Do you think an old blind dog should be put down?

Question

My brother brought a blind dog home.

Apparently, the dog belonged to his mother-in-law, and he and his wife kept it for a while in their house.

With its very light eyes and its funny walk because it can't see, the dog even reminds a ghost.

I didn't ask its age, but it looks quite old.

It seems the dog bites as well, so it's not very safe to come too near it.

In these circunstances, would you keep the dog alive or put it down?

(It's not really that we intend to take decision about this...
But the idea has come both to my mother's and my mind...)

Answer 1

JUST if he is in pain, if not DON'T!!

I have two old dogs, one is completely blind and the other one is becoming blind. Dogs have an incredible sense of adaptability. Remember they can actually "see" through their nose.

If he is grumpy could be because it is a new environment and he feels insecure/unsafe. Old dogs need a lot of patience and understanding (just as with old people)

Just give him some time to adapt

Answer 2

Let me think a minute,....

Nope,.. Humans don't get put down for going blind.

Most animals can adept and function fine while Blind.

Is the dog biteing or nipping and what are the circumstances?

Alot of dogs nip without being blind,.. some dogs bite without being blind. If you were blind and with strangers that do not speak your language-- how would you communicate when you are hungry, tired, have to "go potty", "Please don't hurt me! DOn"T HURT ME! I'm scared you are going to crush me"... etc.

I can say the Dog can't get up and start pulling at hair and smacking people,.. so I guess it's stuck with nipping and biteing.

I would try to make things stationairy and quit changeing the location of the Dog. Every animal that is blind has to learn the distance between things and were obstecles are and valuate new things placed infront of them. Is it really alive or does it just belong to the humans? Is this something that can be moved like a curtain or is it stuck here and I can't pass? Where are the dips, bumps, and steps on this floor? Is this different surface I am stepping onto stable, slippery or painful?

You need to give them time and stablity. Every blind animal needs to learn their enviornment.

P.S. I didn't clarify. Make things that are for the Dog Stationary. Keep it's food, water, and toys in one place. It would still like some toys, try to have a Toy Basket and put it's toys away there. This will help the dog locate a few essentials. Try to move these to place you will only move them to clean. You may also want to invest in Child or Pet Gates, these you put in the doorways of rooms and steps you do not want a child or dog to enter. These would be helpful when you CLEAN FLOORS.

Added: Oh, if you or someone you know decides to keep the dog, you may want to get some Bubble wrap for new or moved Furniture. Whenever you move something put bubble wrap around the base or the legs,.. or alternatively towels.. this will cause the Dog less injuries while giving it some sense something new is located there. You will eventurally remove the bubble wrap or towels when you notice the Dog has caught on to something being there and adjusted it's paths while walking to fit.

Answer 3

You said that the dog is biting people. I fostered a dog with little or no sight & she snapped if she was taken unawares - ie didn't know you were there & was startled. If this is what is happening, try making more noise when approaching the dog or speaking to it before making physical contact. Failing sight, in my opinion, is no reason to put an animal to sleep.

Have you taken the dog to a vet to check that he/she is otherwise sound? Pain will make any dog snappy, so it's the first thing I would get checked out. Let's face it, how happy would you be to be moved to a strange place that you couldn't see to live with strangers, especially if you were hurting in other ways too?

If the dog is actually showing signs of unprovoked agression that's a different matter, but first I'd get it to a vet for a thorough check over so you know what you're dealing with.

Best of luck, both to you & the dog.

Answer 4

The quality of life for the animal should be the most important thing of all. He may be getting use to his new surroundings and that is why he might be walking funny. Also he may be scared too. The best thing to do is take him to a Vet and let him get a physical and see what the vet has to say. Then a well informed decision can be made. But if the dog is in a great amount of pain and is having poor quality then the most humane thing to do is put the dog to sleep and end its misery and pain. Keeping him alive would be the worst

Answer 5

As long as the dog can still get around fine and is eating and drinking I would not see any reason to put him down. My neighbor has a blind and deaf dog(1 yr old) and she can get around no problem. She has every room in the house mapped out in her head. Most dogs no matter their age will do this. If he starts spinning that is what he is doing. Also he may not be completely blind he may be able to see shadows. We were told that her dog was completely blind but then all of a sudden will take off after a cat, so there are many things to take into consideration, not just he is old and blind.

Answer 6

I have had to put a dog down, and the decision is always hard-and it was always done after thorough consultation with my Vet. Blindness or age or the combination alone would not be enough for me to make the decision, but the biting may be indication of other issues for the animal. Also, walking funny is another clue-check with the Vet. He may be in chronic pain due to joint deterioration, only a professional can tell you that.

However, I would recommend that your family buy some liver treats, and when the dog is approached, go near "treat first". If the sense of smell is intact, you should be able to use the treats to signal "friend" to the dog. Speak in soothing tone, make sure he can smell the treats when approached, use the senses that he has to engage him with his home-hearing, smell, taste, touch. Be considerate of him, realizing that he is in blackness, and any sudden touch, even for affection, would be startling. And by instinct, he knows he's old-which to animals means he has gone from "predator" to "prey"- so he will naturally be defensive much of the time.

Again, thorough consultation with your trusted Vet will allow you to make a humane and sound decision.

Answer 7

No, I don't think the dog should be put down just for being old and blind. There are plenty of old and blind people living in this world and no one's thinking of bumping them off (or are they?)
The dog bites because it is probably frightened of suddenly being touched, It cannot see the person reaching out to touch him. Try to warn him of your presence by speaking to him. This will let him know that you are nearby.
Also, as he cannot see where he is, he will be walking with care so to not walk into anything. Over time he will create a mental image of the house in his mind and will be able to walk around with a bit more freedom. Just don't start moving the furntiture around as he won't be able to see what you've done, will walk into the furniture and get a nasty shock.
Put yourself in his shoes, or paws. You can't see, you may be elderly, and suddenly you're taken away from the home you know and put in a house that you don't know, where you could and probably do walk head first into furniture or walls. It's a pretty scary thing to experience

Answer 8

As long as the dog is still aware of what is going on then I think it should be fine. Just remember that it is blind and everything right now is foreign to it. Approach the dog slowly and gently. Old or blind dogs I usually place my hand on the back for a few seconds to let them know I am there then I pick them up. It is just scared and doesnt know what is going on right now. Give it some time.

Answer 9

Is the dog in pain or sick? If not should someone put you down if you lost your eye sight, were old, and walked funny?
If the dog is bites is because he is looking to protect himself, I would work on that rather then be hart less.

Answer 10

It comes down to quality of life. When the bad days start outnumbering the good ones, then it is generally that time.

Could the dog also be somewhat deaf? Asking because if it is both blind and deaf, it is most likely biting because it is startled.