A dog’s vision is impaired when a condition hinders light form entering the retina of the eye. Cataracts and corneal diseases can be results of conditions called uveitis and Glaucoma and additional causes of blindness in dogs are retinal diseases. The majority of blindness that occurs with dogs may not be apparent by basically looking at it with the eye alone. There are certain signs though, that may suggest that a dog’s vision has begun to deteriorate. Some examples would be if a dog that is visually impaired steps with great caution or steps high, if they trample over objects that they usually avoid, carries their nose close to the ground, and bumps into furniture. A dog that in most instances, catches objects may start to miss them as they are thrown when vision impairment has occurred. This should not be confused with the normal inactivity that occurs with older dogs as a result of old age.
How to Test for Vision Impairment
When a bright light is shone in the eye of the dog in order to exam for constriction of the pupil, this is not a proper method of testing the dog for blindness because a light reflex alone can result in the pupils becoming smaller. This method of examination will not provide information as to whether the dog can make out a visual image.Observing the dog while it is in a dark room that has the furniture rearranged is one method to test the dog’s eyesight. An owner can see whether or not the dog displays signs of hesitation or moves about in confidence when they are in the dark room. The test can then be repeated once the lights are on. A dog that is completely blind will execute the tests in the same manner both times. A dog that can see will show indications of confidence once the lights are on. These types of performance tests can provide qualitative information on the dog’s eyesight but a veterinary examination is the only way to determine the degree of eyesight impairment the dog has.