Is my dog's eyesight failing or is she just getting old?

[CoffeeBeanie]

We have a 11 year old Terrier, she's been like a puppy until she turned 9. From then on she got slower, slept more, didn't like long walks anymore, didn't greet me when I got back from work () etc.

For the last 4 weeks she seems to have got worse in terms of displaying some confused behaviour.

When she is standing somewhere and someone walks up and stands close to her she nearly jumps out of her fur.
She sometimes just sits in one spot and stares into space.
I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago for her booster and mentioned her changed general state but the vet was very happy with her. Fit, healthy, and very keen on the liver treats, so quite puppyish.

Since then there were a few more incidents, last night she slept on the wooden floor, because I had moved her bed into another corner of the room due to DIY being carried out. She would never sleep on bare wood and when I noticed I showed her the dog bed, she climbed in eagerly.

Tonight my DS came to me and said he walked downstairs with the dog and she had missed the last step and had fallen down.

Her hearing is definitely fine, I tested that and she hears me whispering her name next door.

Could she be going blind? How can I find out? What can I do for her?

Does she recognise you by smelling you? That is the first thing one of our oldies did when she started to lose her sight. Usually sight loss in old age would be from cataracts. I am sure the vet would have spotted that. Do her eyes look clear rather than cloudy?

With eyesight issues they smell their way a lot more, can bump into things etc...

From what you say, I wonder if she is getting dementia. Our other oldie has dementia. The startle reflex can get really out of control. He startles really easily now, even from sleep for no apparent reason. He also sits facing walls, slips down the stairs and will do odd things like only lie half in his bed, half on the floor. Just giving you a little insight into dementia so you can consider that as an option, even if just to rule it out. If it is then get her started on some meds/supplements ASAP because the sooner you do that the more hope you have of some success.

Lime, she has had a "cloudy" eye since being a puppy, it is being checked by vet yearly. She doesn't smell me to recognise me.

Dogs can get dementia? Oh no. My DH has said just this morning jokingly that she behaves like she has dementia.

Does that mean she will forget how to do stuff and not recognise us?
I will contact the vet again.

Yes, they can and your dog sounds a lot like ours. He started showing signs of dementia in December. Yes, they can seem confused, forget basic training etc... I started Berkeley on Aktivait supplement (you can get them online - no prescription needed) plus I have gone back to lots of fun, gentle training of the basics to keep him thinking, involved and positive about himself and life :-)

I found this lady's website helpful too dogdementia.com/symptoms-and-treatment/

Lime, thanks for the link, sadly I recognise more symptoms which I hadn't paid much attention to because they were one offs.

I will get those tablets, and will get new toys in, to keep her mind active.

I am most concerned that she could keep falling down the stairs. She had a fall about 2 weeks ago, just before the booster, and was checked over then, all ok.

Our stairs are steep, one straight flight. Maybe I'll start putting her in a crate at night in our bedroom, because she has started wandering around the house at night.

She also has been shaking and whining a few times, we put it down to needing a wee and have let her outside.

Most noticeable is her sleeping during the day and not getting up if someone comes home. She has always been at the door as soon as she heard the gate. At first she would come if I called her, but 6 months ago she started to just lift her head and sometimes she just watches me.

Sometimes she is just like she has always been, playful, bouncing through the garden, and it has become so rare. We will have to make the most of those times.

For anxiety and startle reaction, you might like to try Thundershirt www.dfordog.co.uk/thundershirt-dog-anxiety-vest.html Berkleey is wearing one in the day to see if it helps with his fright. I think it is a bit.

It is really odd, this falling down the stairs thing. I don't know how much of that website you read yet but I noticed she talks in one of her blogs about her dog having 'weak' back legs. I emailed her because here is the thing... Berkeley had started to buckle his back legs, and slip down stairs, having some nasty falls. The vet had said it was not related to his dementia but I am thinking it is. I have got chatting about dementia with 3 people now and all of us have dogs with 'weak' back legs. It can't be just a coincidence.

Anyway, we got Berkeley some of these Gripper Socks. I am so glad I did. I put a small pair on his back feet and he is much more stable now and hasn't fallen down the stairs.

Here is the link, if you are interested www.dogquality.co.uk/products/grippers

And here is Berkeley wearing them.

PS I know it is hard but try to be upbeat and positive if you can so your dog doesn't get upset. They can pick up on so much from us. I try to stimulate his mind on good days (he loves dong all his basic commands for a treat e.g. sit, stay, paw) and I just offer cuddles and reassurance on days when he is not feeling himself. It's a sad end though isn't it :-( I don't know much about it.... how fast it progresses etc.... I am guessing each dog is different. We just have to roll with it, hey

Thank you Lime!
I've got problems posting a pic from my ipad, otherwise I'd have shown you CoffeeDog.
She gets lots of cuddles and will be on meds soon. I'll get her a new rope toy today.

Hi, I just wondered how you were both getting on?