newbie

[SAMS HUMAN]

Hello all, My name is Jon and I have a 7yr old lab named Sam. He was diagnosed last year after going into diabetic shock. He wouldn't eat or play just drank a lot of water. I had to rush him to the emergency vet to save him. After the weekend there and a week at the regular vet he recovered. Now it seems he may be losing his sight. He keeps walking off the edge of the sidewalk when I walk him and seems to reach out for the curb a little each time we step up on the sidewalk. He will also bump into things once in a while. It breaks my heart seeing him do this although I know dogs can adapt well to being blind. His eyes are starting to get cloudy, but I'm not sure just how bad his vision is. Does anyone have any ideas on how to test his vision?

His weight is 76lbs,
uses Humilin nph
up to 22 units twice a day now.
I feed him Pedigree twice a day.

[k9diabetes]

Re: newbie

Hi Jon,

I'm sorry to hear that Sam is losing his vision. Diabetes induced cataracts are so common but can be removed surgically if you can manage the cost. Two of our dogs here at the forum are about to have the surgery.

I think you have the answer already. They compensate pretty well for a while so the cataracts are usually pretty well developed when you start to notice the problems he is now having. Probably low contrast conditions would be the worst for him. Even when Chris' cataracts were thoroughly mature, he could tell the difference between two areas with a lot of contrast like a dark wall and a white floor. I have always assumed it's like having a cloth in front of your eyes and the worse the cataracts get the heavier the cloth is and the more light and detail you lose.

The cataracts when mature tend to cause inflammation so it would be good to have his eyes checked and drops prescribed. Preferably a veterinary ophthalmologist if you have access to one. They are worth every penny when it comes to a diabetic dog's eyes.

How is his regulation? Do you do any monitoring of his blood sugar?

Chris was blind, completely, for four years and it never stopped him - he waded and even swam in the river on a long lead, played in snow, hiked, traveled. They usually adjust really really well, sort of map the house out in their heads and navigate on their own.

It is really more difficult for us people to accept that our dogs have gone blind than it is for them to lose their sight. I know we were devastated by Chris' loss of vision. He did not think it was all that big a deal!

Natalie

[k9diabetes]

Re: newbie

Sam is a handsome devil!

[eyelostit]

Re: newbie

Hi and Welcome Jon and Sam

My Niki has been blind for about 3 yrs now, when I realized she was going blind the vet dropped cotton balls in front of her eyes and Niki did not see them drop, but I think Niki can see a teeny bit, she doesn't seem to have any problems as I think she got used to her blindness as it started.

She listens to my footsteps alot, she has learned some commands as far as going down steps and when she needs to jump up in the car, we do fine with walks but I am her eyes now as far as when she walks I look what's on the ground etc. For a step down I use a One command, if 2 steps I count for her one-two, she somehow got the hang of this, she still plays ball tho and listens for where it drops or I roll the ball like bowling also.

I know how this must hurt you, I felt so bad with it at first, but dogs do adapt better than we humans would, you would not know Niki was blind.

Hope this helps some
Dolly

[SAMS HUMAN]

Re: newbie

Thanks for your responses. Sam really is doing fine with it. It seems to bother me more. I do have him checked by the vet once a month for his blood sugar. I have been thinking about buying a meter for home checks because I mistook his blindness for high/low blood sugar. I changed up the way I walk him and he seems pretty happy so I guess its more about me adapting than him. Thanks for your support and this forum was a great find.

Also I read on here that I should use this thread for all my questions about my dog instead of starting a new thread each time. Is this correct?

[k9diabetes]

Re: newbie

Also I read on here that I should use this thread for all my questions about my dog instead of starting a new thread each time. Is this correct?

Yup, keeps everything in one place so if I want to catch up on Sam's history or see if you've already tried something I know where to look.

I forget to tell you that I moved your post here - sorry about that!

This is the most active part of the forum and the Stories section tends to be a longer term record of a dog's "story" - more narrative than interactive. I could actually copy your original post back there since that's where you placed it originally.

I suspect you will love home testing blood glucose. I can't even begin to imagine taking care of a diabetic dog without it. The fact that it took so long for Sam's cataracts to progress makes me think you have pretty good control of his blood sugar.

When Chris we went blind, we did a few basic things - stopped moving the furniture and tried to keep things picked up so he didn't trip over them. And because he jumped up on our bed, we put our bed on the floor so he could climb up onto it after a terrible experience where he leaped quite gracefully toward what he thought was the bed but missed it... We got a ramp for our SUV and we guided him up that to get him into the car. We have a one-story house and no stairs outside so that wasn't an issue.

That was about it really.

Some folks have used runners on the floor and/or scents to mark doorways and other points of interest. Generally, you don't need to do that as they learn to navigate routine places but it can speed up the process.

If only we could live in the moment as dogs so often do. To me, Chris' adjustment to being blind always seemed like "Hmmm, that's different. Where's dinner?" Nothing like the screaming and wailing we wanted to do!

I'm thrilled to hear that Sam is already adjusting. He'll do fine I'm sure. Chris would have missed his sense of smell a whole lot more than his missed his vision.

Natalie