Beagle going Blind

[1beagle]

First let me start off by saying that I am glad I found this site.

My Beagle is 13 years old and she is going blind, each day it seems to be getting worse. She has also lost her hearing. She is still physcial fit and she seems to enjoy her daily walks. One problem that we are having with her is that she gets easily upset. Because she is going blind we guide her to her bed and she turns back to bite us. She has broken the skin on my wife arm. She also fights(bites)for no reason with our other Beagle. Is it time to think about putting her down?


Thanks

[btomlin75]

The biting sounds like a pain reaction, she may have physical problems that you can not see. You might want to talk to a vet. It is never easy to put a pet down but it is harder to watch them suffer.

[Beagler]

I'm sorry, I really don't know but I didn't want to read and run. I've always found that to be the hardest decision of all when it comes to being a dog lover. Might be an idea to pop her along to the vet, get her checked out... could help you come to a decision.

[brandypup]

IN all honestly no, it doesn't sound like a good reason to put her to sleep. But it does sound like a good reason to try to find out what is more could be going on with her.

Going blind and deaf is a normal part of growing old. It also comes with some changes for the family. Plug your ears and close your eyes, now walk around the house. It gets a little scary right? Someone touches you that you couldn't hear or see your going to jump, some people swing. Well dogs bite. They dont have thumbs or fists so that is what they do.

Unfortinitly drawing the blood comes from a lack of bite inhibition. Which isnt' the end of the worl but of course you just need to be more intune to her needs now.

What you see as no reason for biting the other beagle is just something your not observing. There is a reason to her its a matter of finding out what the reason is.

^what other said about the vet^ very true. that is the fist step. Have a gereatric screen done on her.

For the home, She may not need to be guided. What she may need is self confidance to do it herself. How? I am not real sure. Her noes still works? Use a treat. Instead of guiding her maybe make a foot stomp at her bed and give her a treat when she arrives. Since she may still have some sight start incoprorating thing in front of her that will help her when it's gone. The foot stomp wil create a vibration she can feel int he floor.

Work off her other senses to help her get around. One thng I hear people doing is keeping a sented candle in the rooms, a differnt sent for each room. DOn't light them as dogs can still smell the sent. But it will help give her direction and knowledge of were she is at at the house.

And the dog and dog issues. How is the other dog reacting to her? Sometimes the 'well' dog can tell there is trouble with the 'sick' dog and thus starts picking on them to remove them from the pack. I woul pay attention to the both very closely. With your older dog not being able to see/hear then she can get spookied by the other just as well.

I know having an older dog is a lillte tougher, but cherish her golden years. I was robbed of that with my last dog. She was taken from me at 10 from cancer. At the same time you dont want her to suffer as well so that is were the vet check comes in.

Good luck, lots of hugs. Keep us all posted.

How to Care For an Older Dog - Whole Dog Journal Article

Has Your Senior Dog Started to Lose His Hearing? - Whole Dog Journal Article