So glad she is home and doing well, in spite of all her problems. I did see an article on the 'net some time ago that showed an 'antena type' device that a blind dog wore around it's neck (I think). It gave the dog feelers that helped it sense things around it. I'll see if I can find it again. I think I found it on a website that also discussed deaf dogs (I have one that was born deaf). While deafness isn't the same as blindness, I too was devastated when I found out Allie was deaf. She has done remarkably well, and acts like a normal dog - even barking like a fool with the other dogs, even though she can't hear them.
I wish you all the best of luck with your little furkid. I hope she is well soon.
Sadie - suddenly blind
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
http://www.pepedog.com/vests.htm
Pepe is the dog with the "hoop" or as I call it a "bumper". If you think your dog will wear one it's worth a try, especially if bumping into things will cause problems with her other eye.
also check out http://www.blinddogs.info/
Pepe is the dog with the "hoop" or as I call it a "bumper". If you think your dog will wear one it's worth a try, especially if bumping into things will cause problems with her other eye.
also check out http://www.blinddogs.info/
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
Yep - that's the one I was talking about!Cindy wrote:http://www.pepedog.com/vests.htm
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
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KiltedFlower
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:33 am
- Location: Central MA, USA
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
My mom in her researching found Pepe and his hoop on Saturday. Would probably be a help to Sadie when we put her in a new environment (like visiting people) since she has no vision at all... and runs into things often. But we're waiting to see how much she figures out on her own and how much help she'll need. That and my dad thinks it would look dumb -- we'll see what happens.
The vet at Tufts recommended a book on blind dogs that he thought we should get. It has been ordered from Amazon.com and should get here tomorrow. We did go ahead and buy a recirculating water dish with a little waterfall thing so she can hopefully find her water by sound instead of trying to do so by scent. I also bought her a new collar since she's lost so much weight and her's is now too small.
Now we're trying to get our recheck appointment with the doctors at Tufts (they wanted to see her 5 days after discharge). However, she was discharged Thursday night, we left a message and no one called us back Friday and then we took her back Friday night to have her eye looked at, and this is a long weekend... no ones answering the phone to make the appointment. A little frustrating. 5 days after discharge is tomorrow.
One of the questions we will have at her recheck appointment is whether we have to buy the prescription food. The only thing that her discharge papers says is "low protien diet." I was looking around the pet store last night. She's currently eating Hills Prescription k/d which has 3.5% crude protein. The regular Hills Science Diet cans that I picked up last night had either 4% or 5% protein depending on type and flavor. I did look at some other brands and some had as much as 25% (not puppy food) so obviously those would be bad for her but what about the 4 or 5%? How low is "low protein?" Are there other reasons to feed her the prescription food? Do you guys have any thoughts on that? Obviously we'll follow our vets advice but I was just wondering if you guys had any ideas?
The vet at Tufts recommended a book on blind dogs that he thought we should get. It has been ordered from Amazon.com and should get here tomorrow. We did go ahead and buy a recirculating water dish with a little waterfall thing so she can hopefully find her water by sound instead of trying to do so by scent. I also bought her a new collar since she's lost so much weight and her's is now too small.
Now we're trying to get our recheck appointment with the doctors at Tufts (they wanted to see her 5 days after discharge). However, she was discharged Thursday night, we left a message and no one called us back Friday and then we took her back Friday night to have her eye looked at, and this is a long weekend... no ones answering the phone to make the appointment. A little frustrating. 5 days after discharge is tomorrow.
One of the questions we will have at her recheck appointment is whether we have to buy the prescription food. The only thing that her discharge papers says is "low protien diet." I was looking around the pet store last night. She's currently eating Hills Prescription k/d which has 3.5% crude protein. The regular Hills Science Diet cans that I picked up last night had either 4% or 5% protein depending on type and flavor. I did look at some other brands and some had as much as 25% (not puppy food) so obviously those would be bad for her but what about the 4 or 5%? How low is "low protein?" Are there other reasons to feed her the prescription food? Do you guys have any thoughts on that? Obviously we'll follow our vets advice but I was just wondering if you guys had any ideas?
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
Since they were worried about her kidney function/damage at this point, they wanted to prescribe a low protein/low fat/low phosphorus diet to at least maintain the kidney function (and hopefully prevent progression of kidney disease). Any of the prescription diet samples your vet gave you would serve that purpose. Since Sadie seems to like the food, don't suddenly switch it to anything different, consult your vet on those factors.
As for phone tag, once you get ahold of them, be sure to express your concern about needing to have the availability to talk to a real person. You can also ask if they have a "back line" in which it might be easier for you to schedule, etc.
As for phone tag, once you get ahold of them, be sure to express your concern about needing to have the availability to talk to a real person. You can also ask if they have a "back line" in which it might be easier for you to schedule, etc.
..........Traci
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KiltedFlower
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:33 am
- Location: Central MA, USA
Re: Sadie - suddenly blind
Sadie had her 1 week checkup yesterday and they think she's doing much better. They're scaling back her some of her medications and weening her off of others. She has lost another pound since leaving the hospital and this does concern us slightly but we believe it is because she has been having to pee every 2 hrs and pooping 4 times a day. They say this will decrease as they cut back her prednisone (pills and drops).
The doctor does want her to continue on the prescription wet food. She has been eating as much as we put down, as often as we put it down. And this morning we had something odd happen.... She wouldn't touch any of it. She did however gobble down the treats we gave her with her pills. My question is ... can canned food "go bad?" My pets have always had dry food so this wet food is new stuff for us.
The doctor does want her to continue on the prescription wet food. She has been eating as much as we put down, as often as we put it down. And this morning we had something odd happen.... She wouldn't touch any of it. She did however gobble down the treats we gave her with her pills. My question is ... can canned food "go bad?" My pets have always had dry food so this wet food is new stuff for us.