If you suspect your old dog is going blind, you may feel panicked or overwhelmed.
You’re not alone. These emotions are normal when faced with something as life-changing for your companion as vision loss.
Before you jump to conclusions, take a deep breath.
First, you will need to make an appointment to better understand what is happening.
Typically, your regular vet won’t have the experience or equipment to properly diagnose what’s happening. Instead, you must see a veterinary ophthalmologist (an eye specialist).
You will probably need a referral from your vet to make an appointment with the specialist.
When you contact the vet’s office, explain to the staff why you feel the situation is urgent. This will get things moving, so no time is wasted.
Okay, now that you have an appointment, you can continue reading.
Last Updated: April 10, 2024
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How to Tell if a Dog is Going Blind
If you’re reading things, you may be asking, “Is my dog going blind?”
Vision problems can be challenging to catch early, even if our dogs are showing us there is a problem.
Sometimes, the signs are so subtle or come on so gradually that we don’t even realize something is amiss.
Here are the most common signs a dog is losing sight:
- Teary or runny eyes
- Cloudiness of the eyes
- Redness around the eye
- Eyes have the appearance of bulging
- Keeping their eyes closed
- Rubbing their face on the ground
- Pawing at their eyes
- Sleeping more often
- Stepping high as if they are unsure when walking
- Reluctance to go outside at night
- Walking slower than usual
- Walking on objects or surfaces they would usually avoid
- Bumping into walls or furniture
- Unable to catch toys that are thrown at them
- Having trouble finding their toys, food and water bowls, or bed
- Appearing confused or disoriented
- Showing signs of irritation or aggression when they haven’t before
- Startled when approached by people or other pets
In addition to these signs, pay attention to any changes in your dog’s behavior—even if they seem minor.
You know your dog best. If you’re concerned, there’s most likely a reason to be.
Things can go downhill quickly, especially with senior dog eye problems. It’s best not to adopt a “wait and see” attitude.
Try This Experiment at Home
Are you still unsure but feeling like something isn’t right? Here is an easy experiment to confirm if your old dog is going blind.
Move a couple of pieces of furniture in a room, turn off the lights, and watch your dog move around.
Do they know where they are going?
Are they bumping into things?
Now turn the lights back on and watch again.
If your dog is losing sight but is still in the early stages, they will perform better in the light. However, if they are near or completely blind, you will see the same results.
Oh No, I missed the Signs!
Once your old dog’s eye problems have been diagnosed, it’s easy to look back and second-guess yourself.
If you’re like me, you may find yourself thinking, “Now I understand why they did this or that,” but there were many seemingly logical explanations at the time.
The truth is, if this is your first time sharing your life with a blind senior dog, how can you be expected to know what to look for?
Don’t beat yourself up!
We are all brilliant in hindsight. But if you don’t know, you don’t know.
You can only do the best you can with the information and experience you have at that moment.
What Causes Dogs to Go Blind?
Many factors can cause a dog to lose their sight, especially in their senior years.
While some vision loss is a natural part of aging, it can also be a sign that your dog has an underlying health condition.
Here are many of the most common causes of blindness in senior dogs to help you understand what may be affecting your dog’s vision and what steps you can take to address it.
Eye Irritants or Injuries
Dust, sand, and other foreign bodies can negatively affect sight in dogs of any age.
If you notice your dog blinking, tearing, rubbing their eyes, or unable to open one or both eyes, call your veterinarian (or eye specialist) immediately.
Ask what you can do immediately at home, then get to the vet’s office as soon as possible.
It doesn’t take long for a minor issue to have a long-term impact on your dog’s vision.
Nuclear Sclerosis or Lenticular Sclerosis
Have you ever looked into your dog’s eyes and noticed they appear cloudy or have a bluish haze?
Although most people assume this cloudiness results from cataracts, that often isn’t the case.
What Is It?
- Result of age-related changes to the lens
- Often seen in dogs over 7 years old
- Usually develops in both eyes at the same time
- Isn’t painful
How Does It Happen?
The lens of the eye, which cannot expand, is made up of clear fiber cells that constantly grow.
The lens is clear in young dogs because there is plenty of room for new cells.
As a dog ages, the new cells push the old ones toward the center of the lens, hardening it and causing it to cloud over.
Treatment
No treatment available
Prognosis
Lenticular Sclerosis doesn’t affect the vision in any significant way, although your dog may find it a little tricky to see things close to them.
All in all, your dog should be fine.
Cataracts
Like Nuclear Sclerosis, cataracts cause cloudiness. However, it does affect your dog’s vision.
Thankfully, it is not a painful condition.
What Is It?
- Caused by proteins in the eye lens starting to break down
- Eyes can look cloudy before their vision is affected
- Most cataracts in senior dogs develop gradually
- Generally first show up in dogs around 6-8 years of age
- Can occur in very young dogs, but far rarer
How Does It Happen?
Changes start in the center of the lens and then move outwards.
Your dog’s vision will start to suffer as the lens becomes more and more opaque.
Cataracts due to old age tend to develop in both eyes but may progress at different rates.
They can also develop as the result of trauma, infection, diabetes, or hypothyroidism (low thyroid function).
Inherited conditions are the most common cause.
Diagnosis
A check-up with a veterinarian or eye specialist is needed for confirmation.
Treatment
The only actual treatment for cataracts in dogs is surgery, but not if the cataracts result from a secondary condition like diabetes.
By the time most dog parents notice, a large portion of the eye will have been affected.
Prevention
The only way to truly prevent cataracts is by preventing the secondary conditions that can trigger it.
Keep your dog at an ideal weight to avoid cataracts caused by diabetes. Overweight dogs are at risk of developing the disease.
Having said that, diabetes can strike dogs of any size.
For cataracts due to aging, the only preventative step you can take is to be diligent with veterinary appointments during your dog’s senior years.
Glaucoma
Simply put, Glaucoma is pressure caused by a build-up of fluid in the eye.
Left untreated, the optic nerve and retina are damaged beyond repair, leading to partial or total vision loss.
This is quite a painful condition and is the most common cause of blindness in dogs.
If left untreated for even 48 hours, it may be too late to save the sight in the affected eye. Plus, when one eye has it, the other usually develops it too.
A common symptom to watch for is the sudden development of a red, painful eye.
There are two types of Glaucoma – Primary and Secondary.
Primary Glaucoma
The fluid cannot drain through the filtration angles of the eye.
This form of the Glaucoma is genetic.
I read this very sobering statistic, once again emphasizing the need to act quickly:
“More than 50 percent of dogs with primary glaucoma will develop complications in their unaffected eye within 8 months.” (Source)
Symptoms of Primary Glaucoma:
- Excessive blinking
- Cloudiness in the eye
- The eye appears to be shrinking into the head
- Redness of the blood vessels in the whites of the eyes
- Bulging appearance of the eyes
- Obvious vision loss
Secondary Glaucoma
This occurs after another eye problem causes blood to collect in front of the eye.
Examples of possible causes include traumatic injury, slipping of the lens, and inflammation.
Symptoms of Secondary Glaucoma:
- High pressure in the eye
- Redness of the blood vessels in the whites of the eyes
- Cloudiness in the eye
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in playing and other interests
- Constriction of the pupil
Diagnosis
The most important thing you can do if you suspect Glaucoma is to take your dog for medical care.
It’s entirely possible that your primary vet has all the equipment needed to diagnose glaucoma and the medications to treat it. They may even be fully qualified to perform as an eye doctor.
If not, a specialist will be required.
Any extra time spent considering making an appointment could impact the outcome, so don’t hesitate.
Treatment
Depending on the condition of the eyes and the test results, your vet or eye doctor will discuss the available options.
It could involve medication, draining fluid, surgery, or possible removal of your dog’s eyes.
When addressing a Glaucoma diagnosis in my dog, there were even natural treatment options mentioned.
If your dog needs to have one or both eyes removed, prosthetic eyes could replace the damaged ones, or the eyelids can be sutured shut.
I know it sounds gruesome, but the eye specialist we went to assured me that dogs can live long, happy lives with proper treatment.
Diabetes
I touched on cataracts briefly above, but I believe Diabetes should be mentioned specifically.
It has been reported that within 9 months of a dog being diagnosed with diabetes, 3 out of 4 will develop cataracts and go blind.
They can develop overnight and, if left untreated, will lead to the development of Glaucoma.
As soon as your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, many experts recommend consulting right away with an eye specialist.
Yes, start the necessary diabetes treatment. But don’t wait until the condition is under control to seek help with the impact this can have on your dog’s vision, or it may be too late.
I recommend reading this article: “Cataracts, Blindness, and Diabetic Dogs.” It is long and goes into much more detail, but it’s well worth the time.
Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome, or SARDS
This is not a very well-known cause of sudden blindness in dogs.
It is most often diagnosed in dogs around 8 ½ years old, and the cause is currently not known or understood.
I recommend this article for more information about this condition: “What Causes Sudden Blindness in Older Dogs?”
What to Do When Your Dog Goes Blind
You may be wondering, “My dog is going blind. Now what?” This is a legitimate concern faced by many dog parents in this situation.
The steps needed to help your blind dog adjust will vary depending on the extent of their vision loss.
If they are going blind gradually, you might not even realize it for quite some time.
Many dogs know their homes and territory so well that they don’t seem to struggle. Other senses become more acute, and they adapt rather well.
However, if a dog goes blind suddenly, it can be very scary and traumatic for everyone.
The good news is that a blind dog can go on to live a long, happy life. They just need a little help adjusting to this new chapter of their life.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help everyone (you, your dog, and your family) adjust if your dog is losing eyesight or has already lost it.
Blind Dog Proof Your House
Just as we puppy-proof our homes to prevent injuries, steps must also be taken to keep your blind dog safe.
Get down on the floor and see your house from your dog’s eye level.
Are there doorknobs or handles sticking out that can hurt them?
Does your coffee table have sharp edges?
Are there cables they can trip over?
If you identify any potential hazards, address them as soon as possible. This could mean removing a hazard, covering it, or limiting your dog’s access to some areas of the house.
For sharp edges on doors and furniture, consider using a pool noodle or foam tubing from your local DIY store, like Home Depot.
Cut the foam down the middle, allowing you to wrap it securely around the edges for a soft cushion if they accidentally bump into something.
Baby gates can be used to limit your dog’s access to certain rooms or block off the top and bottom of any stairs.
Don’t move furniture around. Your dog will learn where things are in the home; moving them will only cause confusion (and potentially more accidents).
Maintain a Clear Path
A clean home is always recommended to keep dogs out of trouble, starting from young puppies who may be tempted to chew items they shouldn’t.
But this is even more important if you are navigating any of these old dog eye problems.
Items left on the floor, like shoes, backpacks, and toys, can create a tripping hazard if your dog cannot see them.
Don’t Forget Your Yard
Much like inside the home, take the time to investigate your yard or garden for any potential hazards.
If you have a pool, fence it off, or don’t let your dog wander unsupervised in the yard.
Are there any holes in the grass where they could get their food caught?
Are there sharp pieces of fencing sticking out?
Could your dog potentially wander out of the yard and get into trouble?
If you are concerned about keeping your dog safely contained but a permanent fence is out of the budget, consider temporary fencing solutions.
Adjust Your Communication and Interactions
Over time, your dog’s other senses will become more acute. But everyone involved will need to adjust with these changes in mind.
Make sure to make noise when approaching your dog to avoid startling them.
This doesn’t mean to scream or trigger fear. Instead, speak calmly or tap with your feet so they can hear that you are coming.
If your dog is sleeping, avoid picking them up. If I needed to wake my visually impaired dog, which was unusual, I would call their name or stand close until they sensed me.
Another great tip I learned was to teach the word “careful.”
If your dog is approaching something where they may bump their head, the “careful” command can warn them, giving them time to change directions and avoid the injury.
Talk to your dog throughout the day, telling them what you are doing.
For example, tell them that you will be feeding them rather than just putting their dish down and hoping they notice.
Be patient.
If you are calling your dog to come, you may have to repeat that command several times so they can follow the sound of your voice.
Address Anxiety, if Necessary
Dogs can become fearful or anxious while adapting to these major life changes.
You may want to consider giving them something for their anxiety to help them relax, at least until they adjust to their “new normal.”
Some popular calming options include:
- Adaptil Calming Pheromone Diffuser
- Valerian supplement
- A calming toy, like the Calmeroos Puppy Heartbeat Toy
- CBD Oil
- Rescue Remedy Natural Stress Relief
Play Together and Spend Quality Time
Of course, when an old dog is going blind, it is going to be a big adjustment for everyone, including mentally and emotionally.
Playing with your dog and keeping them active is vital to a good quality of life.
If your dog has always loved their toys, make sure they still have access to them. Consider a toy box or container that is easy for them to navigate.
You may want to try a few new toys to see if their preferences have changed at this stage.
Try toys that are scented, make noise, or dispense treats. This will make it easier for your dog to find and engage with the toy without being able to see it.
Make sure you are still taking your dog out for their regular walks.
If possible, take them out when it’s relatively quiet, especially when they are first adjusting.
The many sounds of the outside world can be overwhelming!
They will need to rely on you to guide them in the beginning. If they previously ran off-leash, you will need to keep them on leash now.
Start with a 4’ or 5’ leash to keep them close to you.
As they become more confident and familiar with their surroundings, you may wish to transition to a training lead or rope to give them more freedom to run while keeping them safe.
Final Thoughts: What to Do if Your Old Dog is Going Blind
If you have any concerns relating to eye problems in dogs, please contact your veterinarian or an eye specialist ASAP.
The sooner you seek medical help, the better your dog’s chances are of potentially saving their eyesight.
However, if their eyesight can’t be saved, know that with a few changes and considerations, your dog can live a long, happy, and fulfilled life.
It just may look a little different…
Do you share your life with a blind dog? Were they born blind, or did their vision loss develop later in life? How have you managed? I invite you to share what you found works well in your home to help others navigate this challenge.
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Hi Hindy,
Wow, there is a lot to learn when taking care of an older dog. It is great that you have provided us with such in-depth information so we can monitor our pets if we need to. This post is very helpful, and the vision test with using light to check your dog’s eyesight is very easy and will help so much. Thank you.
Hi Heather, Thanks for taking the time to comment – it’s much appreciated. My goal with this site is to provide people who care for senior dogs with as much help, advice and tips as I can. What matters most to me is that older dogs are as comfortable as they can possibly be, in the final years of their life. I’m so glad you fount it helpful.
I can’t thank you enough for this article. My Cicero is a 15 year old miniature poodle and has had cataracts for awhile now, mostly in one eye, but in the last few months I’d noticed that the other eye was clouding up rapidly and I believe he has gone completely blind in the last 48 hours and it just breaks my heart. My poor little guy. I have pool noodles in the shed and I will be cutting them up tomorrow. My stoop has five steps that he is having trouble navigating. Should I carry him, or let his muscle memory take over as he learns his new world? I’m afraid if I carry him he will lose his autonomy and sink into depression. I’m also worried that his fear of his new world will also cause him to sink into depression and lead him to not want to do anything at all. At this point he still, with encouragement and lots of loving after, is able to jump onto the couch next to me, but I feel like this won’t last long. I’m pretty sure that he can only see shadows in bright light.
My poor old man???
Hi Heather, This is a subject close to my heart as I’ve recently lost both of my lovely dogs, a brother and sister. Both of them lost a lot of their sight and both of them went quite deaf, to such a degree that they couldn’t hear commands anymore. This blog is very comprehensive and covers everything to do with the care of an elderly dog, especially their failing eyesight. My dogs lived to 17 years, not a bad age. Thanks for the site it’s very informative. Ches
Sorry Hindy, got your name wrong. Ches
Hi Ches, No problem, thanks for correcting that! I’m very sorry to hear about your dogs. 17, wow! You’re fortunate to have had them for so many years. I know how devastating it is to lose your pets, haven’t been down that road too many times myself. It’s one thing to lose one sense, but to lose almost two is tough. I had a deaf and blind dog and it just doesn’t seem fair does it? I’m glad you enjoyed the blog, and found it thorough. I’m just getting started with it really, and my goal is to make it a comprehensive site for anyone sharing their life with a senior dog.
I agree that you have plenty of very useful information on here. I’m not a dog owner, but I know how much effort it can take to raise a pet. It’s nice to have people like you to provide help to those struggling to alleviate their dog’s vision problems.
Hi John, Thanks for commenting, and so glad you found the information helpful. I’m doing my best to provide as much useful information as I can to help people care for their senior dogs.
Thanks for the useful and helpful information concerning eye health of our senior dogs. I have had many dogs but have never experience eye problems. Dogs tend to get the same diseases that we do so you are so right when saying we need to keep a close eye on our dogs for any signs of a health issue.
I have a tendency to run my hands over our dog almost daily searching for anything out of the ordinary.
On another dog of ours we found the tiniest lump on his neck and took him to the vet only to find out he had cancer. Since we caught it early he underwent treatment and survived and lived many years after.
Our dogs are part of our family and should be treated as such.
Thanks for the great info.
Hi Maureen, I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and I’m so glad you found the posts informative. That’s a great “ritual” you have going – takes seconds but, in your case, those seconds literally saved your dog’s life. Thanks for sharing that, and hopefully others reading this will incorporate that into their dog’s daily routine.
Thank you for such an informative post! I’ll be sure to remember to watch out for these things as my dog gets older.
On another note, what breed was Josephine? She looks exactly like my dog, who is a mutt, and so I’ve never seen a dog who looks so much like her before!
You’re very welcome. I love writing about senior dogs and how to care for them. It’s nice to know my experience is helping others. I don’t know exactly what Josephine was. We adopted her as quite an old lady, and of course the shelter staff didn’t know. They just referred to her as a Shih Tzu – but who knows what else was in there. Interestingly enough, I got a DNA kit to test her, but never did.
The rescue agency I adopted my dog from said Shih Tzu too! I’ve also been told she could be part Maltese. The mystery for me lies in the fact that her fur never gets as long as either of those breeds.
Maybe I’ll try one of those DNA kits!
Hi Samantha, First of all, so nice to hear you adopted your dog. There are so many dogs I’ve seen that are called Shih Tzus, but they all look different! Josephine’s fur never grew much either. I think there was a reason I was considering a DNA test, but I don’t recall now, or it might have been sheer curiosity. To be honest, I don’t much care what breed I get, as long as the dog needs a home, but I must admit, sometimes I’d just like to know. Red (the dog in most of my posts) is a Chihuahua/Min Pin (I say that because she looks exactly like a Min Pin, with the shortness of a Chihuahua). However, I’m convinced there’s Rhodesian Ridgeback in her, although my husband laughs. She has that stripe going down her back. In her case, I’m tempted.
Both my Shih Tzu’s have gone blind, the male has also suffered severe hearing loss. They are siblings that i got from rescue group in Oklahoma. The female went blind over a period of time and has adjusted very well. The male seems to have went blind over night and is having trouble adjusting. It is probably made worse due to the hearing loss.
Hi Virgil, first let me say how sorry I am to hear that, but how wonderful you chose to rescue. I understand what you’re saying about the boy having a hard time when it’s so sudden, and he’s having trouble hearing. We rescued a Shih Tzu that was deaf and could see shadows. In a split second, it seemed, what little sight she had disappeared and she literally cried for a week. It was heartbreaking to witness, but she did get through it eventually. What did the vet say? Is there anything you can do for him?
There is nothing that can be done. I carried my female, Fiona, to a pet Optomoligest in Tulsa, he said that Fiona had genetic retinitis and that there was nothing that could be done. My male, Rocko, probably has the same condition. Fiona has a small amount of far vision, Rocko is totally blind. They are 11 years old, so they should have a few more years. I will be here for them no matter what happens.
You’re all very lucky to have found each other.
I am devastated about my teacup chiwahwah going blind from cataracts she turned 14 this yr but she’s gradually loozing her sight other then at a sudden moment I still send her to her bed at night right by me so I haven’t changed anything in that respect but still give her the same attention an love as I always have but o have to leAve her to go to work but she sleeps most of that time I’m away so am I doing the right thing by her by still treating her as always
Hi Brittany, I’m so sorry for what’s going on with your pup. Have you been to an eye specialist to see if anything can be done? Of course you should give her the same love and attention as before, just take care about things on the floor she can trip on. If you’ve seen this article you may have found others in my vision and hearing loss section that will help. Do you have anyone that can take your dog out when you’re at work? Can a friend or neighbour sit with her to keep her company?