Blind Deaf Toothless Senior Yorkie

[yorkiekath]

I have a 16 year old blind, deaf, toothless 4 pound yorkie. She is a rescue that I adopted 21 months ago. She was deaf when I adopted her but has since gone blind. She was very depressed for several months when she first came to live with us. She obviously mourned the loss of her owner. She still doesn't want anything to do with my husband or my other yorkie. She does sit on my lap now, although she often prefers her bed. I feel that she came from a loving, long time home because she was well groomed (and used to being groomed according to my groomer), she was chipped, spayed and well housebroken. My guess is that her owner passed away. She navigated fairly well when she first lost her vision but now she constantly bumps into everything. It is very sad to see and hear her banging her head while she tries to get around. I even had a special padded hat made but she hates it and pulls it off. I am just not sure that she has any quality in her life. She does not respond to attention from anyone and won't sit with anyone but me and occasionally my husband. She also pees and poops wherever she happens to be when she has to potty. We try to take her outside the moment she gets up from a nap but we don't always see or hear her get up.
Any input and thoughts would be appreciated. I am so torn trying to decide what is in her best interest. Since I didn't have her until she was quite old I really don't know her personality and what she liked to do. Thank you .

[matese]

Welcome to YT, your post has me all choked up and teary eyed, reminds me of my sweet girl that I had to put down at age of 17 years old.

First let me say, GOD bless you for rescuing this senior baby, how heart breaking for this baby in her senior years to loose someone that she loved much and was pampered and loved and well taking care of. How confusing to a senior baby who is deaf and now with strangers and has to make adjusts in her senior years.

I raised all my babies from 8 week old puppies, my last girl started losing sight and hearing around 14 / 15 years old, dementia and incontinence started around 15, I never had a dog that lived that long, was not aware they get dementia and incontinence, wish I had found YT when my baby was going through this. There are meds I believe for the incontinence. My baby would pee where ever she stood but always went on the pad tlo poop, I didn't know there were dog diapers or meds so there are options out there for you. When my girl became almost totally blind, her hearing was gone completely the ppl she loved (my friends and family) she wouldn't go to them, did not want to be held by them, when she wasn't sleeping which a good portion of the day, she had to me near me, I was her safety zone, I would play with her, she was still a spunky girl but her play had changed due to no hearing and loss of sight. Her appetite was good, drank water seemed to be in no pain. Then one day she didn't eat, I tried everything she liked, sat on the floor and hand fed her, still she wouldn't eat and had diarrhea. That night I took her to my vet, she was there 7 days,on IV, I visited her every day, she was loosing so much weight, she never came home, her organs were braking down, I had to end her pain.

You took home a 14 yo deaf baby who had to be so confused, you were the one that first held her, offered her comfort, and over all takes care of her, you are her safety zone. It's hard to expect a deaf grieving dog to accept very member in her new family, she is a senior, do not feel bad if she doesn't accept your yorkie, just like a human senior, many do not want to be around children.

My girl knew the set up of her home yet bumped into chairs and cabinets.

If this baby is eating and drinking well, she is not sick or in pain I can't see thinking about putting her down. When we get older the things we loved to do when we were younger no longer appeal to us, the same with senior dogs that sleep most of the time, she in not a puppy any more, I don't see that as having no quality of life. Older ppl look forward to one thing and that is breakfast, lunch and diner. These seniors babies are the same way.

Perhaps you should speak to your vet, see that the vet has to say.

I would give anything in the world if I could have my senior girl back.

You gave her two good, loving years, something many ppl would not do. Your thread is to emotional for me because I remember the last year of my babies life, it was so sad to see a baby I raised from a frisky puppy to a senior that could not see, hear, had dementia and incontinence, but I loved her more and more the older she got, she is gone 4 years now and I still cry over her loss

Good luck in what ever decision you make. And again, bless you for taking this lil senior.

[yorkiemini]

Have you ever heard of Muffin’s Halos for blind dogs. Had a friend who had one for their blind dog and it was able to wander the house and yard safely. Not sure about the cost or anything like that.

[lilgidget]

[QUOTE=yorkiemini;4759133]Have you ever heard of Muffin’s Halos for blind dogs. Had a friend who had one for their blind dog and it was able to wander the house and yard safely. Not sure about the cost or anything like that.[/QUOTE

That's definitely something to look into and consider as our babies get older. At least we know there are options for making life a little better as they age. Thanks for letting us know about this.

[matese]

I saw that on one of YT pop up ads, chewy.com has it

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=...Q0QwIKA&adurl=

[yorkiekath]

Thank you very much for your post, matese. I am so sorry about the loss of your senior baby. They are family. It helps a great deal to hear from someone who has had the same experiences. I really appreciate that you took the time to share with me. I don't think that she is incontinent because she sleeps with me all night with no need to get up and pee. She probably just can't find her way to where she should go. I tried diapers with the same result as the hat, she gets a bit frantic with it on. For now, she seems to be without pain and she does not have any underlying medical problems that I am aware of. I will just take each day as it come. Sure wish they could talk and let us know how they feel.
Thanks again, take care.

[yorkiekath]

Thank you yorkiemini. I did some research on the halo. She hated the hat and the diaper so I don't think she would tolerate the halo either. Also, she sleeps with her face nuzzled into a corner of her bed or under her blanket so it wouldn't work for her. I appreciate your suggestion. Take care

[Juliealfies mum]

Your an angel for taking such good care of your baby. I'm so glad she found you. We have a beautiful senior also, had him since a pup and now gone from 100 % house trained to accident prone and totally deaf ,but such a character wee love him to bits and just deal with the day to day . Alfie has just turned 14 so glad we had have so much great times with him, wish you all the luck in the world with your little senior. Xxx