How do you raise a blind puppy?

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Here are 2 safe options in attacking your flea problem:
nematodes--apply to your yard using a sprayer, the nematodes will eat flea larva. It isn't instantaneous and I'm not sure how the results would be if you are in a drought-stricken area. Its been a few years since I used this and I applied the nematodes after a rain.
http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2779
De Flea Pet & Area Spray--can be used on very young or nursing animals. I found this at a health food store. The product's website is: www.naturalchemistry.com

The worst flea problem I battled was after we stayed at a B&B while visiting family. I think some of those critters hitched a ride in our luggage as well as our dog.

I'm sorry your puppy's sudden blindness.
Stephanie
 
I sure hope it adapts well i'm sure it'll be fine. Is the dogs a pure bred lab? I raise labs and i know there is a retinal abnormality that is genetic. I had a male lab that I payed good money for and I had his eyes tested before we bred him and they found it so he was fixed asap. He was still one heck of a hunting dog. He could see fine and lived to be 13. If he is pure bred I'd call the breeder and let them know.
 
Accidential Farmer When we moved to northern Florida 10 years ago we had a terrible flea and tick problem we couldn't keep them off our dogs no matter what we tried. Then I heard about Boric acid I had heard years before that some people use it for insect control but I had never tired it. I got some and spread it all over our yard. It killed the fleas and I was able to get a handle on the dogs. I have not had a flea problem since. I spread it around every few years. My dogs are not on frontline The only time they get fleas is when they are taken off the property. Then I spread it around their bedding and it takes care of the problem. I also have been dusting my collie this year as he has been going on walks into the woods with my son and I don't want to bring any fleas into the yard. If you can't find boric acid locally you can find it on the interet they sell it by the pound. Micki
 
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This is our wonder blind Henri. He is as normal of a dog as any of our dogs as happy a dog can get. There is nothing this dog can't figure out how to do. We have had him since he as a pup and now he is almost 7 years old. Yeah sometimes he bonks his head, but he learns from it. He uses the doggie door and has free range of the back yard. His ears are like radar. This dog has brought more happiness into our lives as he is always doing something amazing.
 
The advice from werblessd1s is all sensible and good. Since you have other dogs, I wouldn't be surprised if a natural buddy situation develops.
My old beagle mix is mostly blind and deaf, but she doesn't seem to care because her nose was all that ever mattered to her anyway.
I knew two blind horses when I was growing up - one was totally blind, and the other was blind in one eye. Actually, the totally blind horse was a rock-solid, bomb-proof trail horse as long as he knew he had an experienced rider on board. The half-blind horse was more flighty under saddle - I think because the partial sight was more confusing than no sight. In the pasture, both were fine because they stuck with the other horses. Animals often seem to deal with their handicaps better than people do. They have a "this is how I am and I'll have to deal with it" sort of mentality.
 
Well, the pup seems to be getting along okay. He is not adjusting to living inside too well, though. I hope he'll get used to it soon. I love all of the great stories of 'normal' blind dogs you have all contributed- it makes me feel like this isn't such a huge tradgedy that we cannot overcome. The tips and links are wonderful, also. And a group for blind dog owners?? Who knew?! I'm headed over in a few minutes to check that one out! Thanks.

Xrayman- I did not get the dog from a breeder- he is out of two of my best Labs (yes, full-blooded and excellent bloodlines). I don't think this is genetic. I believe he either got the flea dip in his eyes, or just plain had an allergic reaction to it.

I've been in contact with the vet and will be taking the pup in, not so much to find a cure, but to determine the extent of the blindness. I think sometimes the pup can see shadows or maybe light, but just not details. Maybe this is why he really pushes to get outside?

Anyway, again thank you to everyone for the encouragement and advise. I'll update after the vet visit.
 
Our friend has a blind dog- he went blind at about 2 years old from cataracts. The dog gets around perfectly- he does things like walk into objects that have been moved, of course, but he negotiates the house and yard without any trouble. He must have a great mental map. He also can go hiking and walking with people, off leash- he stays right behind you with his ears up- I think he listens to your feet to keep on track. He enjoys these hikes- wagging tail, sniffing a lot. When he gets off the foot-trail we just call to him and he walks quickly back over to the sound. He gets along fine with other dogs although is grumpy (probably scared of the unknown) around new dogs sometimes. He loves our dog and other dogs that he is friends with and recognizes.

If your yard is fenced, I see no reason to keep him inside. He will probably enjoy the outside and if he has partial vision the natural light will allow him to see shapes and contrasts far better.

I hope your pup gets its vision back, but if not it will probably be as happy as if it was sighted.

-MTchick
 
Well, I've noticed the pup is learning the layout of the house relatively well, so far. I've added textured floor mats at the front door, inside and out, and put extra collar tags on my other two inside dogs to provide a bit of 'jingle' when they move around so the pup can hear them. I bought a collar for the pup that has LED Lights on it so the pup can still go outside at night with the other two dogs and I don't have to follow him all through the yard to keep track of him. We also put an 'I'm blind' tag on it with our phone numbers, just in case.

He's doing wonderfully well following our voices, provided we keep up a steady stream of 'conversation' with him.

I can't let him stay outside all the time right now, MTchick, because our fencing will still allow the pup to wander into the horse pen. We've already got one dog that had to have hip surgery due to being kicked by a horse. We are currently building a 1/4 acre sized pen and kennel that the pup can be in safely though. He'll be able to run around to his hearts content in the new pen by the end of next week.

I am also affixing bells to string 'necklaces' that we can wear when we are outside with the pup so that he'll know where we are even when we aren't speaking to him. The other thing I'm trying to do is find different sounding bells to affix to the outside dogs collars so that the pup will be able to differentiate the dogs from a distance when relying on smell would probably be too difficult.

All in all, I think we'll pull through this just fine. It was such a shock to find out he had gone blind. I'm almost embarrassed now to admit that I thought he'd have to be put down. I just simply didn't know how a dog could get by without sight.

I'm so glad all you 'chicken people' where here to help me with my pup.
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