Blind dogs help: Walkin’ Pets – Blind Dogs: Advice & Products to Help Them

Walkin’ Pets – Blind Dogs: Advice & Products to Help Them

If your pup is born blind, this is an advantage in many regards, as they don’t develop quite the startle and fear response as a formerly sighted dog. A blind dog in the wild is a dead dog, and this is the first thing you must understand. The second thing is that a blind dog can do anything a sighted dog can do, except catch a frisbee on the fly.

If you find yourself with a blind pup, first understand that your view of the world is going to change. Your blind dog will teach you things you never thought possible. A dog born blind learns as she begins to crawl around (all puppies crawling around are blind at birth and for 3 weeks or so thereafter) and she compensates for bumping into things by developing her other senses. Your heart will break as she prances with a toy and BAM into the couch, the wall, the door, you. She will shake it off and continue her prancing, remembering that there is a couch, wall, door, mom at a particular place. She is developing her map. The map is the thing that enables these pups to exceed and excel. I am not sure how it works, but I am stunned by the accuracy. My blind pup has mapped two houses, two yards, and racing around willy-nilly chasing the cat (yes, she chases the cat at 100 mph) and never ever loses her map. She knows exactly where she is at every moment, despite running around furniture, rooms, moving objects. The map. My blind and deaf dog has it and when he gets fearful or very excited, he loses his map. You can visually tell when this happens. He doesn’t lose it often and when he does, I touch him softly and he relaxes and gets his bearings.

Blind Dog Safety

With any blind dog, the first thing you do is get on your hands and knees, crawl around with pup (this is extremely fun for them) and look for pokies and owies. Inside and out. Determine safe and unsafe areas in your house, place a pet gate at stairways and close off any area that is too dangerous for your blind pet, some folks pad hard corners and surfaces (I have never needed to, one good thump and that thing is mapped) and some folks get doggles to protect eyes (in my house, I would be the one wearing them, as my pups are airborne. Also, they can get them off in a skinny minute. You can also use a surgical e-collar or blind dog halo to work as a “bumper”. A lot of folks use scents to mark different areas, again, my pups don’t need it. Bell train your pup. Put her on short lead, sit on floor and teach her the come command as any sighted dog, only use a bell. Then when she hears the bell, she knows where you are. My pup would get “lost” in a room by herself and cry her eyes out. The bell became indispensable then. She could track the bell more easily than my voice. It’s also helpful in the park when she’s on long lead, to get her to come to you when she found a stinky in the grass, to keep her from doing what dogs will do.

Training a Blind Pet

Touch training is simple combined with basic obedience training, and you will charm judges at all silly pet trick contests. Different trainers will use different touch signals for each trick depending on the dog and their response rate. For GabrielDeafBlindPup a touch on the nose is sit, a pat on chest is down, a touch on head is up. AllicksBlindPup sits on touch on nose, down with touch on foreleg.

The benefits of hand signals and touch training go far beyond learning tricks. Touch training can also improve communication between a pet parent and their dog. Some parents will alert their dog location with a simple touch, or even gently blow on them to wake their dog from a nap with startling them.

Potty Training a Blind Dog

Housebreaking and potty training a blind pet is the same as a sighted dog. Maintaining a consistent and regular potty schedule is key. Get them out first and last thing of the day, same place each time, and after every single meal. A hearing blind pup will be ecstatic over the sound of your voice, so praise in a high, sing-song voice, using their name over and over. Sound is so important, so keep it soothing, upbeat, and fun.

Blind Dog Products

How to Help your Blind Dog

A blind dog needs something to tell him that he is approaching an obstacle. Blind people use a walking stick, other animals that are naturally blind use sound, whiskers, or some other form of early warning device. This hoop is a blind dog’s ‘walking stick.’

Pets who experience sudden vision loss and blindness can struggle with adjusting to a life without sight. They can quickly become disoriented, confused, and scared. The Blind Dog Halo is designed to help your pet to safely navigate and move with confidence, helping them to adjust to their vision loss. The halo’s hoop acts as a bumper to alert your blind pet of any nearby obstacles so they can safely get around. Pets wearing a halo not only become more confident but are more engaged and happier as they are better able to spend time and enjoy their family.

Click here for directions on how to make one of your own!

If you woke up tomorrow and couldn’t see, you would eventually adjust to being blind and learn where things are in your house. It would take time and lots of work and patience. Your pet too will learn where everything is and will adjust to your house and yard if given time. Here are some ideas that will help you and your pet adjust to its blindness sooner.

Steps to Helping your Blind Dog

1. Your pet isn’t in pain and doesn’t need to be put to sleep just because it is blind.
2. Don’t re-arrange your furniture if your pet is mostly indoors. If your pet is an outdoor pet, don’t plan major landscape projects.
3. If you have a hot tub or pool, a cover or barrier is necessary because your pet could fall into the water, not find the sides and drown.
4. Walk your dog on a leash. You are his eyes. Anticipate problems and steer clear. Keep talking to your dog. Your voice will guide him. If you have an outdoor pet and no fence, please check into an “invisible fence.”
5. Feed your pet and keep its water dish in exactly the same place each and every day. This area will then become a site for reference if your pet becomes disoriented.
6. Put your chair back under the table after meals. Things that are left out will cause your pet to bump and lead to disorientation.
7. If your pet gets disoriented, take him/her to its bed or food bowl. This will be a land mark that will re-orient your pet.
8. Until your pet learns about stairs, you will need to place a barrier to prevent him/her from falling down the stairs. The same is true for stair landings.
9. Most clients remark that going up and down stairs is the most difficult of all things to “re-learn.” Be patient, your pet is trying to do its best.

Additional Resources for Blind Pets:

• Caring for a Blind Cat
• Causes of Blindness in Dogs
• Cataracts in Dogs
• Help Your Pet Adapt to Sudden Blindness

Dog Blindness — Blind Dog Rescue Alliance

Dog Blindness

There are many eye disorders that affect our dogs, and we’ve listed some of the more common ones here.  

We are not veterinarians, and are offering an overview only, not as a diagnostic tool. Please see your veterinarian if you suspect any of these or other eye disorders in your dog.

This website is not substitute for a veterinarian examination.

EYE DISEASE GLOSSARY

Cataracts affect the lens of the eye, causing a film to form. In early stages, it often affects sight very little, and is usually more treatable. As cataracts mature, they cause worsened vision. Often confused with cataracts is a condition called nuclear sclerosis. This is a hardening and greying of the lens in older dogs. This is not a cataract, and does not affect vision. Cataracts can be treated surgically, and often restore sight, especially in early stages. However, not all dogs regain sight from cataracts. If you suspect your dog has cataracts, please see your veterinarian.

Cataracts in Dogs – VCA Animal Hospital     Cataracts in Dogs – Fetch WebMD

Glaucoma is an increased pressure in the eyes. Fluid within the eye builds up and does not drain properly. Glaucoma causes blindness by damaging the optic nerve and by decreasing blood flow to the retina. This increased pressure can cause pain Glaucoma can be treated by eyedrops or surgically. The type of surgery depends on whether the dog will be able to retain any vision. Unfortunately, often the dog is already blind in the affected eye by the time the glaucoma is detected. Often the other eye is at risk for developing glaucoma, so vets may prescribe eyedrops to delay this from happening.

Glaucoma in Dogs – VCA Animal Hospital

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA or PRD) is an inherited disease of the retina, which is a tissue that surrounds the inside of the eyeball and works much like film in a camera. Often the first symptom is their dog becoming “night blind”, or having difficulty seeing in low light. Over time, the pupils become dilated, and owners may notice a glow from the dog’s eyes. The rate of progression varies from dog to dog, but blindness does come eventually. However, PRA is painless.

Retinal Degeneration in Dogs, petMD

Suddenly Acquired Retinal Degeneration (SARDS) is a disease of the retina that causes blindness quickly, within a matter of days to weeks. Owners of dogs who develop SARDS may report noticing an increase in thirst and urination and weight gain in their dog. SARDS may also be associated with Cushing’s disease, which is the production of excess hormones from the pituitary gland that can cause a host of symptoms in dogs. SARDS is not painful. Please look at these links to learn more about SARDS.  

Helpful Tips for Dog Owners    Research Article: SARDS diagnosis  Report: Findings Examining the Role of the Immune System in SARDS   

OTHER CAUSES

Diabetes  in dogs doesn’t mean they can’t live healthy lives. Unfortunately, a common complication of diabetes in dogs is cataracts (cloudy lenses). In fact, 75% of dogs develop cataracts and blindness in both eyes within one year of being diagnosed with diabetes. The cataracts develop very quickly — sometimes overnight! If untreated, the cataracts cause intraocular inflammation called Lens-Induced Uveitis (LIU) that harms the eyes by causing glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure). If the LIU is uncontrolled and glaucoma develops, cataract surgery might not be possible. Glaucoma causes a chronic headache (similar to a migraine). Once it is apparent that cataracts are forming, it is important to have your pet examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as possible. 

Diabetes and Eye Conditions    Managing Diabetes in Dogs

AKC’s Article: Symptoms and Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs

Corneal Ulcer is a break in the outer layer or epithelium of the cornea. Uncomplicated ulcers, although initially painful, should heal in 3 to 4 days with appropriate treatment. Those ulcers that persist longer than this period of time often prove to be complicated ulcers. 

VCA Article on Corneal Ulcers   Caring for a Dog with Eye Ulcers

Corneal Dystrophy appears as gray-white, crystalline or metallic opacities in the center of the cornea or close to the periphery. These opacities may affect any layer of the cornea, the epithelium (outer layer), the stroma (the thick, middle layer), or the endothelium (the inner layer). The opacities are usually oval or round and are sometimes doughnut-shaped. 

Corneal Dystrophy and Treatment Options    PetMD: Corneal Dystrophy in Dogs

Retinal Dysplasia is a type of retinal malformation. The word “dysplasia” simply means “a defective development of an organ or structure”. Retinal dysplasia occurs when the 2 primitive layers of the retina do not form together properly. Mild dysplasia manifests as folds in the inner retinal layer. These are called “retinal folds”. In “geographic” retinal dysplasia there are larger areas of defective retinal development. In the severe form of dysplasia, the 2 retinal layers do not come together at all and retinal detachment occurs. Retinal dysplasia is not progressive. It is a congenital defect and animals are born with as severe a condition as they will ever get. 

About Retinal Dysplasia

Dry Eye – also known as Kerato Conjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) – describes the changes in the eye which result from lack of tear production. To understand “dry eye” it is helpful to know how tears help keep the cornea healthy. The cornea is the optically clear portion of the eye that allows entry of light into the eye. Like all living tissue, the cornea requires a supply of oxygen and energy to remain healthy. Oxygen and nutrients are supplied to most tissues by the blood that moves through the area in blood vessels. The healthy cornea has no blood vessels, if it did it wouldn’t be clear, so the oxygen and nutrients are supplied through the three-layered tear film.

Medical Article about KCS   Diagnosis & Treatment

PetMD: Dry Eye Syndrome   Treatment Tips for KCS

Cherry Eye is a prolapsed gland of the third eyelid  is thought to be associated with a laxity of a small ligament which holds the gland in a normal position behind the third eyelid. The gland is a tear producing gland, and produces about 30% of the tears, while the main orbital lacrimal gland produces the rest. Dogs that have had the gland of the third eyelid surgically excised have a greater risk of development of a dry eye (KCS) than dogs with intact third eyelid glands. It is thought that should the main orbital lacrimal gland be damaged later in life that there is no “backup” for tear production. Dry eye is a serious eye condition that is difficult to treat, and requires lifelong treatment which may be costly. If the chance of the development of a dry eye can be lessened by tacking the gland back into a normal position so that it stays functional, then this is the most desirable way of handling “cherry eye”.

Learn More About Cherry Eye   Treatment Options for Cherry Eye

Lens Luxation happens when the lens either becomes loosened (subluxated) or completely detached (luxated). When the lens completely tears free of its zonular attachments and falls forward into the anterior chamber, we call this an anterior luxation. It is also possible for the lens to luxate posteriorly into the vitreous body. Since lens luxation may cause glaucoma, and since glaucoma may cause lens luxation it is important to determine which disease came first. When lens luxation occurs secondarily to glaucoma, it usually occurs late in the disease once the elevated pressure within the eye has caused the sclera to stretch, and the zonular ligaments to tear. This does not occur until long after vision has been lost. In such a case, attention must be given to resolving the pain with glaucoma. 

VCA: Article on Lens Luxation   Symptoms and Treatment Options

Double Merle, Double Dapple, Double Harlequin, Lethal White (Preventable) is a distinctive color pattern for some breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, Dachshunds, Collies and Shelties, and the double merle genetic defect can be found in any dog with the merle or dapple coat. Double Merles are also called lethal whites (a term used to refer to the more politically correct double merle (MM) gene, or homozygous genetic defect). In other words, when two merle dogs are bred together, a genetic defect will be created in some of the litter, and this defect will cause them to be blind and/or deaf.  The affected puppies in the litter will also be colored mostly or completely white. 

Training and Education   Double Merle Information   Prevent Double Merle 

Horner’s Syndrome is not uncommon and occurs in dogs, cats, horses and many other species. The symptoms generally include a sunken in eye (enophthalmia) with a small pupil (miosis), a droopy upper eyelid (ptosis) and a prominant third eyelid. Horner’s Syndrome must be differentiated from Uveitis which also produces a constricted pupil and a droopy looking eye.

VCA: Article on Horner’s Syndrome   Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Uveitis is a viral infection which can often occur in horses and humans, but rarely in dogs. Uveitis means “inflammation of the uvea”, or the middle layer of the eye. The uvea consists of three structures: the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. The iris is the colored structure surrounding the pupil, visible in the front of the eye. The ciliary body is a structure containing muscle and is located behind the iris which focuses the lens. The choroid is a layer containing blood vessels that line the back of the eye and is located between the inner visually sensitive layer, called the retina, and the outer white eye wall, called the sclera. Inflammation occurring in any of these three structures is termed “uveitis”.

VCA: Article on Uveitis in Dogs   Symptoms and Treatment Options

How do guide dogs actually help the blind?

The work of a guide dog is associated with dependence on human signals and severe restrictions in decision-making

Even those who closely communicate with animals do not always understand the specifics of some of the tasks facing service dogs. If everything is more or less clear with security and search, then how canine therapists or guide dogs work remains a mystery for many. This leads to unfounded expectations. When buying, for example, a Labrador puppy, some future owners seriously believe that they don’t need to be taught anything: “They work as guides, which means they are already smart.”

I am not surprised that the topic of professional use of dogs is raised by such clients on a regular basis. Most often, they have a poor idea of ​​the work of a guide dog. “I heard a ringing, but I don’t know where it is”: the majority have solid myths and stereotypes in their heads. When I say that the possibilities of such an assistant are great, but not endless, and that there are many serious limitations in his activities, it sounds almost like a revelation.

Not every dog ​​is capable of becoming a guide for the blind

And it’s not about the breed. The future assistant must have high intelligence, willingness to learn and the ability to long-term concentration. He needs to have a controlled level of activity as it is important for a guide to be able to be quiet and unobtrusive for extended periods of time. Any signs of aggressive tendencies, imbalance, timidity or inadequate reaction to other animals put a fat cross on a career.

Depending on the complexity of the program, intensive training lasts from 4 to 6 months. Photo by Cylonphoto/iStock

Special training begins after preliminary training and thorough socialization. In accordance with the requirements of most training centers until about 14-16 months of age, the dog is brought up by handlers who teach him how to execute basic commands and develop strong skills in interacting with people. The “partially trained” helper is sent to a guide dog training center, where specialized trainers are involved in her training.

Depending on the complexity of the program, intensive training lasts from 4 to 6 months. You can’t just say to a dog, “come on, help where you can.” Before starting work, specialists determine which actions it should be able to perform. They lead them to a precise, trainable appearance: the skills that the guide dog receives in the process of training must strictly meet the needs of the disabled person.

Because there is a danger that the dog will become “addicted” to food and be distracted by smelling delicious smells, training is done with praise, petting, play and other non-food rewards. Sometimes in the early stages of training, clicker training with food rewards is used, but later both the yummy and the clicker are gradually phased out.

What tasks are typical for a guide dog?

First of all, of course, navigation in the environment. The dog is taught to follow the commands “Forward”, “Left”, “Right”, “Stop” and “Back”. Following the instructions of the handler, he must be able to lead him in a straight line from point A to point B. This is an incredibly difficult task: at any change in height, such as curbs or steps, the dog must stop and wait until his handler finds the edge of the obstacle and will respond with the appropriate command.

Of course, assistance in moving around the city is one of the main tasks of a guide dog. Photo sssss1gmel/iStock

Stops in front of such obstacles are important not only in terms of safety, they allow a person to navigate in space. Curb counting is a common technique by which the blind know where they are at the moment and how close that place is to their destination.

The dog is required not only to look straight ahead, but also to check for danger overhead. Upon detecting hanging tree branches or a rickety pole, she must either circle the person around the danger point, or stop and wait until her companion discovers the problem. In addition, the dog must avoid places that are too narrow to pass side by side.

Contrary to popular belief, guide dogs cannot and should not independently calculate the route to their destination. Her behavior is determined by the signals of a person, and ultimately it is he who chooses the path along which to move. It is clear that over time the dog remembers some routes better than others, guessing from the context where and how to go now, but in fact its actions completely depend on the partner.

The same goes for the myth about the alleged ability of a guide dog to determine the correct traffic signal. She does not tell the person when to cross the street: her ward listens to the sounds of traffic and decides when it is safe to cross the intersection.

However, a very interesting, almost key, aspect of guide dog behavior is associated with such situations. They are specially trained in what can be called “reasonable defiance.” When a dog feels that following a command given by a human would put both of them in danger, he refuses to obey it and waits until the situation is safe enough to continue moving.

A guide dog is about support

Dependence on human signals and severe limitations in decision-making in no way make a guide dog a useless robot. For example, in difficult conditions, when the street is slippery, dirty or snowing, the dog is able to outline the safest trajectory of movement. This alone saves a blind person a lot of time and effort, which he would have to spend trying to find the right path.

It is important for a guide dog to be able to be quiet and unobtrusive for extended periods of time. Photo by Doctor_bass/iStock

It is obvious that the developed intellect of the dog allows him to master a very wide range of specific actions. The key to creating a truly effective helper is to determine exactly what functions, difficult or simply impossible for a disabled person to perform independently, his guide dog can take on and what actions it should perform at the right moments.

In addition to movement commands, there are a number of additional skills that guide dogs can learn. They are formed based on the needs and desires of a particular person, the conditions of his environment and his usual way of life. Among such commands are a request to show a free chair, lead to an elevator, or find a button on a pedestrian crossing. It is often required that the dog be able to find a specific person by name, locate objects such as its owner’s purse, or show where an urn is located.

A guide dog does not replace the sight of a blind person. Rather, it helps when a person is faced with the problem of safely moving around the world or performing other activities for which sighted people usually rely on their eyes. Such help, combined with a sincere emotional connection, which only dogs are capable of, makes the four-legged guide the closest, indispensable friend for a blind person.

Respect your dogs.

Guide dogs: how to get an assistant for the visually impaired

It is very hard to be visually impaired or blind in today’s world. Especially when it comes to going out into the street, where there are a lot of buildings, busy traffic, many streets have open hatches and steps. Situations are also common when visually impaired or blind people become victims of robbers. guide dogs come to the aid of people who have severe vision problems, who for many years become true friends and companions of their owners, who are deprived of a full-fledged opportunity to see the world around them.

Guide dog selection rules

The first thing to understand is that guide dogs are not ordinary animals, they are trained by professional cynologists. The dog is taught to accompany the owner along predetermined routes. Also, such animals help visually impaired or blind people navigate in space. Considering all the difficulties of the conditions in which guide dogs have to work, it is not surprising that not every “true friend” will be able to provide quality assistance to their owner.

If we talk about the best guide dogs, then such an animal must meet the following criteria:

• Average height at the withers 65-70 cm
• Excellent health
• Stable mind
• Resistance to natural indulgence
• Benevolent disposition
• As for the breed of the dog, fortunately, there are no special recommendations. Even a mongrel can become a faithful guide with proper training. It is important that the dog meets all of the above requirements. However, according to statistics, Labrador Retrievers are most often chosen as guide dogs.

Who can get a guide dog?

Of course, guide dog should be in every person with low vision, especially in completely blind people. However, the potential owner of such an animal must meet certain requirements:

– Must be an adult

– Citizen of the Russian Federation

– Must not have problems with the musculoskeletal system

– Have supporting documents for disability

In addition, the future owner of not the most ordinary dog ​​must take good care of the animal. This care should be manifested in the form of daily walking. The owner must take care of arranging a sleeping place for the dog, learn how to properly feed the animal, and take preventive measures against parasites.

Guide dog training

To serve a blind person, only healthy animals that meet all the requirements are selected.