could all play with her for a while and then my son and I did the service of helping her finally rest.

Pretty tuff on us all but comforting to know that she's not suffering any more. We are now left with one really nice black lab, and one really nice yellow lab mix and they both have the personality of "Sunny"

Enjoy your pets as much as you can

tim

[brushcutter]

Dang, hate to hear it. I had to have our toy rat terrier put down a year ago last Thanksgiving. The summer before, I had taken her out before turning in for the night, I watched her walk under the in-laws street light coming toward the house and she disappeared. I looked for her for a solid hour before giving up and going to bed. Didn't sleep well and around 4 am the neighbors called to ask if I was missing my dog. That's how I realized she was not only going blind but also deaf. Forward to Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the kids and I were getting ready to go to my Dad's to help him build a hog trap on his place and I'm watching my beloved pet stagger around moaning and I realized something. SHE was suffering, and I was not only being selfish by not having her put to sleep- I was doing the cruelest thing you could do to anything- I was forcing her to pay for my selfishness with her agony. That realization HURT! She lay in my lap as we made the LONG LONG last drive to the vet's and I held her while the shot was given and until she breathed her last and was gone. Helluva hard thing to do....

Itsy Bitsy... sorely missed

Hope this helps, when the time comes... know you are not alone...

[Dirty Harry]

My GF had a miniature Schnauzer that was blind for the last 4 years or so of her life. Never affected her all that much. Was still as fiesty and playfull as ever, right up until the end when Diabetes took her. She only slowed down a little because she had to "radar" her way around rather than run every where at full speed. Just keep an eye on your pal and see how things go. If it's gradual the dog will adjust over time and should be OK. Good luck.