IS YOUR PET DOG VISUALLY IMPAIRED?
Some useful articles and information on BLINDNESS IN DOGS
BLINDNESS IN DOGS
Link to original article on WebMD Website:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/blindness-dogs
The article is also shared below for your information and convenience to read (with due acknowledgement and courtesy to WebMD):
Any condition that blocks light from getting to the retina impairs a dog’s vision.
Corneal diseases and cataracts fall into this category.
Most causes of blindness will not be evident on general observation of the eye itself. But there are some signs that suggest a dog may not be seeing as well as before. For example, a visually impaired dog may step high or with great caution, tread on objects that normally are avoided, bump into furniture, and carry his nose close to the ground. Dogs who normally catch well may suddenly start to miss objects thrown to them. The inactivity of older dogs is often attributed simply to old age, but failing eyesight may also be a cause.
Shining a bright light into the dog’s eye to test for pupil constriction is not an accurate test for blindness, because the pupil can become smaller from a light reflex alone. This doesn’t tell you whether the dog is able to form a visual image.
One way to test eyesight is to observe the dog in a dark room in which the furniture has been rearranged. As the dog begins to walk about, see if he moves with confidence or hesitates and collides with the furniture. Turn on the lights and repeat the test. A completely blind dog will perform the same way on both tests. A dog with some sight will show more confidence when the lights are on. Performance tests such as these give qualitative information about eyesight, but the degree of impairment can only be determined by veterinary examination.
A diagnosis of blindness or irreversible vision loss is not a catastrophe. The fact is that most dogs, even those with normal eyesight, do not really see very well. They rely to a greater extent on their keen senses of hearing and smell. These senses take over and actually become more acute as eyesight fails. This makes it relatively easy for visually impaired dogs to get around in areas they know. However, a blind dog should not be turned loose in unfamiliar surroundings or he could be injured. In the house, try to avoid moving furniture, because your dog will have a “mental map” of where things are. When left outdoors, confine a visually impaired dog to a fenced yard or run. Walking on a leash is safe exercise. The dog learns to rely on his owner as a “seeing-eye person.”
It is important to be aware of impending blindness while the dog is still able to see. This allows time for retraining in basic commands such as “stop,” “stay,” and “come.” When the dog actually does go blind, obedience training can be a lifesaver.
Loss of Vision and Blindness in Your Dog
Link to original article on Reach Out Rescue Website:
http://www.reachoutrescue.org/info/display?PageID=11145
The article is also shared below for your information and convenience to read (with due acknowledgement and courtesy to Reach Out Rescue Website):
Loss of Vision and Blindness in Your Dog
by Mary Brown Haak
I cannot see you Mommy, when you cuddle me so
near.
And yet I know you love me, it's in the words
I hear.
I cannot see you Daddy, when you hold me by
your side
But still I know you love me when you tell me
so with pride.
I cannot see to run and play out in the sun
so bright
For here inside my tiny head it's always dark
as night.
I cannot see the treats you give when I am
extra good
But I can wag my tail in Thanks just like a
good dog should.
"She cannot see. The dog’s no good"
is what some folks might say
"She can't be trained, she'll never
learn, She must be put away."
But not you, Mom and Daddy, You know that
it's alright
Because I love you just as much as any dog
with sight.
You took me in, you gave me love and we will
never part
Because I'm blind with just my eyes, I see
you in my heart.
— Sherrill Wardrip
Causes and Treatments
The causes of vision loss and blindness in
dogs range from normal aging and heredity to disease and injury. Vision
problems ranging from hazy vision to complete blindness occur in many dogs as
part of the aging process. An untreated eye infection or stroke may result in
temporary or permanent blindness. Blindness is sometimes a secondary symptom to
other canine diseases such as heart, liver, and kidney ailments or systemic
diseases such as diabetes.
Diabetes in dogs is on the rise. It’s
estimated that one in 10 dogs worldwide will eventually become diabetic.
Heredity plays a large factor, and larger, older dogs and breeding females are
at a higher risk. Poor nutrition and obesity are other risk factors. Three out
of four dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts within a year of being
diagnosed, which may result in partial or total blindness. In fact, development
of cataracts may be the first indication that a dog is diabetic. Other symptoms
include extreme thirst, more frequent urination possibly with accidents in the
house, sudden unexplained weight loss, lethargy or depression, and abdominal
pain. If your dog shows any of these signs, seek veterinary treatment
immediately. As with humans, treatment for diabetes can range from a change of
diet and exercise to daily insulin shots and, as with any disease, the
prognosis is better with early intervention.Maggie
Cataracts, a condition where the normally
transparent lens turns cloudy preventing light from reaching the retina, can
result in partial or total blindness. It can be inherited or caused by
infections, injury, and other diseases as well as diabetes. Cataracts can
develop very quickly. Early intervention through surgery may save a dog’s
sight. However, if caused by diabetes, healing may be slowed and scarring could
result in less than optimal results. If left untreated, cataracts can sometimes
cause an inflammation called Lens-Induced Uveitis (LIU) causing glaucoma. And
if the LIU is untreated and glaucoma develops, cataract surgery might not be
possible.
Glaucoma a painful condition where fluid
pressure increases inside the eye causing damage to the retina and optic nerves
resulting in partial or total blindness. The pain is similar to that of a
migraine headache. Symptoms include dilation of one or both pupils, green or
yellow discharge from the eye(s), delayed response to bright light, or
bloodshot eyes. Seek veterinary care as soon as possible if you notice any of
these symptoms. Both medical and surgical treatments are available, but are
more successful with early intervention.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an
inherited condition where the cells of the retina deteriorate causing
blindness. Although not painful, both eyes are affected. It is found most often
in Collies, Poodles, Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels. The first sign of PRA is
decreased night vision. Your dog may become more reluctant to go out after dark
or become disoriented in low light situations. This is a degenerative disease
with no cure. However, there are some antioxidant supplements available to slow
the deterioration of your dog's sight.
Perhaps the most tragic and scariest of
conditions is Suddenly Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS). Much
like PRA, it involves the deterioration of the retina, usually affects both eyes,
and causes no pain. Unlike PRA, the blindness is sudden rather than gradual,
with total blindness occurring over a few days to several weeks. Older dogs,
females, and overweight dogs appear to be more at risk. The disease is
diagnosed by a lack of electrical activity within the retina. Initial
observation of the eye shows no structural damage, but the retina degenerates
quickly over a short period of time. University of Iowa College of Veterinary
Medicine has had some success in restoring the sight of dogs, but treatments
are still the experimental stages. Long-term prognosis is still unknown and the
costs are high. Again, successful treatment required quick intervention. For
more information on SARDS, click here.
Other conditions and diseases that affect
vision include high blood pressure, Cushing’s disease, epilepsy, tumors, heart,
liver, and kidney diseases. Regardless of what you may suspect as a cause, if
your dog appears to be having trouble with his vision, you should seek
veterinary treatment immediately.
Vision Impairment and Blindness
Dogs do not rely on their sense of vision to
the same extent as do humans. The dog's vision is also not as highly developed
as it is in humans. Dogs also cannot focus well on near objects, are partially
color blind, and have poor detail vision. Canine vision is superior to human
vision for detecting moving objects in dim light. This vision suits their
original need as nocturnal hunters. Since the majority of domesticated dogs no
longer hunt to survive, blindness does not interfere with their domesticated
primary function--being a companion and pet.
The Animal Ophthalmology Center
Dogs who are blind from birth are unaware
that they are different from other dogs. They interact with the world much like
any other puppy; they just go about it differently. Blind dogs rely on their
senses of smell and hearing to compensate for the lack of sight, and those
senses become more acute over time. Without proper socialization, however, a
dog may become fearful and stressed in unfamiliar situations. Therefore early
and frequent socialization with other animals and humans is important and
should continue throughout life. It allows the dog to develop self-confidence
and dog and his owner to bond more closely. The dog will experience a richer
life with exposure to a variety of new people, situations, and experiences.
Most dogs with vision loss and blindness
experience a gradual loss of vision over time. Frequently owners rush to the
veterinarian with a claim of sudden blindness when examination indicates that
the animal has been blind for some time. The dog has managed to compensate so
well, it’s only when there is a change in their home environment or exposure to
a new situation that the problem becomes apparent. These dogs are far better
equipped to deal with the vision loss/blindness than the owners. The owner’s
sense of grief and loss is understandable, but usually the pet has moved on and
is coping just fine. Many people consider euthanizing their blind pets,
thinking that their quality of life will be diminished.
“What I say to people is, look, your dog
couldn’t read, write or drive a car, anyway. He’s already got four other senses
that are better than yours. As long as you take good care of him, he’ll be
okay.”
— Nick Whelan, Canine ophthalmologist,
Ontario Veterinary College
AztecSudden onset blindness can be much
harder for both the dog and owner than a gradual loss of vision. Even then,
most dogs can adjust, but the adjustment period is likely to be longer and
harder. Where a dog whose vision gradually diminishes has the opportunity to
work on mapping out his environment and developing coping strategies without
the owner’s help or knowledge, a dog with sudden onset blindness is plunged
into darkness without warning. He is more likely to experience depression,
nervousness, and anxiety. The owner will have to take more precautions, such as
adding baby gates or otherwise blocking off stairs and other hazards, removing
or padding sharp corners on furniture, and make other accommodations until the
dog has adjusted to his condition and mapped his environment. You may need to
limit access to one or two rooms at a time until the dog is comfortable there,
before expanding his access to the rest of the house. Once he has mastered
those, add another room or two. You may need to walk him around the rooms and
“show” him obstacles—placement of furniture and other objects, and the location
of his food and water bowls and bed or crate.
How well your dog will cope with blindness
will depend on the dog. Young dogs will adapt better than old dogs, but may
require more vigilance because their exuberance can lead them to dangerous
situations. Indoor pets are likely to adjust more easily than those allowed to
run free. A dominant dog in a multi-dog environment may have more difficult
adjusting than a single dog, especially if the other dogs challenge his pack
position. Or his companions may help him with adjusting. If blindness is caused
by a painful condition such as glaucoma or a systemic disease such as diabetes,
the dog may have more difficulty adjusting until the underlying condition is
treated.
Even dogs who adapt well otherwise may
experience some personality changes. Many dogs will develop some degree of
separation anxiety—they are more dependent on their owners and will become
distressed when the owner leaves. This can be addressed through training and
behavioral modification, but it will be more challenging because the underlying
condition, blindness, cannot be changed.
Training is good for any dog. It increases
bonding between the dog and owner and gets him accustomed to taking direction
from the owner. For a blind dog, it can be a lifesaver. The “wait” command can
save your dog from injury or even death when facing hazards he can’t see. If
the dog was trained before going blind, he will have an easier time learning
the additional commands you will need to teach him to help him navigate his
darkened world.
Perhaps the most important factor in how well
a dog copes with his new condition is the owner. Giving your dog the love and
support he needs during his adjustment is crucial. If you must give in to your
emotions, do it away from the dog. It is important to remain upbeat and
positive in his presence.
Detecting Loss of Vision
Some signs that your dog may be experiencing
vision loss or blindness include general clumsiness, bumping into walls and
furniture, startling easily and apprehensive behavior, inability to find toys
or food and water bowls, reluctance to go out at night, excessive sleeping or
loss of playfulness, disorientation or confusion, or changes in the appearance
of the eyes. If you notice these behaviors in your dog, you should seek
immediate veterinary care.
Your veterinarian will likely conduct a
thorough physical exam to determine the cause and extent of the dog’s vision
loss. This may include blood work, neurological exam, cerebral spinal fluid
test, MCR or CT scan, and ophthalmologic exam. You may be referred to a
veterinary ophthalmology specialist. Treatment of the condition will depend on
the cause. And while the vision loss may not be reversible, your dog can still
live a fulfilling life after adjusting to his new condition.
How Do I Help My Pet Adjust to Vision Loss or
Blindness?
GusNaturally, you are going to be distressed
at your pet’s vision loss. Remember that animals key in to your emotions, and
that the best thing you can do for your pet is to maintain a calm, upbeat,
positive attitude. Dogs can adjust to vision loss or blindness rather quickly—assuming
you help, rather than hinder, the adjustment. Coddling or babying your pet
usually results in a much longer adjustment period, loss of self-confidence,
and may increase his dependence on you increasing his stress level. If you have
a small pet, you may want to pick her up to take her to her bed or food and
water bowls, or just to comfort her. Try to avoid this. It disorients her. If
you do pick her up for petting and snuggling, return her to the same spot and
facing the same direction. Talk to your dog when entering and exiting rooms,
and prior to touching her when she is sleeping. Let her figure things out for
herself. You will be surprised at how well and quickly she will adjust.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make changes
to your behavior, home and routine to accommodate your blind pet. There are a
number of actions you can and should take to make to keep your pet safe and
increase his confidence.
Establishing schedules and routines will be
helpful to your blind pet. Feeding should be done on a set schedule and food
and water bowls should not be moved—even by inches. Use adhesive stars or dots
to mark locations. Some veterinarians recommend placing a small rug under food
bowls and using a scent on it, a drop of peppermint or vanilla, to help her navigate
to it. It usually isn’t necessary as long as you keep the food and water bowl
in the same place. Call your pet to dinner with the same words and tone of
voice every time. Do check to make sure your pet is eating and drinking, and
lead her to her bowls if she is not. If she still doesn’t eat or drink, seek
veterinary care immediately.
When walking a blind dog, he may be more
comfortable if you walk the same route every time while he adjusts to his
blindness. The smells, textures, and sounds will be familiar and comforting to
him. You may want to give him more “sniffing” time in safe areas than you would
a sighted dog. Many animals are less open to new experiences after becoming
blind or experiencing vision loss. Introduce them to changes slowly and pace
changes to the pet’s comfort level.
You can use aromas in your home to help your
pet navigate. You may just elect to use two—one to signal “good” and one to
signal “bad.” For example, use a drop a vanilla on food bowls, on doorways (get
both sides of the doorframe so can navigate between the two) and at the top and
bottom of stairs, and bitter apple on stoves, fireplaces, and rooms he would be
best avoiding. Some experts suggest using a different plug-in air fresher
fragrance in each room. You need to be certain to use the same fragrance in each
room every time and keep a back-up supply on hand in case your local store runs
out of a particular fragrance.
Talking to your dog can relieve the sense of
isolation brought on by blindness. Talk to her frequently. Discuss the weather,
current events, the garden, or what your mother or children said on the phone.
Even taboo subject such as politics and religion, she really doesn’t care!
Talking to your dog will provide comfort, lessen her sense of isolation, and
let her know you are there regardless of what you are saying!
Home Hazards
To the extent possible, don’t rearrange the
furniture in your house. After eating, move dining room chairs back to their
original positions. Again, you can do this with the use of adhesive dots or
stars. Keep objects off the Charliefloor and train your family members to do
the same. Laundry baskets, toys and shoes left on the floor create an obstacle
course that your blind dog can’t see to navigate. Use your dots or stars to
mark the locations of furniture and other object you move when cleaning or
vacuuming. Some dogs can map a house down to within inches. Be sure to close
cabinet doors and drawers so your dog doesn’t bump into them.
Be especially vigilant of hazards along the
walls of your home. A newly blind pet may have a tendency to “hug” the walls in
order to avoid obstacles in the middle of the room. Your pet may become tangled
up in cords for electrical appliances, blinds and drapes and be unable to free
himself.
Pad the sharp corners on coffee tables and
other furniture with sharp corners, especially those at your pet’s head height
or treat them with bitter apple until he is comfortably navigating around them.
You may want to use runners in rooms to indicate a clear path from one room to
another, and rugs at the top and bottom of stairs. Be sure to anchor them. You
will be amazed at how quickly your pet adapts and dislocates them running up
and down stairs or tearing through rooms. Stairs, both indoors and out, should
be blocked off until the dog learns their locations and can navigate them
easily without assistance.
When turning off televisions and stereos
return them to the lowest volume so that you don’t startle your pet when you
turn them back on. Train your teenagers to do this if they listen to music at a
high volume. Gradually increase the volume when you turn them back on. Your pet
will thank you!
Outdoor Hazards
You should never allow a blind pet to run
loose outside a fenced area until he has perfectly mastered recall. Even then,
you want to limit off-leash time to situations where you are absolutely certain
he will not encounter any hazards. In the yard, trim low branches on bushes and
trees in your yard and keep fallen branches picked up. Make sure children’s
toys are put away or stored in a regular place. Decks and porches need to have
railings low enough to keep your pet from falling off if you are going to let
him out in these areas. You can use chicken wire or screening to block openings
below rail level. Cedar chips, mulch, landscaping rocks, and paving stones can
be placed to create a zone around obstacles such as trees, bushes, and outdoor
furniture.
If you have a ground level door, it might be
easier to have him always go out that door until he is fully adjusted to his
disability, rather than deal with steps, porches, or raised decks without low
railings. Just like a dog who can see, he’s going to be excited to go outside
and it might be better to take a few extra precautions to keep him safe,
especially when he’s newly blind.
Buy bells and attach them to the collars of
your other pets or make sure their tags make noise when they are running. At a
walk, most blind dogs and cats can pick up the scent of a familiar animal
approaching. At a run, they may not. Blind dogs enjoy running and playing as much
as sighted dogs—the noise your other pets make will help him follow his
friend’s lead. Your other dogs are probably going to sense that he is “special”
pretty fast and, if they are like most dogs, they will help him out.
Training
WonderWhen training a blind dog, conduct your
initial training sessions for any new command in a familiar place free from any
obstacles and distractions. You want the dog as relaxed and at ease as
possible, as this will be more conducive to learning. The sit, down, stays and
recall/come commands are taught to a blind dog in the same manner as a sighted
dog. Stays may be a bit more challenging for a blind dog. You should reward the
dog for stays of a second or two and slowly increase the time while by her
side, and do the same for increasing distance. For the recall/come command, be
sure you have a large area free from any obstacles in case your dog goes a
little off-course. You may need to keep talking to him until he finds you at
first or in noisy situations. While walking your dog, you may find that a
halter gives you more control than a leash and that your dog is more
comfortable with it than a regular collar. Teaching a heel is much the same for
other dogs. You should, however, work at the commands left, right and slow to let
your dog know where you want her to go since she can’t see you turning. These
are taught by luring her with a treat just as you do when teaching a heel. For
more information on basic training, click here.
The “Wait” and “Slow” commands, in addition
to sits and recalls are especially important for a blind dog. These are the
primary commands you can use to protect your dog from danger. You may want to
use a sit instead of a recall in some situations, especially if he is likely to
encounter hazards coming back to you. I can’t overemphasize practicing in
non-threatening situations so when a real emergency comes along, both your
action and your dog’s reactions are instinctive and immediate.
Wait (or Halt)
What you are really teaching here is stop,
but if you are like most people, you use the word “stop” frequently for other
purposes. Use whatever word you are comfortable with, but be consistent. Use
this command when you open the front door, when getting your dog out of the
car, or when he is about the wander into the street. Put your dog on a leash
and begin walking with him. Tell him “Wait” (or halt, or whatever word you
choose) while applying steady but gentle pressure on the lease until he stops.
Praise and reward the second he stops. Practice this until he is responding
reliably, both indoors and out, and with distractions. Then practice off lead
in the house, then outside in an enclosed area and slowly add distractions.
Always release your dog from “wait” with a release command such as “Freeeeee!”
Slow
Use this command to alert your dog that he's
there is an obstacle is his way. Put your dog on a leash and begin walking with
him. Tell him “Slow” while applying steady but gentle pressure on the lease until
he slows. Praise and reward the second he slows. Practice this until he is
responding reliably both inside and out, and with distractions. Use the “Slow”
command if you see your dog is about to run into something.
Home
Use the home command to reorient your dog if
he gets confused about where he is in the house or yard. You should have a
“home” base both inside and out. Whatever place you pick, stay consistent. You
may want to select the area where his food and water bowls are in the house or
the back door outside. Lead him to “home”, and say “home.”
Stairs
If your dog has handled steps in the past,
these commands may be a fairly simple for her to learn… or maybe not! If she
has not gone up or down stairs before (or you don’t know if she has), start with
a short flight of Web Image: Otisstairs or a single one if you can find it.
Find stairs without an open back if possible. A street curb in an area free
from traffic may be your best starting point. Going up stairs will be easier
for her than going down, so start with that. Have the dog on a leash and
walking beside you. As you approach the stair, say “Up” and lure her up one
step with a treat while tapping the tread. Keep the treat close to the tread of
the upper step. When she gets her paws on the step, reward and praise, and
continue luring until she gets up on the step, reward and praise again. Repeat
with the next step or steps. If she is reluctant, don’t push her. It may take
several days. If she is willing, next try going down the stairs. If she is
tired, save it for another day! Lure the dog to around to face the steps. Tap
the lower step, say “Step” and lure her with the treat. You do not want to say
“Step Down” because she might confuse this with the down command. Going
downstairs is very scary to a blind dog. Let her take as long as needed to
learn this. It may take a week or more. Just be patient. Do not force her. If
after a week or so, she is still reluctant to go down stairs, try to find some
shallower steps or use a street curb in an area free from traffic. Going down
stairs where it feels like there is nothing underneath her is the ultimate act
of trust. Be understanding. Work on longer staircases only after your dog has
mastered short ones comfortably. Introduce her to each set of stairs in and
around your house. Block them off until she is comfortable with them.
Sudden Noise Alert
Your blind dog will be startled by loud and
unexpected noises—a car starting, a door slamming, or vacuum or other appliance
turned on. To the extent possible, you can minimize this by teaching her an
unexpected noise is about to happen. You can use any word or words you want,
maybe “Uh Oh!” prior to the noise occurring.
Toys and Games and Other Activities for Your
Blind Pet
Keep your blind dog physically and mentally
challenged to avoid him sinking into depression. Walk him often and allow him
plenty of sniffing exploration breaks. At first, he may be reluctant to explore
new places. If so, keep your walks to familiar routes. Give him time to adjust,
and extend your walk by just a little each day. Soon exploring new places and
smells will be a favorite activity.
Just like any dog, blind dogs love to play
with toys and play with you. As stated before, their sense of hearing and smell
will grow more acute over time. Consider these when selecting toys. Kongs
filled with smelly treats are a wonderful way to keep your dog entertained. You
can play fetch with a tennis ball scented with lemon oil or vanilla extract or
a ball that makes noise when it bounces, but you may need to limit the distance
you are throwing it. Be sure to have a clear space with no obstacles. Tennis
balls inside a kiddie pool, with or without water, can be fun for your dog to
chase, and they won’t be able to get away from him. You can use rope toys to
play tug of war. For other ideas on toys and games for your blind dog, click
here and here.
Remember that blind dogs enjoy having fun,
just like any dog. Click here to see the inspiring video, "Riddle's
Song".
For a really fun and challenging activity,
and one that depends on your blind dog’s keen sense of smell, teach your dog
scent tracking. It’s both physically and mentally challenging for the dog, and
it will simply amaze your friends. For details on training your dog to track,
click here.
And, of course, snuggling and massages are
fun activities for any dog, sighted or blind!
