A variety of diseases can cause blindness

Cats and dogs can adapt quite well to vision loss

This adaptation does take one to two months

There are ways you can make it easier for your pet to adapt

Causes of blindness

• retinal disease with no known treatment
  
• glaucoma for which some treatments are available but often with effects that are short-lived
  
• cataracts
  
• retinal detachments
  
• serious eye injuries
  
• variety of other diseases

Adapting to Vision Loss

• Vision in cats and dogs is quite different from ours. They have better night vision and peripheral vision than we do, but their ability to focus and see fine details is less developed. Also, they do not have well developed color vision.
  
• Our pets are less dependent on vision than we are. They utilize their senses of hearing and smell very efficiently. Because of this, loss of vision in cats and dogs is less traumatic compared to loss of vision in people.
  
• They will not feel sorry for themselves and usually adapt very well to the loss of vision. Pets that become blind seem to undergo a one to two month period of adaptation during which time many changes occur.
• They will bump into things and it can be a very difficult time for your pet and you. All of these signs will pass with time.
  
• Over 95% of blind pets readily memorize the layout of their home and yard and can function normally or near normally with poor or no vision. It does take time for them to learn to get around using their other senses. They will make very happy pets with some help from you to make their life a little easier.

Helpful Guidelines

Blind cats and dogs can have a good quality of life and make very happy pets as long as you follow these few guidelines:

• Memory is used to negotiate the house. Avoid changing the environment, such as moving furniture or food and water bowls. If your pet is placed in a new environment, give it time to adjust to the new surroundings. Be careful of stairways, open doors and objects that could injure your pet.
• Teach them to walk on a harness or lead so they can be exercised safely. Choke collars are discouraged.
• Encourage exercise, whether in a fenced yard or on a leash to prevent excessive weight gain. Never let your pet out without supervision unless in a fenced yard. Be careful of in-ground pools.
• Encourage them to use their other senses to compensate for vision loss. Buy noisy toys and toys that have a distinct, recognizable odor. Some people also get a companion animal that the blind pet can follow around using its hearing and smell.
• Some behavior changes (aggression, depression, fear) can sometimes be observed with sudden blindness. Avoid stressing or scaring blind pets. Instruct family members, especially children, to vocalize the pet’s name and approach it slowly. This fear usually passes with time, as the pet learns to adjust to blindness.
• Most causes of blindness are not painful so the quality of life of a blind pet is good. If pain is involved it will cause the pet to be depressed. Other signs to watch for are associated with changes in the appearance of the eye such as:
  • reddening of the white of the eye
    
  • increase in the size of the eye
    
  • a large amount of discharge from the eye
    
  • scratching or rubbing of the eye