My parents have an 11 year old female sheltie who is not doing well. She went completely blind over Thanksgiving and is continuing to decline. She seems okay physically besides the blindness, but they haven't taken her to a vet yet so I'm not positive if anything else is going on with her. They are taking her the week after Christmas...money has been an issue as both cars recently broke down and her vision has been going bad for some time anyways. I guess I'm just really struggling with watching her because she was my dog when I lived with them and she seems depressed and lost. My heart just breaks as I watch her bump into things. She used to be incredibly active and happy and now she just lays around. I know the end is probably near but I'm just not ready. Sorry for being sad...I know you guys understand though how difficult it is. Anything we can do to make the blindess easier on her?

I let my childhood dog go in May. I am so sorry for what you are going though and I know how hard it is.

The best advice I ever received was from Connie, who got it from others here on the board. She told me she had never regretted putting a dog down too early, but she had regretted doing it too late.

That really made the decision for me. You know when her good days are out-numbered by her bad.

I know it's so hard to go through this, especially with your childhood best friend. I just remembered all of the times my girl had been there for me when I was growing up, and I understood that it was my turn to be there for her.

It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but I know I did well by her. I owed it to her.

Sorry, it's still so recent I get carried away. I guess the important thing is that you will know when it's time, and don't let you talk yourself out of it. Once you know, you know. I knew it for a little while before I had someone else remind me that it was the best choice to make for her. We can let ourselves get carried away with thinking that there's just more life left in them. And maybe there is, but what kind of life is it going to be?

dogs are very adaptive and she will likely learn to navigate the house without bumping into things all the time. i have seen a few blind or near blind dogs have a decent quality of life.

what i have seen help with a dog who has lost there sight is to simply keep as many things in the same place as possible avoid moving furniture around and such. keep table chairs tucked in. keep drawers and cupboards on her level closed. I never had a dog go blind so i am not speaking from first hand experience but i have heard it from fellow dog owners.

as well here are some articles i have found on the subject with a google search

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/60211/canine_blindness_identification_and_pg2.html?cat=53

http://www.amorak.net/ArticlesCaringForBlind&VisuallyImpairedDogs.html

good luck

Loss of sight does not necessarily mean "the beginning of the end" in a sheltie. Many are weak in the eye department. Hope she will perk up as she adjusts to her blindness, and hope her blindness was not caused by glaucoma, which can be painful.
Perhaps you are struck by the contrast between your beautiful pup with endless energy and your aging first dog.

This thread made me get a tiny bit emotional, I had two Shelties growing up. They are such cute, energetic little things. Best of luck dealing w/this, Olivia.

 Quote: Ross Rapoport

This thread made me get a tiny bit emotional, I had two Shelties growing up. They are such cute, energetic little things. Best of luck dealing w/this, Olivia.

It seems during this holiday cheer there are a few threads that are making us all a little teary eyed.

Olivia,

I would see how things go for a little while. If things start to show signs for the worst then consider the option of letting her go. I hope things work out for the best and if you need us for support we are all here for you .

I had a mini poodle years ago that had secondary cateracts & was completely blind by the time she was 10, due to it. (She was a poor operative risk due to elevated liver enzymes & age) She lived to 12 1/2 & died from other medical problems. This was also a dog on anti-convulscents from 10 months old.

She navagated the house (moved once whan she was 10 1/2) once she knew where everything was. She even did the stairs inside & outside. Although this was my folk's house & she spent a good deal of her life in this house, she did not actualy live there until she was 10. The only time she had a problem was when someone would move an iten into the pathways.

I also had to go with her outside to 'potty' as the yard was not completely fenced & she would wander off, if she made a wrong turn, due to her lack of vision .

She was happy & played & enjoyed life right until the end. Her blindness never stopped her from enjoying herself.

If there are other medical issues they should be addressed. It is possible that they can be helped thru medication etc. I would not give up on the dog due to blindness.

Thanks for the advice and support everyone. She is special because we bought her two days after we lost my first sheltie to a sick neighbor with a gun (I'll save that lovely story for another day) After Beau was killed, we were completely lost without a dog and bought Millie out of the local newspaper. Of course I know better now, but at the time our hearts were broken and we were desperate for another puppy. I'm not considering putting her down yet...at least not until a vet evaluates exactly what is going on. It's just breaking my heart because she seems very depressed and miserable. No matter what we do, she just wants to lay around and it's hard to get her tail to wag about anything. I just feel so incredibly helpless I'll update after her vet visit next week.

Keeo us posted. Hopefully it is something that can be treated.

Olivia, what she's going through right now is a very normal adjustment period very similar to what you would go through if you lost your sight. The main difference of course is that no one can explain what's happened to her. Treat her as normally as possible. Take her for "walks" around the house to re-acquaint her with the layout and where objects are located. And, as already mentioned, don't move things if not absolutely necessary. And, if you do, be sure to re-acquaint her with where they are.

Unless there are other medical issues, she'll adapt and do fine. Our family's had 3 dogs that went blind when they got older. One of them lived 18 years and another 23 years.