Dog diagnosed with SARD (vet, barking, best, food) - Dogs - - City-Data Forum

ssg II · 05-31-2014, 08:13 PM

My vet diagnosed my baby girl with SARD last week and I have an appointment with a doggie eye vet next week. Until I see him and know what to expect, does anybody have any experience with this? I know that if this diagnosis is correct, she's permanently blind. I've done online research, but can't find the answers I'm looking for.

My vet explained that since dogs have no concept of blindness, she thinks it's dark all the time, which would explain why she's sleeping 23 hours a day. She still starts barking and wagging her tail when it's time for dinner, but that's been getting earlier every day.

I've been reluctant to walk them, because she flat out refused to walk when this first occurred and I thought she had some neuro-muscular thing going on and picked her up and carried her home.

She's getting around the house and yard ok. She knows where her food and water bowls are, where her sleeping spots are and has no trouble finding the couch or her floor pillows. She gets confused about going in and out the back door, but makes her way to the yard just fine.

I have a good friend who volunteers for the humane society and she praised me for not putting her to sleep. Is there a reason I should? What is her quality of life going to be? "Everyone" says oh, dogs are resilient, her other senses will kick into over-drive, she'll adjust.....

Her brother has always been a laid-back snuggler and they've been best friends. Now they're getting into snarling matches. She has always been the alpha, more high-spirited and vocal and just a really happy, energetic dog. It's killing me to see her like this.

Will she (and her brother) adjust to this or is she just going to sleep the rest of her life?

Any thoughts or advice, PLEASE!!!!

JrzDefector · 05-31-2014, 08:41 PM

No experience with it, but I suspect eventually she will normalize to a certain degree once it becomes her new "normal". I just googled "Stimulation for blind dogs" and a TON of stuff came up. Give it a try.

Also, look into nosework as a sport - at the very least it's an activity you can do with her at home that will excite and engage her.

ssg II · 05-31-2014, 09:38 PM

Thank you & I will.

Katie1 · 06-01-2014, 06:04 AM

They will be ok once she excepts him as the boss... He may even become her Eyes! But it will take time. Right now she scared! How old are they?

ssg II · 06-04-2014, 06:37 PM

I hope everybody's right about the adjustment. I feel so bad because you're right, I know she's scared to death. They're about 12.

Rabrrita · 08-04-2014, 02:45 PM

So, how is it going?

I wanted to let you know about a device I saw on a blind dog that aided in their adjustment to "normal life". The owner was having problems because the dog was afraid to walk around because it kept getting poked in the face and banging it's muzzle into walls, furniture, and all sorts of stuff outside. They were able to start walking the dog again (a favorite activity of the dog) without worry by using a face mask. She gave me the info on it and here's the link. It appears to be widely in use in Europe both for blind dogs and you’ll see their SAR dogs wearing them.
OPTIVIZOR PROTECTS YOUR DOGS EYES & FACE-Big Dee's Tack & Doghouse

Hope all is well and things are working their way out.

ssg II · 08-05-2014, 12:30 AM

Thank you so much for the link! The specialist I went to had them and I thought I'd try to let her work things out for herself, which she has.

I made sure there was nothing in the house at her level which could have hurt her.

She's still very confused in some areas of the house, but can always find her way to her food and water bowls and when left outside longer than SHE thinks is necessary, can find her way back to the doggie-door.

She's learned quickly to walk very slowly, since she knows it's always nighttime. I knew she was a very smart dog, but I'm amazed at how well she's doing.

ssg II · 09-08-2014, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

They will be ok once she excepts him as the boss... He may even become her Eyes! But it will take time. Right now she scared! How old are they?

Her brother has become a total attention-monger. They get into snarling matches when she happens to encroach on his space. He has no idea his sister is sightless and can't understand why she gets special attention, ergo the animosity and jealousy.

It's tough because I can't make AJ understand why their meal times are different, why his sister doesn't go for walks anymore, why she doesn't get punished for peeing in the house.