FOSTERING A BLIND 9 WEEK OLD

Stevie was in bad shape when we saw him 2 weeks ago. Mother had rejected him. Could not drink on his own, under weight (3.8 lbs) upper respriatory infection and sees just a shadow or a bright light. They thought he could have distemper. He looks like he is a Jack Russell Mix. We have him seperated from other dogs. A week & a day later he had gained to 5.1 lbs. The eye specialist states his eyes are under developed to a possible trauma in birth. They may not develop & she can tell more at 4 to 6 months. My daughter & I have him eating & getting water, his meds have cleared the infection. But after 2 weeks now we need to start training him to his dish & etc., any thoughts? Any book suggestions?
I want to observe him more & make sure that the circling is about. He only seems to do it when he's frustrated looking for food & tends to calm with human contact or your voice. But circling is also a sign of distemper. So many questions? Vet has us observing him in our home. We just could not see him put down for being blind.

Stevie

*sniff, sniff*
I don't have any suggestions, but he's a cute little guy.

My aunt had a cocker spaniel who went blind and deaf when she was 10 years old. She lived for another 6 years, and had to learn to get around. I know that will be easier since the dog was used to her surroundings.

I'm anxious to hear what others have to say.

Found a site you might want to check out:
http://www.blinddogs.com/support.htm

BONS you are are an angel. That face is just too sweet. Give Stevie a rub and a snuggle from me and Pepper.

My elderly Oriental Shorthair cat went blind at about age 10. She definitely used circling as a way to deal with her blindness. She did it for kind of a long time....months....but it did finally extinguish and she lived for another 10 years. She was very attuned to her ears, for sure. She could come find me if I just made a little tsch tsch sound. She may have adjusted because she had some memory of sight so I don't know how this applies to blind from the beginning animals but I do want to say "be of good hope"; I think the dog might grow to be quite a dear. Perhaps you have other dogs which will help with the socializing?

You guys just don't know what your replies mean to me. Honestly, I feel like I have been walking around holding my breath for 2 weeks now. Kirby I can not wait to get into that site tonight. He finally drank water for me for the first time this morning on his own with no bottle!

Maggie, the circling can be a bit scary. I was hoping he was trying to check his perimeter or it was just frustration. So much of what a pup learns he mirrors from his Mom or others so he is a tad behind. My 3 others are just now getting to investigate him as he has been in quarantine. I do have hopes they will help tutor.

My friend has 2 cats that refuse to drink water unless it's running (we so spoil our kids) she found a cat dish that recycles it's own water and pours it back in the dish. Her cats drink from the pouring flow only...but it makes a continual water fall noise that might help Stevie get to his dish eventually...so we are so to speak, "feeling our way ".

Mandy, thanks. Stevie smiles just like one of my Goldens. It's near impossible to capture a shot of it but here's an attempt.

There's a discussion group for Jack Russell Terrier (and mix) owners that might be helpful: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/jumpinjacksToo/ . Though the discussion is geared to pet-owners, some of the most active posters are rescuers and a trainer/breeder. Also, if you aren't already familiar with the breed, it might be helpful to read about the many quirks of JRTs! (Stevie is VERY cute, BTW!)

Super-duper cute! I think Finn has the same collar on right now.

Hi Bons - any chance of an update on how Stevie's getting on? He'so adorable - and so lucky to have 'found' you!

yes, I, too, would love an up-date on the puppy.

Sorry guys, how busy can fostering a sick blind pup keep you, right?

Stevie went to his vet yesterday. In one months time, he weighed in at 7.1 from 3.8. He was healthy enough to get his first puppy shots and start on his flea & heart worm meds.

His vet is trying him on a low liquid dose of "phenytoin" which is used to reduce the spread of seizure activity in the brain. He understands Stevie has two types of circling. One just walking in larger circles as if bored or unsure what to do. The second being more obsessive "spinning" in smaller circles. Stevie has less and less times of feeling his way around and exploring. His vet is wondering if his brain growing is causing neuro problems that were a result of possibly the same trauma that caused his eyes not to develope. Maybe we will see something in 4 to 5 days from the medication. Even house training proves difficult at this stage.

My 83 yr Mother holds & cuddles him tons. Stevie definately feels loved.

What a lucky baby. I sincerely hope his brain settles down and develops more normally. You guys are very fine for taking such good care of the little guy.

Jack Russell Terriers can be quite obsessive-compulsive. Annie chased her tail a LOT as a puppy, but less frequently now, especially if she's had her daily walk or retrieved balls up basement steps, etc. The tail-chasing is very cute, but not so much if compulsive! Maybe a daily run would help Stevie?

margd, a daily run would help Bons! = ) It is difficult to get this little one to feel confident enough to just walk forward on a leash. At 12 weeks, he attempts, but in a dark or extremely dim world, he stops at every sound. I walk him with Ben, our other pup, thinking he will just assume part of the pack....well not yet...

I do wonder how much his breeds traits go against him being blind. His blindness has him more timid yet there are glimmers of times outside where he will just kick it up as if he's a little bunking bronco....I say these are the times when he forgets he's blind.

Annie's always on a 26' flexi-leash and gentle leader (GL might help guide a blind puppy?), if she isn't in a fenced-in yard.

One of her favorite games, especially if she has missed her exercise is to run in a circle around us several times, then zero in to leap at a hand held aloft. Leaves her breathless! Maybe something like this could work for Stevie?

JRTs are sprinters more than endurance runners if I understand correctly. If Stevie IS an endurance runner there's a side harness for bikes that might work for him?

Fetching up the basement stairs is another great calorie burner for Annie on rainy/snowy days, if appropriate for a blind dog?

Just thinking out loud!

Marg

Oh what a sweet little guy! You know, I think he will learn just fine!

Great to hear from you Bons - and although Stevie sounds like he is still very much finding his way in the world at least he is getting an awful lot of love and assistance! Any pup can be challenging at his age, so blindness plus other potential brain issues must really compound the challenges - I admire you and your family for taking this on. Hopefully the medication he's started on will help.

How does Ben cope with Stevie? Do you think he realises that there is something different about him?

Hey Val,
This is our first fostering puppy and Stevie is such a love. Doing this makes us face the fears of brain issues which is a bit painful indeed. Then right behind that I think BUT let's give him every chance to rule out everything.

Ben has shocked us. He weighs in at 56 lbs and he is such a rough house with our boy Golden who is 74 lbs. But Ben turns into melted butter when he gets near Stevie. He searches how to play with him but most of the time he will just lay down beside him once Stevie has settled down.

This is a odd thing, but Stevie calms completely when held or placed beside your leg much like the holding therapy with an autistic child. Just so much we don't know.

Steven has had a little growth spurt. I will post a new image.

7.1 lbs at 12 weeks

> 15 It is difficult to get this little one to feel confident enough to just walk forward on a leash.

The yahoo discussion group Clicker Solutions is discussing a blind dog who leans/lunges into his harness--they think for security. People are suggesting that owner wear a jingle bell or lavender scent to help the pooch orient to human at other end of leash.

What a handsome dog Stevie is!

My blind cat was very responsive to sounds. I think a jingle bell on your shoe would do Stevie a wonder of good. I hope you can try it, and that it does not drive you crazy. Wouldn't it be cool to have a different sounding jingle for each household member?

Bons - Stevie is absolutely adorable. He certainly has grown (and filled out a little), and to look at that photo you would not know that there is anything wrong with him at all. And Ben sounds like such a love! It's amazing how dogs can sense when they need to be more gentle - with other animals and with people.

I hope that the ideas people are coming up with here are of some use to you: it's so long since I had a young puppy I can barely remember dealing with the 'ordinary' challenges, let alone coming up with startegies to help overcome blindness! I do like the harness idea from a security perspective, because it would feel more like being cradled in something rather then just being pulled along on a lead.

Please do keep us up to date with progress - even though I realise you will be way more busy than normal with this little one.

I could not get thru this post last night as my heart was heavy. We took Stevie back for his next step as the medication was having no effect. The vet for the foundation kept him thinking he would put him down. Mike the man I fostered for called today and he will not give the permission to put Stevie down until a request for a brain scan has been made. This request should take place tomorrow and hopefully it will be granted. Should the scan show damage & no sign for improvement for the abnormal circling to stop then we will lose Stevie. I know he can not spend his little life like that so I will continue to hope for a normal scan. If his scan is not for another 3 to 4 days then I will be able to have Stevie again until the test. You would think in our home with the Goldens & Benjamin that it wouldn't have a chance to feel something missing but Stevie's little Baby Powder scent from his shampoe & the clicking of his nails on the floors is very much a void.

{hugs}

Oh Bons - I'll be thinking of you and your family over the next few days with my fingers crossed. No matter what happens, though, at least he has been loved!!!

Sigh - with you guys in thought.

Thank you to each. You know I am needing to toughen up a bit to be able to foster. I suppose I became so hopeful when we proved Stevie did not have distemper & then I knew I just needed to learn to train a blind pup.

I am more tender I am sure because I went with my little brother Friday night to put down Foxy, his Husky that he's had for over 12 years. She was battling cancer this last year and it was just time...so our family is just a little tender at the moment. My heart just goes out to the professionals that do this daily. I'm posting a pic of Foxy on those we've lost just as a tribute.

Thanks again....this group has become very special to me since I joined LT early this year....kindred hearts.

Just so everyone is updated, Stevie was put to sleep a week ago. The neuro. specialist preformed the MRI and Stevie had only developed a brain stem. The rest of the brain did not develop similiar to what I was told a water baby. The foundation I fostered for gave me a part in every decision and they were wonderful. Just this week we recieved a card from Mike (who rescued Stevie). He printed this card with Stevie playing in the grass with the sweetest words. The card is on our frig. Stevie was cremated with his ashes in an urn with other dogs that Mike personally took in his home and eventually lost. Mike is 69 and says he too will be cremated and his ashes will be joined with his pups to be scattered together as a symbol of how he's rejoined with them. Mike loves his dogs.

My husband says he can see the need for the rescue and help to even just one and so we will be ready when needed again. I have to admit Ben seemed to understand from the start that Stevie needed special care.

My sympathies, BONS. At least Stevie's last days with your family were in a comfortable and loving environment.

{{Hugs}} to you.

Big hugs - at least Stevie got to know love.

I am sorry to be late in sending my feelings of sadness with/for you. The love and tenderness you showed Stevie has increased the amount of love abroad in the world, I believe. I also send to you big energy for creating the resilience to be able to continue offering fostering services.

I am so sorry, but he has crossed the rainbow bridge, where he is perfect and is having fun with with all the other doggies there. i wonder if he and my Mini are playing together?

kirbyowns: Hey!? My pup's name is Finn, too! He's black and white, (mix of border collie and poodle) but he has a shine of red, so the breeder called him red finn, in which we named him Finn. :)

ANYWAY, BONS, that's so sweet of you to think about the poor pup. We're so grateful for people like you. Give Stevie a sweet kiss from Finn and me.