Blind Boxer and Feeding Time

[gljliz]

Ginger, my 7 year old Boxer, has suddenly gone blind. She's doing very well at navigating the house and figuring our her "new world". My concern is this: I have another dog, Hagar (labradoodle) and they have always eaten side by side without too many problems. How do I get Ginger to recognize her bowl and not wander into his food? I don't want to start WW3 during breakfast one morning!! Since she is comfortable with the location of her bowl, should I make Hagar move? I hate to disrupt him, but he's only 2 and seems pretty adaptable.

If anyone has any ideas (or knows of other posts) for training either of my kids, please let me know. I am trying to get as much information as possible. Thanks for any help!

 

[TwoDogs]

Just move Hagar to another room or even across the same room--he'll catch on quick. It will prevent any "oops! wrong bowl" incidents and it will put Ginger at ease knowing that she can eat in peace and quiet and doesn't have to listen for Hagar approaching. I would monitor them to make sure that no one tries to sneak some of the other's meal and remove the bowls as soon as they are done eating.

Just curious, what caused the sudden blindness? Had Ginger's eyesight been failing?

 

[gljliz]

Ginger started having problems with the stairs and just walking in general about 2 weeks ago. The vet found severe neck pain during her exam and put Ginger on meds. That was going well until Ginger's back legs started falling out from under her over the weekend and she started walking into things. I was thinking maybe the pain was so intense that Ginger's reflexes were being altered. Yesterday, the vet confirmed my fears - Ginger is indeed blind. I think the vet said something about Ginger's retinas, but I was still hung up on the "she's blind" part that I missed some of what she said. Once I am over this initial shock, I will regroup with the vet and find out what if anything caused this. We are looking into Thyroid issues that may be causing her back legs to not work so well.

 

[mancin]

Once she gets used to getting around, I wouldn't change anything. Leave her food bowl where it is now, leave furniture where it is now, etc. I've never had a blind dog, but a friend of mine did and she got around really well once she learned the house. However, any little change threw her off. Even moving the coffee table translated into her running straight into it. :( I'm not sure if all dogs are like that, but I figure better safe than sorry! Hopefully you get some answers soon for Ginger. Good luck!

 

[Murp.mm]

My daughter and her husband adopted a blind 18 month old shepard lab mix 2 years ago. Abby has degenerative eye disease. It didn't take her long to figure out her surroundings even though she was at the shelter for a few months before they brought her to her forever home. They have two sets of stairs in their house and she wasn't long figuring out how to get up and down. At first she almost got on her belly and she is still that way if she is in a different area. Nicole put a bell on their cat which helps Abby get around but she tends to use her other senses and really is doing wonderful. Sometimes she will walk into things as the evening comes on so Nicole leaves lots of light on for her. She also wears a special tag that says blind dog just in case she ever got out. The food thing - well Abby was up to my house for an overnight visit with Ms. Ali and I separated the two of them and feed them. Now I had to watch them closely as I didn't want my girl getting into poor Abby just cause she didn't know where she was going. If I were you I would keep Ginger's food area the same and move Hagar since he is the younger one and is more adaptable to change. It's amazing how quickly they adapt to not having their sight. Abby wasn't always blind but it progressively got worse. Abby fetches her toys it just takes her awhile longer. Nicole tell her to go to the kitchen or dining room and find her toy. She snifs and snifs until she finds it. Then she praises her big time. Your children can throw her toys and take her to them. Let her find it and give her lots of praise. She will quickly learn to sniff them out. They can walk her. It's a little bit more challenging at first but dogs are smart and it would be good for the kids too. I hope this helps a little bit. There was a time when dogs went blind that people had them put down. What a shame. They still have so much to offer and can teach us so much. Sorry I went on and on!! Good Luck.

 

[EAO76]

My daughter and her husband adopted a blind 18 month old shepard lab mix 2 years ago. Abby has degenerative eye disease. It didn't take her long to figure out her surroundings even though she was at the shelter for a few months before they brought her to her forever home. They have two sets of stairs in their house and she wasn't long figuring out how to get up and down. At first she almost got on her belly and she is still that way if she is in a different area. Nicole put a bell on their cat which helps Abby get around but she tends to use her other senses and really is doing wonderful. Sometimes she will walk into things as the evening comes on so Nicole leaves lots of light on for her. She also wears a special tag that says blind dog just in case she ever got out. The food thing - well Abby was up to my house for an overnight visit with Ms. Ali and I separated the two of them and feed them. Now I had to watch them closely as I didn't want my girl getting into poor Abby just cause she didn't know where she was going. If I were you I would keep Ginger's food area the same and move Hagar since he is the younger one and is more adaptable to change. It's amazing how quickly they adapt to not having their sight. Abby wasn't always blind but it progressively got worse. Abby fetches her toys it just takes her awhile longer. Nicole tell her to go to the kitchen or dining room and find her toy. She snifs and snifs until she finds it. Then she praises her big time. Your children can throw her toys and take her to them. Let her find it and give her lots of praise. She will quickly learn to sniff them out. They can walk her. It's a little bit more challenging at first but dogs are smart and it would be good for the kids too. I hope this helps a little bit. There was a time when dogs went blind that people had them put down. What a shame. They still have so much to offer and can teach us so much. Sorry I went on and on!! Good Luck.

Great post! Teaching her to “find it” with her nose is a great suggestion. My Rosco (not blind) took a nose work class and essentially learned the same thing. He can now sniff out his favorite toys in any hiding place in the yard or house. Their noses are amazing.

I applaud you for being such a great pet owner and for doing your best to make her as happy & comfortable as possible!

PS Have you asked the vet or considered the possibility of a brain tumor? Considering both her limbs and eyes are affected it seems that may be a possibility. I know that is a little grim but getting a proper diagnoses could buy you more time.