Update on Peyton...deaf puppy, or blind?

[Bitsy]

Hello. I have Peyton and was told that he was probably deaf when I got him. The vet and I both agreed that he was at least very hard of hearing.

I've had him a week and a half now, and I have come to believe that he is blind, not deaf. He definitely can hear at least most sounds. But various tests I have done lead me to think that he can't see much or at all.

Maybe he wasn't responding to the sounds appropriately at first because they confused him?

Poor little guy. . I bet his whole world confuses him.

I love him to pieces though. Deaf or blind, I am 100% committed to making his life the best possible.

Anyone have experience with blind puppies?
Thanks in advance for any help!

[Sunnie]

I don't have experience but just wanted to saY "bless your heart for loving this sweet baby:

[megansmomma]

If was is blind he would walk along the walls as a guide. Does he do this?

[Bitsy]

He barely walks around. He stands in one spot and moves his head like a robot to the left, then to the right...over and over again. When he does walk, he is very cautious. He would walk right off the edge of the bed if I let him. He has ran into things, but usually he goes slow and careful.

I was playing with him, and pulling the toy away, he would pounce right onto it. I did it today and I would move it to the side instead in front, and he would still pounce in front...he had no idea it was slightly to the side.

Also, he never looks at you, he looks around, but doesn't make eye contact.

When I go to pick him up, he seems startled by my touch at first. Like he didn't know it was coming.

His sense of smell seems really strong. If he smells food I am holding he will get so excited he would leap from my arms if I let him.

[megansmomma]

It does sound like his sight is impaired. What did the rescue tell you before adopting him? Was he evaluated for his vision and hearing or was it an assumption? How old is he?

I had a foster Truman that was blind. He always moved very cautiously except in the yard where he would just prance. But he would walk into furniture in the house. I think that I would take him to an ophthalmologist for a further evaluation of his vision.

[Bitsy]

He wasn't from a rescue, I knew someone who bred her yorkie and she was looking for homes for threevof the four. She is not a breeder, this was a one time thing. All the other pups are fine. Their vet told them he might be deaf, I took him to my vet the day after I got him, and she agreed. He did not respond to any noises she made.

It is clear to us that he can hear at least most sounds, maybe just a little hard of hearing?

He has his next vet visit next week. I can ask her about it then, but yorkie talk is where I come to for most advice. I don't know if she can do more extensive testing or not. Don't really want to incur any huge expenses for testing if I can avoid it. It won't change anything to know for sure I guess. We will love and care for him either way. I suppose as he gets older it will be more obvious?

Like I said, I love him SO much. He is going to have whatever he needs to be happy. I'll do some reading on blind dogs and do the best I can.

[Bitsy]

By the way, he is 11 weeks old, and weighed 3.2 lbs last week at vet office. Did you mean a regular opthamologist? I'll call and see what they say.

[megansmomma]

I'm sorry I misunderstood. If it were me I would take him to a specialist to find out what exactly is going on with him. You never know maybe there is something that could be done to help him. I hope that your friend has spayed and neutered her dogs. What a hard lesson to learn

[megansmomma]

When I would call Truman I would clap my hands together and he would come toward the sound of the clapping. Since he was old his activity level was also very low so it is hard to compare a puppy to a senior.

[ladyjane]

I have two blind pups in my home. Both of them get startled when touched. Always put your hand by his nose before touching him so that he knows you are there!
My George is not only blind, but also losing his hearing so I have to make sure he knows I am there by doing the above.

[megansmomma]

Yes, I forgot about that too.

[memphis10]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

He barely walks around. He stands in one spot and moves his head like a robot to the left, then to the right...over and over again. When he does walk, he is very cautious. He would walk right off the edge of the bed if I let him. He has ran into things, but usually he goes slow and careful.

I was playing with him, and pulling the toy away, he would pounce right onto it. I did it today and I would move it to the side instead in front, and he would still pounce in front...he had no idea it was slightly to the side.

Also, he never looks at you, he looks around, but doesn't make eye contact.

When I go to pick him up, he seems startled by my touch at first. Like he didn't know it was coming.

His sense of smell seems really strong. If he smells food I am holding he will get so excited he would leap from my arms if I let him.

He definitely shows signs of blindness or clinical blindness. Our black lab is blind and exhibits what you have described above. Our lab was not blind from birth but since she has been blind (she's now 7 1/2) she has a much heightened sense of smell and hearing. She also sleeps a lot more now because there's just not as much to do when she's blind and she doesn't play much anymore although we have taught her how to retrieve the ball again and she can play fetch outside very well by sound. I would suggest getting a tennis ball (even one of those small ones) cut a hole in it, pry it open and insert a bell so he can hear it. Hopefully his hearing is acute enough to be able to hear a bell. He will learn to play based on hearing. Baby toys with rattles or chimes would also work for play time. Also, help him landmark his surroundings. Try to walk him through the rooms he will be in most of the time by speaking to him when you walk. Our lab has also learned the term "stairs" and if we say stairs she will automatically lift her leg and feel for it. We also use "stop" when she reaches the bottom of stairs. Make sure to teach him danger places like where the stairs are or the edge of the bed so he doesn't hurt himself and get scared. Once he feels more confident in his surroundings you should see more activity and interaction from him. It does take a lot of time and work but they can learn and compensate very fast.

[yorkieusa]

I agree with Jodi that you should have him evaluated by an ophtalmologist, because it would be a shame for him to live his life blind if there was something that could be done to help him. You never know.

It's wonderful that he has you to love him. I found these sites that may assist you:

Google

Tips for Blind Puppies

YouTube - Dog Training : How to Train a Blind Dog

Lantern Publications - Living with Blind Dogs

Training a Deaf Dog, Training a Blind Dog - Overcoming the Problems

[Bitsy]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into finding a specialist. Maybe the vet can refer me. I agree about seeing if anything can be done.

He sleeps a lot! I feel so guilty when I have to leave him at home. I usually come home to him crying/yelping...but I guess seeing puppies are that way too. I just feel bad because I can tell he is already getting very attached to me. Wish I could take him everywhere!

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

Thanks for the advice. I will look into finding a specialist. Maybe the vet can refer me. I agree about seeing if anything can be done.

He sleeps a lot! I feel so guilty when I have to leave him at home. I usually come home to him crying/yelping...but I guess seeing puppies are that way too. I just feel bad because I can tell he is already getting very attached to me. Wish I could take him everywhere!

He must be adorable. What about getting him one of those little heartbeat puppies just for him to sleep with. He could feel it, even though he can't see it. As hard as it always has been to leave mine, it would be doubly hard to leave your lil one.