How to Take Care of a Dog Who Has Gone Blind
Dogs, like people, typically develop poor eyesight as they age—and, like you, they require a “seeing eye” to help them see clearly again.
Dogs that are losing their vision (or who have already lost their sight) can provide a unique set of issues for their owners and their entire family.
However, losing one’s vision does not necessarily imply a reduction in one’s quality of life, especially for pet parents who are ready to adapt their approach to caring for their canine companion.
Causes that are frequently encountered by blind dogs
Dogs can become blind for a variety of reasons, ranging from illness to old age.
Cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, and suddenly acquired retinal degeneration (also known as SARDS) are some of the most prevalent causes of blindness in canines.
Certain breeds and sexes of dogs are also more prone to blindness than other types of dogs.
Female dogs in their middle years, for example, are more susceptible to SARDS, which causes blindness in a matter of minutes. The condition is also more prevalent in some breeds of dogs, according to a study published by PetMD.
These breeds include Dachshunds, tiny schnauzers, and mutts, among others. While cataracts are more prevalent in some breeds of dogs, they are more common in others.
Miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, golden retrievers, Boston terriers, and Siberian huskies are all examples of breeds that are more prone to cataracts.
Beta-Carotene is a kind of vitamin A.
The health of your dog is dependent on his diet, which can aid in the preservation of his eyesight in some situations. However, there is now no proven treatment or method to prevention for SARDS and comparable vision-impairing disorders.
Beta carotene, on the other hand, can improve a dog’s vision.
According to Pet360, certain foods that are good for you and your dogs, such as carrots and cantelope, have been shown to improve a dog’s vision and minimize the likelihood of cataracts developing in the future. Look for dog food that contains beta carotene in the ingredients list — such as Hill’s® Science Diet® — to supplement your dog’s diet.
The type of veterinary care your dog may require will differ based on what is causing his blindness.
In addition to beta carotene, your veterinarian may recommend that you take your pet to a veterinary ophthalmologist, which may be more expensive than standard care.
An excellent place to begin your search for this specialist is an internet directory maintained by your country’s professional veterinary ophthalmology association, such as the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO).
Living with a Blind Dog is a unique experience.
The adoption of blind and visually impaired dogs from various shelters is the focus of several volunteer organizations that are dedicated to assisting the visually impaired.
If you have a blind or visually challenged dog, you can seek assistance from one of these volunteer organizations for guidance. Listed below are some useful pointers to get you started:
Put tags or bells on other animals in the house that jingle or make sounds — and try wearing one yourself — so that your blind dog can tell where his friend is when he is apart from him.
Educate your dog on instructions such as “watch,” as recommended by the organization Best Friends Animal Society, to alert him when he’s approaching a hazard.
If you want to educate him to recognize when he is in front of a flight of stairs, you may use the word “step.”
Consider getting down on your dog’s level to search for items in your home that could be harmful to him.
Table corners with sharp edges, for example, could cause injury to your dog if he approaches too rapidly.
Put together a regimen for him that includes everything from getting out of his bed to going to his food, going out the back door, and napping in his favourite area.
Keep these paths clear of any obstructions to make it easier for him to move throughout the area if possible.
It is possible that you will need to keep him on a leash when taking him outside so that you can direct him to his favourite potty areas. After some time, his other senses will become stronger, and he will be able to perform this habitual action alone.
Assist him in maintaining his physical activity. Just though your dog is vision handicapped does not rule out the possibility of him having fun and playing.
With a leash, you can assist your dog in the same way that a seeing-eye dog would assist a visually impaired human.
Make sure to keep the leash as short as possible so that you can better direct him where he should go. It’s also wonderful to let him sniff about and get a sense of his environment through his sense of scent.
It’s a tiny gesture, but it’s one that he’s likely to notice and enjoy. You can also provide a hand in the game.
Ensure that he has access to an open, safe place where he can run around freely, such as a backyard, and engage in fetch games with dog toys that produce noise.
He will ultimately be able to track down the ball using his senses of smell and hearing, and when you call for him to bring it back, he will use those same senses to return to you.
There is little doubt that the treatment of blindness in dogs will necessitate a significant amount of time and effort. However, with love and time, both of you will be able to acclimatize to this natural state.
Because your dog’s vision has diminished, this does not imply that his overall quality of life has been compromised. Continue to shower him with the same affection and love that you have always shown him, and he will repay the favour.
Fact-Finding:
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