Senior Dog Going Blind and Deaf?
Hey, I would like to ask this community of dog lovers a question that's very anxiety-provoking for me, but I would like to be prepared and just get a general idea from those here who've been involved with dogs and have experience.
My dog, who's 15 and otherwise very happy and easy-going, is slowly going blind and deaf. At what point do you draw the line?
I love him so much, and he's clearly enjoying himself still, but his eyesight is only 50 % and I would say the same with his hearing … I'm not sure if it's gonna stop at 50% but probably not, right?
He also got hip problems but those are completely managed by medicine, Previcox and Adequan. The vet said he may have an uncomfortable feeling like an old person would, but is not in pain …
I really don't want to get one-liners from people that say "Put him down"! Right now I don't see any reason. Besides, he's like my 'child'. I rescued him from a horrible person 8 years ago and I know I would never let him suffer. It's just gonna be so tough when the time comes …
I just would like to know how much quality of life is there for a dog who's blind and deaf (if he gets to that point) but otherwise seems to be having a great time. Right now he's still chasing stuff, he's alert, he's eating, drinking … etc. He's a real goofball 
The question was answered by :
ms manners :
My feeling is that as long as a dog can still eat, drink, move around, and is not in constant pain, his quality of life is good enough to keep him around.
I dont think blindness and deafness are as great a handicap to a dog as they might be to a person. I had a sheltie who was born deaf, and who was developing cataracts, and he still functioned just fine. A dog still has his sense of smell, and can use it to compensate for a lot, plus he can feel vibrations (my sheltie would feel the floor vibrating when people walked, and could tell when someone was moving around).
I have a 14 yr old lab mix that I will have to make that decision for, soon, myself. Right now she is incontinent, and has arthritis that the glucosamine and choindroitin in her food seems to keep in check. She has some trouble getting up and down, and she tends to tip over when I brush her :o)
But she still eats, drinks, and even occasionally runs, so she is still here.