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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:
monkeyfacegrace · 22/02/2015 23:38

You are being evasive! Just tell somebody where you are, it's not hard?

Are you being deliberately cruel? You won't bring your old, blind dog in because of the hair?!

Do you want the animal to suffer or not? Beloved dog my arse.

monkeyfacegrace · 22/02/2015 23:38

Not to mention that you have no idea where I am myself.

tipsytrifle · 22/02/2015 23:39

You stand a really good chance of rehoming this beloved lab, dotty. Please accept the solutions offered to you by way of posters here saying they will home him or any of the rescue centres that are appropriate to you.

His solitary life is antithetical to dog nature. They are social beings. No matter how comfy you make that outdoor area he has blindness to cope with and no pack to help him along. Emotionally and sensory wise he is probably starving for some comfort and reassurance, not to mention a role in life. At 11 he actually has quite a few years left in him, assuming all else is healthy.

As with humans, though, disability can drag a soul down faster than it was meant to go without love and support. Do your best, dotty. The posters who offered a new home are sincere, quicker too. Google would find you other options but there will be "a process" you need to engage with.

andrea315 · 22/02/2015 23:40

This has made me so sad my nearly 13 year old collie is going deaf and blind and there is no way on this earth he would be put outside I have a child and I looked after other people's children in my home for years never once was he cast aside! And as for hair I just hoover twice a day poor poor dog I can't stop my tears this is going to stick with me :-(

examnewbie · 22/02/2015 23:47

please please let people know where you are if they are happy to help. There are genuine people that want to help you and your dog.

elastamum · 22/02/2015 23:48

OP, is you aren't going to rehome your poor dog I suggest that you bring him inside, give him some comfort and have him put to sleep.

To leave him cold, blind and miserable outside is incredibly unkind, particularly as he has always been a house dog and he is now getting old and infirm. You obviously don't think this is OK either - so don't do it. Sad

examnewbie · 22/02/2015 23:50

please get him rehomed to someone who wants him.

Jux · 22/02/2015 23:54

Perhaps OP's oh is saying "FGS! You're supposed to love him! Let him in." And she wants everyone to say that she can't possibly because someone has to think of the children; and the hair of course Hmm.

I'm not into dogs, much, but I'd take him, OP, if I didn't have 3 cats and a dog-hating dh (oh and mobility problems so walks would be impossible).

Nevertheless, stop pissing about and do something. The poor creature needs actual love and kindness, not pretend hand-wringing love and kindness.

AnnieMorel · 22/02/2015 23:58

I really wish I hadn't opened this thread Sad

Poor dog.

angryangryyoungwoman · 23/02/2015 00:00

So, where are you?

Adarajames · 23/02/2015 00:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MuttersDarkly · 23/02/2015 00:11

Just a thought, but I'm not sure I'd be anything other than evasive if being asked to hand over my address to random people on the internet who were coming accross as really angry with me.

If people wanted to take the dog, surely a less "self sabotage" approach would have been to post in an entirely different tone, that reduced, rather than wildly increased, the obvious reticence a person would have about handing over her details to a total stranger ?

This is not rocket science. It might make people feel better to vent their spleen, but it was hardly In the dog's best interests not to exercise total self control and come accross as affable enough to be trusted up to the front door.

FannyFifer · 23/02/2015 00:16

Poor dog.

My aunt had a really old lab that was diabetic & mostly blind, she made him sleep outside as he was apparently incontinent.

I had him for 2 weeks while she was on holiday, he slept inside on the couch with the cats (& me the first two nights as he was so scared) he wasn't incontinent, just needed brought out to go to the toilet.

He didn't go back to my aunt, he had a happy life with me & the cats looked after him as well. Sadly he only lived for 9 months after I adopted him but he passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wee cat buddies.

Let someone come & get your dog.

tipsytrifle · 23/02/2015 00:17

Thank you MuttersDarkly

timtam23 · 23/02/2015 00:17

Poor, poor dog. And I don't even like dogs very much!
My old cat went blind aged 16, we managed to keep him going for another 2 years with some adjustments to the environment and some careful management of boisterous small children - that cat had been my companion for many years before DH/DCs were on the scene and I felt really responsible for keeping him comfortable & looking after him in his old age. We also had to deal with masses of cat hair, cat wee etc on the carpet (I had another equally ancient cat as well) plus 2 little kids in a very small house. I know cats are not the same as a Labrador, and don't need to be walked, but please please don't leave him out in the cold on his own Sad

tipsytrifle · 23/02/2015 00:20

dotty it is actually ok to need to rehome a dog, cat or whatever lovely being this planet has generated. I hope you return and find that there is compassionate help for all of you here.

XLIX · 23/02/2015 00:36

So so sad. I'm not going to worsen matter's by excoriating you, OP. Please do right by your old boy. He can't do anything for himself.

LokiBuddyBoo1 · 23/02/2015 01:39

How can you be so cruel, you said he was your baby till you had kids and then that's how you treat something you love to just discard it outside because you had a kid. SHAME ON YOU.
And you've still left him outside now he's almost blind, image how he feels alone scared nearly blind and unloved going from being "your baby" a loved inside dog to being discarded outside just because you had kids.
People like you shouldn't have dogs if thats how you treat him. I really feel for him dumped outside in the cold going blind probably feeling scared and unloved.
If you can't bring him inside and I don't believe you don't have the room you could easily confine him to one room then the kindest thing is to rehome or PTS.
No dog deserves the treatment your giving your poor dog.
Please do the right thing for him.

omletta · 23/02/2015 06:47

Op - could you please up date us?

I can't bear to think that you have used our disgust as validation to have him PTS

I can understand that you don't want to say where you are but you simply can't just leave him outside, it's abohrant. I gueninely would come and get him, or if indeed you really cared you would bring him to me, one of the other posters who have expressed a willingness to help, or a multitude of other people and organisations who detest the thought of an old dog, living outside, alone, because his selfish owners don't want to clear up a bit of hair.

Bakeoffcake · 23/02/2015 07:18

OP please contact the labrador rescue place someone linked to up thread.
My friend has a totally blind 11 year old Lab. She has older dc so had the time to look after him, he does need a lot of time and patience but he has an incredibly happy life.
I do understand why you havent got the time to look after a blind dog, with a tiny baby and a two yo. BUT you cannot just put him outside, you really really can't.
Sort this out today by getting him rehomed.

lemisscared · 23/02/2015 08:43

in all honesty I am not sure rehoming would be the best outcome here. The dog is 11yo and nearing the end of its life.

He is used to his home he is in now and his owner. I am not sure how kind it would be for him to be put into a strange environment with people he doesn't know i really think the best option is pts.

but

i hardly slept last night thinking about this.
I live in kent. If you are near me op i will take the dog and offer him an indoor home. BUT i will not promise you that i wont pts (i work in a vets so will get him assessed - i get some money off my bills but have two dogs already so would appretiate a contribution towards bills) i will also expect you to sign a permission slip if euthanasia is deemed the best option.

no judgement - i know its hard.

for me the best option would be for you to take your dog in with a view to pts this week. But the offer is there i will come and get him and keep him inside , have him assessed and if it is viable get him rehomed (i have a few contacts i can try) or if he only has a short time ill keep him until the time comes.

pm me if i can help

muttynutty · 23/02/2015 08:46

lemisscared if you need further help pm me re new home or foster home

Gymbob · 23/02/2015 08:50

PLEASE CAN I MAKE A KIND REQUEST TO EVERYONE. I HARDLY SLEPT LAST NIGHT. WE ARE GETTING THIS DOG NOWHERE AND NO DOUBT THE OP IS GETTING FOUL PRIVATE MESSAGES. IF WE WANT TO HELP THIS DOG, PLEASE STOP THIS NOW.

Sorry for the shouting, with the op's permission we can find some way to help, but not while we're all so angry with her. my only concern is for the dog. please, no more unhelpful posts.

can we work together here and find a solution please? nicely, for the dogs sake please. thank you all Thanks

MitchellMummy · 23/02/2015 08:58

Hope you can take up an offer of help. Agree you don't want to put your address on here but maybe a rough idea of where you are (town or island).

lemisscared · 23/02/2015 09:19

i agree gymbob

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