Dogs rely heavily on their vision for navigating their surroundings, interacting with people, and maintaining their overall well-being. Unfortunately, some dogs may begin to lose their sight, which can be distressing for both the pet and their owner. In this article you will learn how to tell if your dog is going blind in order to catch the signs early and seek timely veterinary care, which may help slow or prevent further vision loss.
7 signs of vision loss
Dogs, and especially smaller dogs, can adapt very fast to changes affecting their vision. Although your dog’s eyesight might seem perfect, it is not unusual for pets who are already blind in one eye or visually compromised to act normal as they are compensating with vision from their other eye.
There are some signs suggestive that your dog might be going blind or that their vision is declining. For you to know if your dog is going blind, you can use some of the following tests at home or look for tell-tell signs:
- Your dog might be bumping into things like furniture in the house, bins or lamp posts outdoors.
- Your dog might be missing toys or treats when held or thrown at the floor.
- Your dog might be misjudging distances, having difficulty retrieving a ball when thrown and tripping on the curb of the sidewalk.
- Your dog might be hesitant to climb on furniture (i.e., sofa or bed) or walk up and down stairs.
- Your dog might be hesitant to go for walks at night or when there is not enough light.
- Your dog might be more attached to you and hang closer to you when out for a walk.
- Your dog might start becoming aggressive towards other dogs or people.
8 causes of vision loss in dogs:
A variety of conditions can affect the eyes or the brain (where the information for vision is processed) and lead to vision loss or blindness in dogs. The most common diseases leading to loss of eyesight in dogs are related to:
- Cataract
- Glaucoma
- Lens luxation
- Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome
- Diseases of the optic nerve or brain
- Retinal detachment
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Dry eye
1. Cataract
Cataract is a condition affecting the lens of one or both eyes. It is most commonly seen in diabetic dogs, but any dog or any age or breed can develop this problem early or late in life.
2. Glaucoma
A painful condition associated with redness and clouding of the eyes which causes sudden pain, discomfort and vision loss. Glaucoma is the medical term to describe the increase of pressure inside the eye. Although glaucoma usually develops initially in one eye, rarely it can affect both eyes and if your dog can only see out of one eye, sudden loss of sight in the other eye can lead to instant blindness.
3. Lens luxation
The lens is the structure responsible for fine focusing of light and images from our surrounding environment to the back of the eye (the retina). The lens must be in the correct position so dogs can see clearly, otherwise their vision might become distorted.
Certain breeds, primarily Terrier breeds, can be predisposed to a condition called primary lens luxation in which the lens becomes dislocated from its normal position and, apart from blurry vision, can lead increase in the pressure of the eye and glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
4. Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome
A condition affecting the light and image detecting cells of the eye (the rods and cones, known as photoreceptors) which are located at the back of the eye, within the retina. For reasons that are still unclear, in some dogs these photoreceptors suddenly die, and dogs affected by this disease become suddenly blind overnight.
5. Diseases of the optic nerve or brain
Vision processing starts with the eye, but the final part of the information processing happens in the brain. The information travels there, from the eye, via a nerve called the optic nerve. Dogs who develop inflammation of the brain or the optic nerve, can lose their sight and become blind suddenly.
6. Retinal detachment
The retina is responsible for collecting information and light from the surrounding environment and generating pictures of images which are then transmitted to the brain. The retina can become detached either as a consequence of diseases of the immune-system, infectious diseases or due to “tearing” of the retina (due to predisposition in certain breeds of dogs or dogs who have undergone cataract surgery), leading to sudden blindness.
7. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
PRA, is a hereditary condition which leads to degeneration of the photoreceptors (light and motion detecting cells of the retina responsible for vision). This condition affects many breeds including the Poodle, Collies, Dachshund, Labrador and Golden Retrievers and Spaniel breeds, among others. The condition is slowly progressing and one of the first signs noted is reduced vision in low light conditions.
8. Dry eye
Dry eye is a condition which usually develops in middle-aged dogs and results in reduced production of tears. This can cause pain, discomfort and discharge around the eyes, in addition to severe scarring of the surface of the eyes which compromises vision.
Risk factors
Certain breeds can be predisposed to glaucoma, lens luxation and progressive retinal atrophy. These conditions can be hereditary, so it is important to ask this information before you rehome, adopt or buy a pedigree dog.
More information about hereditary eye diseases can be found on the British Veterinary Associations (BVA) website, under the BVA eye scheme. Only certified ophthalmologists can become panelists, who are part of the examination body responsible to screen dogs for hereditary diseases, and our ophthalmologists can offer this service at our clinic.
Aside from hereditary conditions, which may be transmitted from the dog’s parents to the puppies, diseases like diabetes, hypertension, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) and hypothyroidism are only a few of the conditions that can lead to eye problems and reduced vision.
What can you do?
If you feel that your dog’s vision is declining, you should seek advice and arrange a consultation with your vet. It is important to understand what the underlying cause leading to blindness or compromise in vision is, as many of the aforementioned conditions can be treated, if diagnosed at a timely manner.
Upon the initial assessment with your vets, they will decide if it’s something they can help you with and prescribe some medication or if your dog needs to be referred to an ophthalmologist for further tests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can dogs adjust to blindness?
When dogs start to lose their eyesight progressively, they adapt very well and in some cases you would struggle to notice that a dog is blind! However, rapid, acute blindness can be more distressing and takes longer for a dog to adjust. In most cases, especially when their other senses (smell and hearing) are not affected, dogs will adapt well to being blind
2. How quickly should I see a vet if I notice these signs?
As soon as possible! Early recognition of the problem and early treatment can make a huge difference to their future vision.