For a few months now, My family dog has been totaly blind since he was dignosed with diabetes in April this year. He dosen't see where is going and recently has been confused. He dosen't know where he is going at times and is also half deaf. Could he have a stroke?


Is there a way to see about this?

The poor animal needs putting to sleep imo, i know i wouldn't want to live like that.

I'm sure your vet can advise you on the best course of action.

Surely the answer to this would be....

Take him to the vet.
Last edited by Gogfumble : 28-09-2008 at 20:40

My dog is deaf from old age (21) and is confused a lot, he still has sight but never looks up due to age. He manages fine but check with your vet to see the best cause of action.

He's fairly got a good life

Yeah, it's a case of him just hanging on now, he needs attention and to be lifted near his food and to his bed and outside, but he's in no obvious pain and he's in his final few months we think.

Is he still happy?

This will probably sound weird, but our old dog used to be blind and deaf but was happy. He then became incontinence (is that the right usage?) and got arthritis so would be messing the house and we could tell he was really guilty (we weren't angry at him) and it just wasn't a nice life for him so we got him put down, but it was for the best.

Our dog messes the house often, but we don't mind and he doesn't realise he's done it. We are definitely replacing the carpet soon though.

If he seems confused or disorientated it could be something as simple as an ear infection, that can really throw them off balance and make them act almost almost drunk. It could be many things though really, so take him to the vet because only they can tell you for sure what's going on and what would be best for him.

I wouldn't worry too much about the blindness. My last dog was born blind and it rarely caused him any problems, apart from if we moved things around in the house or left things in his way. He was able to do almost anything a sighted dog can do and had a great life.

I've got a diabetic cat (fortunately, cats rarely go blind with it), and sometimes he gets confused when his blood sugar is too low (he walks round and round the room and doesn't recognise me). Could this be a factor? Maybe he's getting too high a dose of insulin, it can take a few months to sort it out. I'd go back to the vet and ask them to do a blood test.

My dog is a month past his 11th birthday by the way

You should always be guided by a vet.

As long as the vet is satisfied that the dog has a good quality of life, then he'll keep things going.

Once the vet decides that the time has come, however hard it may be, you have to accept that decision.

Binnman

blimey, that`s well old for a dog.

If the dog is confused, he may need his medication adjusted.

The vet will be able to do a blood test to find out if he is still on the correct level and adjust if need be.

What type of dog is he? 11 is very old for some dogs, such as Great Danes, English Bull Dogs and Irish Wolf Hounds but middle aged for others, such as Collies, JRTs.

My dog was 17 when I lost him last year. He went deaf and started to get confused.He would howl when I left the room thinking I had gone out and then greet me when I walked back in.
Anyway, he started to mess in the house and one day I came home from work and found him collapsed in the kitchen ,he had messed, slipped in it and couldnt get up there was blood everywhere. I rushed him to the vets who said he had had a stroke through the stress of not being able to get up. He was sadly put to sleep. I was devastated.
I feel so bad, I wish I had shut the kitchen door then he wouldn't of slipped

Please don't feel bad or second guess yourself meeru

You did your best. That's all anyone can do.

Thanks stressmonkey, I have a Spanish stray now and I love him dearly but its not the same

So sorry for you and your dog, meeru, that's a sad story.

But if it didn't happen then, it would probably have happened another time, another place.

Don't blame yourself, there wasn't anything really you could have changed.

Thank you Radiohead I know you're right, just miss him

Every dog and every love is different.

You did good with your old dog, and you are doing good now.

Give yourself time to grieve and be kind to yourself. 17 years is good for any dog, and I bet they were great, happy years with you Don't let his last days be your main memories of him. Think of the happy times.

If you are a believer in an afterlife, try looking up the poem 'Rainbow Bridge'. I'm not a believer, but I still find it a beautiful poem.

I have that poem printed out and laminated. I joined Rainbow Bridge when I lost him, they were a great help and you are right it is a beautiful poem

I do too with mine.

Just today, unexpectedly, my brother sent me a photo of our Mum and our dog, taken around 20 years ago.

As soon as I saw him in the photo, it reminded me of when we used to go for walks on the beach, on long sunny family holidays in Cornwall.

That'll never happen again and I miss him still.

My dog is diabetic and has been for 1 year, he is also now blind. are you sure the diabetis is under control??
may be his blood/sugar level is way to low. have you had urine test done lately. i found our dog got on better when he has 2 injections per day rather than 1. he gets 20 units in morning - 20 at tea time allways after food.

That is not particularly old depending on what breed he is. What breed is he?


What you would want is one thing. What another person (or indeed animal) would want is something else.

Is the dog comfortable? Is the dog happy? That is what matters and only the owner can know that. Not even a vet as a vet doesn't spend enough time with the animal to know.


I can't agree with this post at all for the reasons I have stated.

A vet can give you a diagnosis and prognosis. That is all.

Hi there,

I am very sorry to hear about your dog. I have cared for two elderly dogs in my time and as a volunteer I administered insulin to a diabetic dog so I have a little experience [nowhere near as much as a vet though!]

Firstly ask yourself and the vet honestly what your dogs quality of life is like. Is your dog in pain? It could be that your dog is able to live a happy life with the right treatment until the condition worsens. I had a lovely little jack russell who was very old and riddled with skin complaints, a heart murmer and arthritus but she lived happily for years with regular visits to the vet and the right treatment and then one day I just knew it was time to have her put to sleep and the vet confirmed this.

I honestly think you should have serious talk with your vet. Good luck about your dog and the prognosis