I have two dogs, a male bassett and a femal black lab mix. Ever since the basset got sick last week and went blind in one eye my healthy dog has quit eating. She wants outside all the time and sits at the door when not outside. The healthy dog will only eat treats and not her regular food that we have fed her since she was a pup. Can anyone tell me what is going on with her? The sick dog is slowly recovering and getting used to being blind in one eye and has no problem cleaning up both food dishes, hers and his. But the black lab mix refuses to eat her regular food and will only take treats. Can anyone tell me what is going on with her and how to get things back to normal?

Lab mix probably sensed a change in the dynamics of the household when the other dog became ill; they are probably friends and react as we would in a similar situation. Stop the treats. If you know for certain she doesn't have any underlying health issues, stop giving her the treats; she won't stay off her regular food long and as soon as she realizes the other dog is back to normal, and there are no more treats, everything will be fixed.

Tick

Your healthy dog is reacting differently because the other dog, and probably everyone in the home, is acting differently with the sick dog. Dogs will also act weird if their packmate has been away. If your dog spent any time in the hospital, the smell of the hospital will definitely trigger strange behavior from the other dogs..

IGNORE HER! Make sure her needs are being met, and that she is pottying outside, but ignore the behavior you don't want to see, such as the needing to go outside continuously. If she sits by the door, call her over to you and try to keep her next to you.

To get her to eat, stop feeding her treats. Healthy dogs do not starve themselves... Feed her her food at the times you have always fed your dogs. Keep your routine the same, and she will come around.

I took your advice and did just that. No more treats and we ignored her antics at the door. She is now back to being with her buddy and life is as normal as it will ever be. She is back to eating her meals at the normal times and hanging out like she always has. We are still waiting for the in house playing to start once again, but I think the basset still needs to get used to the blind side first. Thanks for your advice.

Dogs, cats, any large animal with more extra senses then we humans, always learn to cope more accurately and quicker then us when they are faced with disabilities. That is my experience with horses and dogs, so I am sure your lovely little Bassett will be good to go soon with one eye and run circles around the lab.

Tick