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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

My beloved labrador is almost totally blind:-(

144 replies

dottytablecloth · 21/02/2015 20:04

He's 11 and the vet says there is nothing we can do to help his sight.

His sight has deteriorated over the last few years but he's almost totally blind now.

The problem is we feel his quality of life is poor as he can't see where he's going and crashes into things which results in him helping painfully.

It's not possible for him to live indoors as we have two small children and there isn't the space. We always made sure he got two long walks everyday but he can't really walk very well now as he stumbles over the kerb and trips along.

Am I being selfish keeping him like this? My beautiful, strong, agile boy has gone and I'm heartbroken.

Sad

I can't think about it too much as when we got him he bounded around so full of life and vitality and now we can't even let him off the lead as he walks in front of people, cyclists etc and is basically a danger. It makes me really sad and I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
lemisscared · 21/02/2015 20:13

i think its time to let him go, especially if he can't come in the house. Flowers Some dogs cope well with losing their sight but need a calm environment where everything in same place. hard for you but best for him Flowers

PartyFops · 21/02/2015 20:14

I would let him go personally.

Especially if he lives outside, there is no quality of life.

I feel for you, we have a 9year old Lab and would be devastated to make this decision SadSad

Be kind to yourself too Thanks

Gymbob · 21/02/2015 21:16

please let him in the house, he is part of your family. I can't bear to think of him outside and alone with almost no sight. if you have to let him go please allow him to be with you in the last days of his life Sad

landrover · 21/02/2015 23:41

Please let him live in house, a dog is pointless if he is kept outside all the time! (unless a working dog!) xx

JoffreyBaratheon · 22/02/2015 12:02

I'm with the others. If he was indoors and you could devote time to helping him adjust - there'd be no question and keeping him going might be the right thing. Our blind dog died last year aged 14. She went blind aged 4. I was able to spend a hell of a lot of time helping her adjust. Walked her places that were utterly flat and easy at first, as she was terrified - and slowly walked further, and in more challenging terrains, getting her to trust me, that I'd never steer her wrong. After a few months she would confidently go out and if you hadn't been told she was blind, you'd not have guessed.

Same in the house. We built up her confidence in situations, doing easy and controllable things at first, til she was able to jump on the sofa etc and judge the height just as if she wasn't blind.

A few years later, I met a woman with the same breed of dog that had had the same problem (lens luxation) and she told me she had had to put her much loved dog to sleep after a few months as it was so distressed by being blind, it simply couldn't cope with anything. So that happens to the best of us.

But you need him to be an indoor dog and you need to have time to devote to him to get him to the point he can adjust. And as he went blind in later life, that would be harder, too. I do feel for you, but also - don't get another dog if it can't live inside with you. Once you have let him go, don't bring another dog into that situation - as you now know, if something like this happens, you won't be there to cope with it on the level you need to. I had young kids (5 of them) when my dog went blind but luckily a supportive husband who could watch the kids whilst I worked with my mutt. Not everyone is so lucky.

MitchellMummy · 22/02/2015 12:31

Poor fella. I think if he can't come inside then perhaps his time has come ... sometimes euthanasia with your family around you is better than spending your time in an outdoor kennel if your eyesight has gone. It's probably better than having him fall in the night when you're not with him. So sad. I have two elderly dogs, one of whose sight I think is failing. I'm lucky that I have space on my bed for them but it's always hard making that final decision.

Original poster
dottytablecloth · 22/02/2015 18:39

I can hardly bring myself to reply to these posts as I feel awful. I know what people are saying is right, our dog should be in the house, but with a just 2 year old and a 10 week old baby it's just not possible. We don't have the space and the amount of hair he sheds is dreadful. I feel so sorry for our dog, his life is miserable. I keep thinking about how it would feel to be treated like he is, outside in the cold and blind.

It the typical story of the dog was our baby until we had children and then the dog took a back seat. I'm not proud of this and I really don't think I'll ever get over the sadness I feel at the whole situation .

I've tried to get him re homed but the reality is no one wants an old, blind dog.

The dog loved walks in the park and it made him so happy to bound along bit it's just so stressful for him now. Even today when we were out walking I had to stop him falling off the kerb onto the road and with a double buggy it's dangerous for everyone.

For those who have expressed concern, please don't worry we won't be getting another dog until the dog can be indoors all the time.

I really would consider myself a dog lover, but I appreciate it doesn't seem like that now.

OP posts:
MitchellMummy · 22/02/2015 18:49

Bless him. Could you not put up with the hair etc. as, realistically, it won't be for long? I heard a lovely story today about a really old dog whom nobody wanted. Then along came an old lady who had a terminal illness ... the pair of them teamed up ... a sad but lovely story. Obviously circumstances have changed for you OP ... but maybe there's another solution - could you offer to pay for his food and vet bills if someone (maybe retired) could love him for the time he's got left? I feel bad knowing he's outside cold and blind in this weather ... but even if I wanted to offer him a home I know my fella (the dog that is ...) wouldn't accept him. As I said before there is fate worse than death. I'm not having a go here, just trying to help. Good luck.

VivaLeBeaver · 22/02/2015 18:51

Please either bring him in or have him pts. It's cold outside, he's old and blind. Sad

Sorry but he's probably miserable.

Bowlersarm · 22/02/2015 18:54

He needs to be inside Sad. Poor boy

Bowlersarm · 22/02/2015 18:55

Don't tell me he was an inside dog and was relegated once you had pfb?

neme · 22/02/2015 19:12

I'm not going to comment on the outside thing. It makes me too angry not to be really, really rude to you, tbh.

Talk to your vet about his quality of life and be completely honest about the length of time he is alone outside etc. Be guided by their opinion.

Gymbob · 22/02/2015 20:06

I appreciate your situation but I am so utterly distraught at your treatment of your old and blind dog. he lived with you in the house until your children were born? the hairs? vacuum up 3 times a day if you have to. can you put his bed in one room and even confine him to that room. at least he may gain some comfort from the sound of your voices. I don't believe you don't have room for him. you have practically abandoned him to a life of blind misery. please find it in your heart to let him in. its so cold outside. I don't even want to think he has no heating outside. you are cruel to start off with him in your home. I am so angry Angry

Gymbob · 22/02/2015 20:20

please tell us where you are, maybe someone can offer him a warm home? I really am extremely upset about your dog. I demand you bring him into your house tonight Angry

mooth · 22/02/2015 20:24

If you can't look after a dog - including when he's sick - you really shouldn't have one.

lemisscared · 22/02/2015 20:33

OP - when i saw more posts on here i was going to come and defend you.I assumed that your dog was a working dog and always lived out.

But now i read that you put him out when the children came along about two years ago and this co-incides with his eyesight deteriorating.

I am starting to hope this is a wind up.

Where are you OP? I can't bear to think of this dog outside - its fucking freezing. I will come and get him.

lemisscared · 22/02/2015 20:34

Please please just bring him in the house tonight, please - then take him to the vets tomorrow and let him go. You are being unbelievably cruel. Angry

JoffreyBaratheon · 22/02/2015 21:12

Can't you put him in the kitchen behind a babygate? Conversely, tell us what county/town you're in and maybe someone here can get him to a place where he will be cared for. Blindness doesn't have to be a death sentence, but imagining being cold, alone, blind and no doubt afraid... It is no example to set your kids, either, growing up seeing the dog relegated outside. My neighbours have a black lab and two toddlers. The dog is dumped outside to go to the toilet but at least they let it in again. But it is never walked (not once in 18 months), never played with and the only reason we know its name is from hearing them shriek abuse at it. I don't just feel sorry for the dog but also the kids who will grow up thinking that is how you treat dogs.

Original poster
dottytablecloth · 22/02/2015 22:17

Ridiculous to suggest this is a wind up. It's a terrible situation.

For all the people who are saying they'll come and get him, please pm me if you are genuine in your offer.

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 22/02/2015 22:21

Please someone pm the so called dog lover. I wish it was a wind up, op, I really do.

omletta · 22/02/2015 22:27

Just bring him in the house - you are unbelievably selfish. I'm crying, I cant belive you would do this.

ambercat · 22/02/2015 22:28

Has he got shelter? A bed? How can you call him your beloved dog if you've ditched him outside in the cold and rain?

CocktailQueen · 22/02/2015 22:33

Jesus. The poor, poor dog - and I don't even like dogs. It sounds like you have been completely unfair to your poor dog. Imagine how he feels. Surely there must be room in your house for him, if there was before you had dc?? Take him inside. Even if you keep him in one room. Hoover every day. You owe it to him.

CatsClaus · 22/02/2015 22:33

you shoved a 9 year old house dog outside? Because you had a baby?

Shame on you. It's a terrible situation of your own making, get that poor creature out of his misery and never consider yourself suitable for a pet again.

omletta · 22/02/2015 22:35

Please explain why he is outside.? This makes no sense. I went on holiday in a camper an with DH, two teenagers and a lab. It was tight but it never occurred to us to kick out the dog - I woukd sooner sleep outside myself. Where are you?

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