My 9 year old lab Koya has developed cataracts secondary to her diabetes mellitus. She was fine and adjusting well to being blind but now I am concerned. She seems to be getting lost in the backyard at night. I am running out of options and really need some advice/tips/personal stories.
I know some people use specific scents so for example, the back door always smells like mint and the back fence always smells like lemon.
If she's still got some vision, adding lights that you can turn on before letting her outside or adding those solar walkway lights around the door might help.
Otherwise, I'd suggest just taking her out on a leash or long line for after dark potty breaks and sticking around with her.
My philosophy has been not to baby a 'blind' dog, but to focus on the other illnesses, and let the dog take care of adjusting to blindness.
However, I'm a hypocrite . I turn on the lights at night so that 'going-blind' arthritic senior can more easily hobble down the stairs. I also agree with using or planing scents, as well as various textures - soft dirt, grass, longer grass, soft shrubs, etc. that will all serve as smell or touch landmarks.
On the other hand, if there's nothing harmful in the backyard - like thorns, bricks, or wires - then I suggest dim light for now to help her adjust more gradually... continuing to reduce the light as she adjusts.... And, don't move that lawn chair
You dont happen to live in IL do you? I know someone with a lab around that age named Koya who has become blind from her diabetes...
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