Hi All, In November Mooch will be 13 and the vet says he is starting cataracts in his eyes. I'm also noticing things he used to recognize as a sound now startle him or start him barking. Maybe he is loosing some of his hearing as well. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced ratties going deaf or bind and how they dealt with it and how the dogs did. Mooch seems to feel much mroe secure at home where he feels safe and comfortable, but functions OK at the in-laws house also where he has been before. He's a little more clingy now and is never far from us. Although he say a squirrel on the fence a few days ago with no problem. He's a little hesitant on a leash in new places. I'm not sure what he can see and what he can't, whether less light or more light make a difference... Just food for thought. I'm sure this has been discussed before. As Mooch ages we have made changes, like addign a step stool near the end for htebed so the jump is not so far, and helping him off high things when he jumps up on them, like a wheeled office chari...

We had a 17 yr. old TFT who had cataracts and hearing problems.  She used to love the sunshine but after the cataracts she would always flinch in bright light.  She seemed to like soft lights best.  We didn't let her jump anymore because she lost her depth perception.  We didn't rearrange the furniture after she developed the cataracts because we didn't want her to bump into things.  She actually did pretty good.

I had a sheltie that was one eyed and as she got older couldn't see much out the other she was happiest at home in her own place we did not move stuff around on her or that caused her to run in to things they usually do pretty good even if they can not see Dogs are amazing and make up for sight and hearing loss fairly well.