Blind dog in a house with kids- when is it time?

[Johns_Gal]

I have never been in this spot. My dog, Koda, seems to be going blind (er). I adopted him few years ago and he didn't see well then; was not affected by it, but had cloudy eyes and jumped at shadows more than you might expect. Vet guessed he was ten when I adopted him, so he's thirteen now, by that. He is a Chihuahua.

Lately he has started running into things. The kitchen island, any large items on the floor, chair legs,last night he ran into the grill when I let him out to pee.

He's still a happy dog, though. He sleeps almost all day, but wakes up and wants me to pet/play with him. Can't walk like he used to; he used to go for miles with me but now he can make it three doors down with coaxing. :/ He wants to tag along, so I usually just let him ride in the stroller basket under DD. I give him glucosamine, which helps in that he isn't swinging his hips when he walks now, but hasn't improved his activity levels.

20+ hours a day, he's sleeping. But then he's up, begging under dd's highchair, following me around, and wiggling o the floor trying to get someone to play with him.

IDK. I don't think the time is now, but when is it time? If he can't see at all? If he starts waking up just to eat?

[KarenBoo]

I tend to think in terms of quality of life. He's not in pain and seems pretty happy. I think my 6yo bichon sleeps about that much! LOL! You might google some tips on living with a blind dog, but that alone (blind dog) shouldn't make it "time."

I would say it's time if he is in pain or suffering, and it's not something that can be managed medically. He sounds far from that.

Is it cataracts that are making him go blind? Can you afford the corrective surgery for that?

[domesticzookeeper]

I've always gone by the "three A's": appetite, activity, and affection. Once those start to be really affected by a pet's condition, that's when I start to consider the issue of quality of life.

[SpringMama5]

My mom's chihuahua also went blind, she was older too. For the most part she was a very happy dog so my mom never consitered putting her down. It wasnt till she started sleeping more, not much of an appetite, and noticeably thinner that my mom put her down. The vet said she lost a lot of weight and didnt think she wouldve lived another day.
So i agree with Emily. If your dog is happy and healthy i would wait.

[Johns_Gal]

No, not time yet. I think I am just worried about keeping everyone safe and happy. Even if he wanted to, I don't think he could even break skin, but he's a bit jumpy to begin with. Being unable to see in a house where there is a baby/small girl already five times your size and grabby sounds unpleasant.

She's much gentler than DS was with pets at this age, but she's still a toddler and still loud in their faces. I more worry about Koda getting hurt since his ability to escape/avoid is being eroded. He has a crate and options but doesn't often use them.

The lack of money for big vet care is getting to me. Things were different when I adopted him, but the vet then basically acted like the dog might live another year or so. :/ So here we are and after Koda/our two older cats die, nothing bigger nor longer lived than a guinea pig for us.