Blind Dog With Depression

Dog behavior and human behavior differ, but one thing the two have in common is fear or a change in behavior when faced with the loss of one of their senses. Dogs can go blind because of disease, a catastrophic event or age. When faced with a gradual loss of sight, dogs adjust much quicker than when sight is lost in a sudden manner. Either scenario can cause the blind dog to show signs of depression.

Physical Considerations for Living with a Blind Pet

Assist a dog who might be frustrated by physical features of your home.

A blind dog's physical surroundings need to be taken into immediate consideration. Not being able to get around easily can lead to depression in a blind pet. Leave furniture where it is. Keep passageways that the pet is familiar with free of clutter. Place food and water in a familiar place and keep access to toys and pet beds unchanged.

If a pet seems frustrated at a physical feature of your home, such as stairs, consider assisting the pet on a leash. Eventually the pet will learn to determine the number of steps needed to traverse normal household features. Keep your pet fenced or on a leash when outdoors to fend off fear, which also can be a cause of depression.

Getting in Touch with Other Senses

Help your dog learn to use other senses.

Most dogs that go blind soon will learn to depend on other senses such as smell, hearing and touch to adjust to life without sight. Keeping the dog's mind occupied can help eliminate stress and depression. Through some specific types of training, you can teach your dog new and enjoyable life skills. Fend away the depression and bring on the enrichment.

Some simple daily training exercises can help you to teach your dog to be comfortable using new senses instead of becoming depressed. "Fun Nosework for Dogs" by Roy Hunter is a good resource for using positive methods to help your dog use its nose.

Teach Enrichment Skills

If your dog likes to play ball, find one that makes noise so the animal can hear where it is.

If it's been a long time since you did any training, partner with your dog to teach some fun clicker tricks. You can chose to teach your dog anything that does not depend on good vision as a requirement. "Reaching the Animal Mind" by Karen Pryor is an excellent resource to start those new to clicker training off on the right foot. Again, in teaching and enriching the dog's life, you are fending off depression.

Board type games can help a dog learn new tricks. Acquire games that are dependent of the dog's sense of smell. Simple games and toys work best. Two excellent choices are the Dog Brick and Kibble Nibbler. If you use the Kibble Nibbler, use strong smelling treats and a small, unobstructed play area so the dog can always find the toy.

Exercise

Walking with another dog can help one who is blind.

If your dog is otherwise healthy, step up your walking program. Keep your dog on a short leash, walk in a quiet area and chat while walking so your dog always knows where you are. If you have become comfortable with your clicker training, click when the dog is walking with confidence. If you are used to walking with another dog, keep up the same routine. Following the scent of another dog is helpful to one that is blind.

Herbal Remedies and Presciption Medications

Talk to your veterinarian about medications for your dog's depression.

If all else fails, and your dog is still showing signs of depression, talk to your veterinarian to see if herbal remedies or prescription medications can be of help. Your veterinarian can prescribe what will work best, considering the health and history of your dog.

References

• Fun Nosework for Dogs
• Reaching the Animal Mind
• Dog Brick
• Kibble Nibbler

Resources

• Blind Dog Rescue Alliance
• Owners of Blind Dogs
• Dog Depression