Blindness in your dog can develop very suddenly or gradually, depending on the cause. Dogs adapt really well when blindness develops over time, so it can be surprisingly difficult for us to notice. Sudden blindness is much more obvious and some dogs find it difficult to adapt.

Blindness presents as a loss of functional vision, with or without a loss of light perception. Contact a vet as soon as your dog shows signs of losing their sight. Not all conditions that cause blindness are treatable, but the earlier they are identified, the better chance your dog has of recovering.

 

What to do

What to do if your dog becomes blind

If your dog suddenly becomes blind, take them immediately to your vet, even if they do not appear to be in pain.

 

Causes

Common causes of blindness in dogs

• Cataract: opacity or clouding of the lens of the eye.
• Glaucoma: high pressure inside the eye leading to retinal and optic nerve damage.
• Uveitis: inflammation of the middle area of the eye, called uvea.
• Retinal disease: can include retinal detachment, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) or sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS).
• Neurologic disease: can include brain disease, stroke, tumours, infections, and optical nerve disease.
• Eye injury: such as trauma to the eye causing bleeding inside the eye, globe rupture and others.
• Tumours in the eye

 

When to worry

When should you be worried about your blind dog?

If your dog shows any of the following signs, call your vet:

• Swollen eye
• Squinting
• Redness of the eye
• Reluctant to open the affected eye or pawing at the face
• Head tilt

Call us at Joii if:

• You have a blind dog and need help with adjusting their environment
• If you need help applying or giving medication

 

Prevention

Tips on how to prevent blindness in dogs

Some conditions cannot be prevented, while others can. An early diagnosis is crucial to prevent permanent blindness.

• Take your dog for regular check-ups with a vet at least once a year to catch any illness early.
• Regular blood tests are also extremely useful, especially in senior dogs.
• Keep them on a balanced diet that is suitable for their age and lifestyle.

 

Diagnosis

How to know if your dog is blind

Signs to look out for include:

• Cloudy eyes
• Bulging eyes
• Walking slowly and cautiously
• Clumsiness
• Not wanting to go out at night
• Being easily frightened and nervous
• Bumping into people, walls or furniture
• Being unable to find toys, balls, food dishes
• Confusion and disorientation
• Being more vocal (barking or whining)

 

Home treatment

How to care for your blind dog at home

There is a lot of worry among owners about how their dogs will cope with blindness, but fortunately, most dogs adapt well and continue to live happy lives.

Nevertheless, there are important aspects that you may need to take into consideration to help your dog:

Keep your home the same

• Avoid moving furniture or any of your dog’s belongings, such as their food dish, water bowl or bed.
• Be aware of possible home hazards such as sharp furniture corners, wires, stairs, hot surfaces, and pools. If you need to restrict your dog to safer areas of the house, you could consider using a baby gate.
• Place textured mats at the room entrances. Your dog will be able to differentiate the room they are in by the texture on their paws.

Command training

• It may be useful to start teaching them specific commands, such as:
  • “watch” to make them aware they are approaching a hazard.
  • “step” to teach them when there are stairs in front of them.

Talk to your dog

• Always talk to your dog before stroking them or putting a lead or harness on so they know you are nearby. It will stop them from getting scared and let them know something is coming.
• Whenever your dog meets a new human or animal, they should be handled with extra care.

Use sound or bells

• If you have other pets in the house, it’s useful to use a small bell or an object that makes sound on them to help your blind dog identify their presence.

Keep them on the lead

• Using a halo harness can be helpful for a blind dog.
• If you have a garden or there is an enclosed space that they are used to, give them the freedom to explore, use noisy toys to play catch.

Help them stay active

• Play is very important. Use toys that make a noise. This will help build their confidence and provide mental stimulation.

• If they enjoy running with you, consider adapting it for quiet times where there is less human or animal interaction.

 

Vet treatment

Is there a cure for blindness in dogs?

The treatment for blindness in dogs will depend on the underlying condition.

This can be in the form of:

• Eye drops
• Oral tablets
• Eye surgery

When a dog loses their sight, blindness can become permanent.

If there is no treatment to resolve or improve their sight, treatment will be directed at reducing pain if this is present. This may be in the form of an eye enucleation surgery, where the eye is completely removed to prevent pain.

Blindness that is caused by cataracts can often be resolved with eye surgery to try to reestablish vision.

 

Risk

Are some dogs more at risk of becoming blind?

Some breeds of dogs are prone to developing certain conditions that can cause blindness.

• Collie eye anomaly: an inherited problem affecting the choroid layer of the eye seen in Collie breeds.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): an inherited eye disease that leads to various problems with the retina (back of the eye) seen in Poodles, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers, but not only.
• Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS): a progressive autoimmune disease that affects the retina (back of the eye) seen mainly in Dachshunds and Miniature Schnauzers.
• Cataracts: breeds with a high prevalence of cataracts are the American Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Miniature Poodle, Standard Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, and others.
• Glaucoma: breeds with a high prevalence of glaucoma are Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Border Collie, Golden Retriever, Great Dane and others.