Old staffy x

[whiskey104]

Hi i have a 15 yr old american x english staffy and i know he is going blind and deaf and i was just wondering if people could give me some ideas on how i can make him feel as comfortable as possible. Also would you be able to tell me how long they usally live for, i was told 10 yrs.
thank you xo

[whiskey104]

yeah i cant walk him anymore he will walk around the backyard and be tired. i have a pic of him in my pics if you would like to look

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Congratulations on having such a long lived pup!  You are definitely doing something right!

One of the biggest things to remember is that you want to keep his environment as stable and static as you can.   No moving furniture around on him!

Also, as you are aware, he will be startled more easily now and you will have to make sure he can "sense" you coming.  Slow, deliberate movements towards him will do better than quick pats on the head.

Continue to do the things he likes to do, walk outside or whatever.  Just remember he will tire more easily and sleep more often now.  Keep in good communication with your veterinarian as he or she can certainly help you find ways to keep him comfortable.  Also, going in for routine physical exams can help your veterinarian find issues earlier that could be treatable or managable.

Sounds like you have a good handle on things!   Congratulations and best of luck to you!  We would love to see a picture of him!

[whiskey104]

cool thank u i will try and find it.

[ginger899]

Well, I know there are averages as far as life-span goes, but many many dogs 'break the rules' and live a LOT longer than the average. Which is good. Cross-breeds often do live longer than pure breeds.
Trouble is -the longer they live, the more things happen which are associated with old age. Blindness and deafness for example. I have never had the experience of a dog with both blindness and deafness.  I can't give you the best advice. You need someone who has had a similar experience. But I can say that the sense of touch, and the sense of smell, and that hidden sense of a kind of 'knowing' are still there, and you will have to work more with them. It will mean thinking differently about how to guide him and help him, and communicate with him.


I know there was a thread not so long ago, about something similar. I wonder if you could find it by going through the archives? I seem to remember there was some good advice there.