Sadly, blindness affects certain dogs as well. If this happened to you, keep in mind that you can still have a nice life with your pet, but you need to know a lot of things. Leaving a blind dog alone is possible, but there are a lot of things you need to know first. Let’s start with the basics and move towards more complicated and important things to remember.
Leaving A Blind Dog Alone Safely
Your Dog Needs Time To Adjust
If you have a dog who has become blind a few days ago, you two will need some time to get used to this massive change. This is a big issue for all dogs and they may develop separation anxiety or show other, severe symptoms. Yes, their other senses will become stronger and more accurate, but this is still an uncomfortable issue. Leaving a blind dog alone at this point is not a good idea. Try to spend as much time as you can with him.
The first thing you need to do once the adjustment period ends is to start leaving him 20-30 minutes alone in the house. Monitor the progress and apply the recommendations we will reveal below. It is crucial to remember that when you come, you must not make any hassle. If you do, this will cause serious anxiety once you must go out again.
Adapt Your Home For Your Blind Dog
After some time you will be able to leave your pet at the house alone for quite long. Obviously, this is possible only after the adjustment period we have been discussing earlier. But, it is mandatory to make your home suitable for your blind dog. There are a few steps you need to take and each one is equally important.
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Do not move furniture
The first thing you must do is not to move any furniture. Your dog will learn where furniture is and he will move accordingly. If you move a chair or a sofa he won’t know that you did that and he can hit it. Always make sure that all the furniture in your home is in the same place when you are leaving your pet.
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See from a dogs perspective
Now you need to get down on the floor and see the room or the entire house as your dog does. This will give you a better insight into what can be a possible danger to your pet and you can remove it. These can be knobs, sharp edges, and anything similar. Also, make sure there are no large items on the tables and cabinets. If your dog bumps the table, a large bowl can fall on him or close to him. He can end up injured or he will be scared. This is another thing you must avoid at all costs.
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Install protection and different mats
Yes, you need to install various protection all around the house. Use baby bumpers for sharp edges and edges of the furniture. Remove any sharp items that your dog can bump into. Also, install different mats, with different textures to a place where your dog eats and drinks water. This will help him determine where he is in the house and help him move easier. Install other mats to areas where your dog shouldn’t be.
Use dog gates for staircases and other areas where you definitely don’t want your dog to go. You can use bubble wrap or foam protection.
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Create a safe place
This can be any corner of a house. You will place his bed, toys, and all the rest that he has been using for a long period of time. This is an area where he will feel extremely secure and where he will spend the most time. You can see him lying there almost all the time. As such, try to make this area as comfortable and secure as you can.
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Pet cam is an ideal option
You can use a pet cam and this is something we really like. Thanks to a simple and affordable gadget, you can always see what your pet is doing and if you get a model with an audio feature, you can talk to your pet when you are not at home. Just make sure to cover all the house so you can see your dog at any given moment.
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Don’t forget about giving him toilet access
Sadly, you will have to use puppy pads so your dog can go to the toiler. Place these in his safe area we have explained earlier. This is especially important for old dogs who are unable to control their bladder.
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Use his sense of smell
As you should know by now dogs who are blind will have an extremely powerful sense of smell. They already have superior sense but when one other sense is injured, the smell will become even stronger. For this, you can use essential oils. There are countless options out there and you can use anyone you like. Add essential oil like lavender to the living room and sage to the other room. The oils will help your dog realize where he is at the moment and help him navigate the house.
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Use the radio
Always leave a radio on when you are living your dog at home. This will once again, help him navigate the house and he will feel like there is some company present.
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Your dog can go outside
Some dog owners who have blind dogs do not like this option. Others prefer it. Anyway, blind dogs can go outside when you are not at home. First of all, you will need to make your yard safe and secure for your blind dog by removing all dangerous and items that can hurt your pet. Place chimes around the dog door so he can easily find them all the time.
Conclusion
Leaving a blind dog alone is more than just possible. All you need to remember is that your pet needs time to get used to this condition and that your home must be properly adapted so he can move inside freely and without any risk.
Recommended Readings:
- Dog Care Training Collar: What You Need To Know About It.
- Why Is My Dog So Obsessed With Me All Of A Sudden.
- Why Does my Dog Follow me And Not my Husband.
