I have a mini poodle who is eight years old, What do you think his quality of life would be? I don't know if It's wrong to keep him alive he keeps running into everything. Is it wrong to get him put down just because he's blind? Is it torture for them to always be in the dark? I just don't know what to do, I want to do what is right for him.
Answers:
A blind dog will adapt and can be very happy indeed. Their main sense is smell. I have had a blind dog (and a blind cat), he led a very happy life. He was able to navigate round the house easily. We had to make sure the floor was clear so he didn't trip up. So you definitely have no need to put him to sleep.He will still have a good quality of life.
Animals don't actually REALIZE that they're blind, they don't really MISS what they had before.
Poodles (especially toy/mini ones) can live for a long time, and you can definitely keep your poodle's quality of life up:
-try not to move your furniture around, so that he can get used to knowing what's where, and won't bump around so much
-if/when you walk him, or if you have a backyard, keep him on a leash, but try to always go in the same path/direction, to that he can learn to know where you're going
-keep his food/water bowls where they have always been, so that he will know where to find them
-keep treating him as you always have, only be a little more careful when you're in an unfamiliar area, so that he won't hurt himself
-talk to and interact with him, and have others who he knows do the same. It's not your looks that distinguish who you are, but your presence, smell, and "aura" that the dog can detect and distinguish.
-talk to your vet about what else you can do to help.
If he's in pain (which you can't do anything about) because of his blindness, or if his blindess is because of a brain tumor, then I might suggest putting him down. But you make him sound normal, except for the blindness, and if you let him get used to it, and follow my tips, then he can live a long and happy life, and you really shouldn't put him down.
Don't put him down. He doesn't know the difference between sight and being blind.. He still has his sense of smell. As long as you show him love and care thats all that matters.
He could have cataracts, take him to the vet and they can help you.
Your poodle will eventually adjust to its blindness insofar as running into things. Dogs live in a world of smell, and the richness of odors is equivalent to their sight, which they use mainly for verification of what they smell. Your dog should be able to live a rich, full life with a lot of TLC from you. Please don't put him down. B.
I would talk to the vet about it. Is he hurting himself running into things? Are you able to keep him safe and still play with him and keep him happy? Ultimately it is your decision. You just have to decide, are you having him put down because it's more convenient for you than taking care of him, or is it really in his best interest. Would he have a good life if someone else adopted him? Is this normally a condition that the vet would recommend the dog be put down? Good luck with your decision.
The dog will adjust. I have known a dog who lost and leg and he learned to walk with only 3. I have know a dog that was deaf but he learned signs. If he is not in pain you do not need to get him put down.
My dog is blind in one eye, and partially in the other. He still chases people, cars, and our cats. There is nothing wrong with being blind, unless they are in pain.
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