Caring for blind dog: 6 Strategies to Care for a Blind Dog

6 Strategies to Care for a Blind Dog

Portrait of bulldog with blind eye

Credit: yulkapopkova / Getty

Blindness in dogs can come on gradually or completely out of the blue depending on the cause. Either way, learning that your dog is suffering from vision loss can be heartbreaking. If you’ve stumbled upon this article, the odds are your mind is swirling with questions about what this means for your dog’s quality of life and for you as a caretaker.

If you are thinking of adopting a dog that has experienced vision loss or impairment, or the dog you already have at home has an accident or condition that has led to some form of blindness, it’s important to understand how the care you provide your pet will need to change. Read on to learn more about how to spot the early signs of blindness and what you can do to help your pup cope with their new impairment.

Signs of Blindness in Dogs

The first signs a dog is going blind that you may notice can be physical abnormalities or changes in your dog’s behavior.

Physical Changes

• Cloudy eyes
• Spots in the eye
• Pupils don’t dilate normally
• Swelling or redness around the eyes

Behavioral Changes

• Bumping into things more frequently
• Anxiety in new environments or when approached
• Less interest in activities they used to get excited about
• Not making eye contact
• Avoidance of stairs and furniture

The best way to find out if your dog is truly visually impaired or going blind is to promptly seek veterinary care for an evaluation and testing when you notice any abnormalities with your dog’s eye(s) or signs of vision loss. Many causes of vision loss can be halted before the dog goes completely blind, or even reversed.

6 Helpful Strategies for Living With and Caring for a Blind Dog

If the case is that your pet’s vision likely cannot be restored, your vet can provide you with ideas to help your dog cope with their changing senses and equip you with the information you need to adapt your own lifestyle to properly care for your dog. As you work on altering your pet’s care, here are a few solutions to keep in mind.

1. Create a Predictable Environment

One of the best things you can do for your dog who’s recently suffered from vision loss is create a familiar environment, according to Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVM, at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service and co-founder of Dog Nerds. For starters, that means you should avoid changing the floor plan of the house. This will allow your blind dog to roam the house without feeling anxious about getting hurt. Over time, with some trial and error, your pup will memorize where everything is and be able to avoid any hazards.

Next, make sure that their food and water bowl is kept in the same place so that they can easily access it at all times. Use textured mats and rugs to mark locations your dog needs to pay attention to, such as where his food and water bowls are or areas near obstacles. Introducing these tools now will let your dog get used to them so he can rely on them as his vision deteriorates.

Practice tidiness. No more shoes or bags left in the middle of the floor! Keep walkways and areas where your dog frequently goes clear and free of trip hazards.

Make sure that stairways are well lit, and turn lights on when your dog is moving through the house or up and down stairs at night. In the early stages of blindness, many dogs lose their night vision but can still see in well-lit areas. Another trick is to use glow-in-the-dark tape to mark potential hazards such as a step in a doorway or to outline commonly used items such as doorways or the ramp your dog uses to get on the bed.

Remember puppy proofing your home? It’s time to do that again, but this time focus on blind dog safety. Add baby gates at the top of staircases to prevent your dog from falling, move sharp objects or furniture that he might stumble into, and lift, move, or tape down cords that he could trip on. Add barriers or a textured rug next to floor-to-ceiling windows or sliding glass doors to signal their presence to your dog, as he may think they are open doorways if he can see the light but not the glass.  

2. Communicate Effectively

It’s important that you communicate with your dog frequently, Radosta suggests. “Use scents, your voice, and other sounds to help your dog know where he is in space,” she says. Listening to your voice will help your pup figure out where you are and soothe them in stressful situations.

Develop and practice verbal cues for your dog to let him know when a person is approaching, a door is opening, or he is getting close to a step. You can also teach him left and right to help with navigating around obstacles on walks. Introducing these cues while he still has some or most of his vision will make the training process easier, and mean that he is already familiar with them when he goes fully blind.

3. Keep Your Blind Dog Safe from Outside Dangers

Keep in mind that your dog will be at risk for certain dangers after losing his vision. Your pup may not be able to detect oncoming traffic or other threats as well as he used to, so you’ll need to be on the lookout to help him avoid those dangers.

When taking your blind furry companion for a walk, stick to the same route so that he can familiarize himself with the path and know what directions to take. You might also want to invest in a blind dog harness, which will let others know that your dog can’t see, especially when you’re out on a walk. The contraption is equipped with a halo that prevents your pup from bumping into hard surfaces. Once he gets used to it, the harness can help increase your dog’s confidence while being mobile.

Out in the yard, fill in holes and remove sharp objects. Make sure to monitor your dog at all times and practice good recall with verbal cues so you can guide him away from any dangers or put him on a leash if needed while you work on these skills.

4. Other Pets and Animals

Because your dog can no longer see, he is going to miss body language and visual signals that other animals give him. This can sometimes cause problems when interacting with other dogs. Always supervise interactions with a new or unreliable dog closely. If you have any doubts about how either dog will respond, keep them separate.

In some cases a sighted pet may take on the role of seeing-eye-dog for your visually impaired dog. These friendships are truly special to witness.

5. Provide Enrichment Opportunities

Blind dogs can still have fun! While fetch is not the safest game for a visually-impaired dog, your pup can still enjoy a rousing game of tug or parade around the house making a racket with a squeaky toy. Your dog will be able to seek out his favorite toys by sniffing for them.

Add scent-based games into your play routine. Play hide-and-seek in a familiar environment, or hide treats or a favorite toy for your dog to find.

Your blind dog will still enjoy training time, too. Teaching new tricks and behaviors may require you to get creative in your training method, as your dog won’t be able to see hand signals, body language, or a lure. Experiment with clicker training and shaping, and teach verbal cues for behaviors that your dog already knows from a hand signal from his sighted life, if applicable.

6. Practice Patience

While taking care of your blind dog definitely takes work and time, the extra effort now will be worth it in the long run. You may sometimes feel frustrated with your dog’s clumsiness or confusion, but remember that he is doing his best. Most dogs adjust to their new normal very quickly and thrive in a familiar environment. A bit of patience and love goes a long way in making sure they live a happy and fulfilled life, and these special pups are so worth it.

18 helpful tips for caring for a blind dog

On the list of things that are important to dogs, you might find family, treats and toys — in no particular order. Their vision, or rather the loss of it, will likely be in the “no big deal” category.

“It’s more traumatic to us as an owner and as a pet parent than it is to the animal,” says Dr. Tammy Miller Michau, a board-certified ophthalmologist with BluePearl Veterinary Partners. “They care about things such as, are they with you? Are they being fed? Are they in a safe, warm environment? If they are, they can live very happy lives, even with a loss of vision. ”

Signs your dog may be losing vision

If your dog’s vision is on the decline, you may notice:

• Increased clumsiness

• Difficulty finding toys

• Your dog gets startled easily

• Cloudiness and/or red blood vessels in the eyes

• Noticeable eye pain

• Lower energy levels

If you see these signs, Dr. Miller suggests asking your vet to recommend a veterinary ophthalmologist for a consultation. Vision loss due to conditions like cataracts or glaucoma can sometimes be repaired or slowed through medical treatment or surgery, according to Dr. Miller.

If your older dog doesn’t romp around as much as they used to, it might actually be because they don’t see as well as they used to, she says.

“The fact is, a lot of times it can be related to their vision,” says Dr. Miller. “And if you can restore their vision or improve their vision, they act like they’re younger again.”

If you have a definitive diagnosis of vision loss from a vet that can’t be fixed, don’t worry, because your dog wouldn’t want you to. Given some time and assistance, your dog will learn to compensate by using other senses like hearing, smell and touch — all of which are already very keen in our canine friends.

Here are 18 tips for helping your blind buddy navigate life at home and outdoors.

1. Give your dog a safe zone.

It’s important to establish an area that’s cozy and safe — like a retreat for your blind pet.

“Have a comfortable, safe spot for your pet to be. A large soft-padded bed is helpful to keep them comfortable,” suggests Dr. Amber Andersen, a veterinarian and the medical director and owner of Redondo Veterinary Medical Center in Redondo Beach, California.

2. Talk to your dog frequently.

Your dog is already your most trusted confidant, so having regular conversations with your blind pooch will be even more important. The sound of your voice can help him figure out where he is. Use your voice to get his attention before touching him so you don’t scare or startle him.

3. Keep a consistent routine.

”Having a daily routine is very helpful,” suggests Sarah Conner of Atlanta, Georgia, who adopted her dog, Murphy, when he was already blind. “I took him to the same parks and on the same walking routes. He loved going to parks.”

4. Let others know your dog is blind.

Get a shirt, bandana or vest for your dog that reads “I’m blind” to wear on walks. Tell people about your dog’s condition so they approach slowly and let the dog sniff them first. Also, get a tag for your dog’s collar that says “I’m blind” in case it ever gets lost.

5. Create location cues.

If your foyer has a distinct rug, it could be a cue your blind dog will remember.

”I used a carpet runner on well-traveled parts of the home. Farfel could feel the floor and use it to correct his course if he got lost,” explains Sarah Lammie of Chicago, Illinois, whose dog lost his vision to glaucoma.

6. Dog-proof your home.

Get down on all fours and crawl around your home looking for hazards, such as things they could dangerously bump into or fall from. Put corner protectors on sharp furniture and baby gates at the tops of stairs until your dog can safely maneuver staircases.

7. Always keep food and water in the same place.

Once your dog has learned where his food is, it will be easier for him to return to it — and it will become another location cue.

“We always kept his food and water bowls in the same spot,” Conner says.  

8. Use scents during activities.

A dog is a dog, so he can still fetch! Therefore, you can and should engage in active play with him or her. Rub a dog treat or put a small drop of essential oil on a dog toy before throwing it to help your pooch find it and choose an open, safe area for him to play in.

9. Walk your blind dog through the house.

You can help your dog create a house roadmap.

“Leashing the dog and walking him around will help him familiarize and navigate through the house,” Andersen says.

10. Try a new water dish.

A fountain-style dog bowl that constantly circulates water is practical for a blind dog because it makes noise. The sound of running water will help your dog more easily find it.

11. Leave the television on.

Even pets who haven’t lost their sight enjoy ambient noise. Keeping a TV or radio on while you’re gone not only orients your dog to different rooms of the house, it also reduces feelings of loneliness.

12. Choose toys that make noise.

Toys that give treats, squeak, talk or make noise are especially rewarding for blind dogs.

“Our dog loved Kongs and could still work the food out of them; he even taught another puppy how to do it when he was blind,” says Lammie.

13. Create sounds around your house.

Attach small bells to your shoes or to other pets’ collars to help your dog hear you moving about the house. This is helpful until he is more familiar with listening to the sounds of footsteps and vibrations from movement.

14. Don’t change the floor plan.

Once you have arranged the furniture in a room in a way that’s safe for your dog and allows for ease of movement, try not to change it again.

“Keeping everything in place will help prevent disorientation and injury,” Andersen says.

15. Use textured rugs in your house.

Place rugs or floor mats of different textures near the outside doors and at the top and bottom of the steps. This will help your dog learn these locations.

16.

Keep the floor clear of objects.

Tidiness must now be your strong suit. Toys, shoes, clothes or other objects on the floor quickly become tripping hazards for a blind dog, so keep the areas he frequents most free of clutter.

17. Try a blind dog “halo.”

There are several companies that manufacture circular halos that are worn on a harness or vest, surrounding the blind dog’s head and face. It works by bumping into furniture or other obstructions before your dog does. Dr. Miller says these can be reassuring for blind dogs.  

18. Introduce new commands to increase safety.

Teach your dog important words like “step up,” “step down,” “left,” “right,” “danger” or “stop” to help him navigate the inside and outside world in the safest way possible.

Above all, don’t forget to treat your pooch just like you would any other beloved pet, because that’s what he is first and foremost.

9 tips for living with blind dogs

On International Blind Dog Day, our RSPCA animal life magazine editor, Hannah Doyle shares fond memories of her dog Dave – and offers advice on caring for blind and visually challenged pets.

Could our dog be going blind?

The first sign that something was wrong came one evening as my husband and I sat watching TV. Our beloved dog Dave positioned himself in front of us and barked. And barked. And barked.

A seven-year-old miniature dachshund with a big personality, attention-seeking wasn’t unusual. However, on this occasion, nothing would satisfy him. Not a trip outside, a treat, his favourite chew or even fuss and attention. Something was distressing him, but we couldn’t tell what…

The next morning as I took him for his walk, more worrying signs appeared. His normal enthusiastic walk was a slow, nose-to-the-ground shuffle. He kept veering off the path and a couple of times walked straight into bushes. Something was definitely amiss.

Fearing an inner ear infection that was affecting his balance (or worse, a brain tumour), I took him to our vet. The first thing she did was grab a handful of cotton wool balls and drop them, one after the other, in front of Dave’s little face. At this point I was baffled, but I stood by, hopeful.

Our vet referred us for urgent eye tests

“I think it’s his eyes,” she announced. “He’s not following the movement. He can’t see.”
Panic rising, I watched as our vet examined Dave further with a torch and using various other tricks to assess if he was responding visually. He wasn’t.

She phoned and made an urgent referral to a veterinary hospital in the next county, which had eye specialists. Two days later, I watched as the specialist took Dave into a darkened room for a full assessment. I cried as she brought him back with the news.

He was completely blind. He couldn’t see shapes or shadows, just blackness. The change was likely to have happened very quickly, over a matter of days. Now I understood what that barking had been about. He’d been confused and frightened, trying to tell us that something, suddenly, was wrong.

Dave was diagnosed with SARDS, Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. It’s a rare and incurable condition but one that is seen more commonly in certain breeds of dogs – dachshunds being one of them.

My vet really helped to advise us on caring for a blind dog

I’m grateful to my brilliant vet for quickly recognising the signs and knowing what to do – and for her ongoing care over the following years. “Brilliant,” she told me as Dave and I walked into her surgery for a check-up a few weeks later. “You’re not carrying him. That’s so important, well done.”

From the start, she assured me that the diagnosis was a lot more difficult for my husband and I to take on board than it was for Dave. For dogs, smell and hearing are far more important senses than sight. I should encourage independence and resist the urge to baby him while taking every care to make his life comfortable – and so we did.

My then three-year-old twin boys practised crawling around our flat with blindfolds on so they could see what life would be like for their pet. We created a cosy, covered den for him to relax in – although that didn’t stop him fearlessly climbing and sleeping in precarious locations, like the arm of the sofa.

Walks became a little slower and we stuck to open, flat ground. He seemed more happy on-lead, knowing that I was always close by. Being blind didn’t stop his sense of adventure though and he loved to steal my sons’ football and chase it until it burst.

I remember a particularly hot day when he took himself into the Thames for a swim! Most people we met had no idea he couldn’t see and at times he was so capable we forgot, too. 

Lovely Dave crossed the rainbow bridge, as they say, in 2015. What a special place he’ll have in our hearts forever though. What lessons he taught everyone who knew and adored him, about the resilience of our canine companions.

Tips for caring for a blind or visually impaired dog

Unsure of what to do if your dog is going blind or is blind? Here are a few tips I picked up through books, vet advice, talking to other blind-dog owners, and trial and error:

1. Don’t move the furniture around at home. Your dog will quickly make a mind and scent map and be able to get around – unless you change things.  
2. Get down on all fours and crawl around looking for hazards, like sharp edges. It’s a bit like baby-proofing your home (in fact, baby gates at the top of stairs are a great idea).
3. Use your voice and talk to him all the time. You’ll need new commands like, “careful” and “step up” and “step down” to teach dogs when a kerb is coming.
4. Leave a radio on in the same place, especially if you go out. He can use the sound to orientate himself.
5. Have a collar or tag made that states that he’s blind. That way, should he get lost, whoever finds him will know that he’s blind.
6. Update his microchip information, too.
7. You can also get leads, coats or bandanas that say ‘Blind dog’ or similar, to alert others.
8. Falconry bells are useful out on walks – you carry them – so your dog always knows where you are. Or if you have other dogs, one of them could wear them. 
9. Don’t forget your dog will still love to play – get some noisy toys and try scent work.

Coping with blindness and sight issues in dogs

Caroline Allen, our Chief Veterinary Officer (who also has a blind dog, Tilly), advises:

1. Like humans, dogs can be affected by sight-limiting conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma and infections. Although eyesight can deteriorate in old dogs, don’t assume that any deterioration in vision is ‘just due to their age’ as it can be a sign of other problems. Equally, early treatment can reverse vision loss in some situations and so always speak to your vet if you have any concerns.
2. Other conditions that can cause blindness include diabetes, tumours or brain disease.
3. SARDs is a rare condition that causes sudden and irreversible blindness due to changes in the retina. It’s diagnosed by an electroretinography (ERG). It’s not known what causes it, although recently it’s been suggested that the condition is caused by a malfunctioning immune system and that SARDs is an auto-immune disease.
4. Signs your dog may be experiencing problems with their eyesight include disorientation; bumping into walls or furniture; pacing aimlessly or standing in one place looking lost. They may also be reluctant to use stairs or move much at all.
5. If in any doubt, take your dog to a vet who can organise the necessary tests. You should see your vet urgently if you think your dog has become suddenly blind.
6. As long as any underlying disease is managed, most dogs adjust well to blindness over a period of six to eight weeks. It’s very possible for a blind dog with a caring owner to have an excellent quality of life.

Blind dog Paddy and his guide share a unique friendship

Meet Paddy, a blind dog, and his best friend and guide Sheva.

How to take care of a blind dog?

If you notice any signs that your dog is losing sight, you should consult your veterinarian immediately.

Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes, which can be caused by several causes, such as glaucoma, corneal diseases, cancer, eye trauma, retinal diseases, etc. If your dog has lost his sight, he will need special care so that he can live a long and happy life. Dogs, like humans, adapt to blindness so the dog should be taught to rely on its other senses.

Blind Shiba Inu

Dogs live in a world of smells, so their sense of smell is the most developed sense. The hearing of dogs is incredibly acute compared to humans. They can hear sounds over a wider range of frequencies and from a greater distance than we can. Guard and guard dogs use their hearing, along with their sense of smell, to detect possible intruders, sometimes even at great distances.

At home, you will need to help your pet adjust to his new blind world. Follow these tips:

Be patient. Pets disoriented by the sudden onset of blindness may take several weeks to adjust to the condition. Pets that lose their sight gradually do much better as they have time to adjust to the loss of sight. It’s amazing how well pets adapt to blindness. Very often, owners discover that their pet is blind only after they buy new furniture or move into a new home, noticing that their pet bumps into objects.

Since dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and hearing, they are much less dependent on sight than we think. For this reason, their lives can become almost the same after they adjust to blindness.

Be consistent. In the home, blind pets rely on their memory to help them navigate. The most important thing you can do for your dog is to keep things in the same order in the house as before. It’s important to be consistent. For example, do not move furniture. Instruct your children not to do this either. Do not place any objects on the places where your dog usually walks. For example, a pair of shoes or toys can be a problem for your blind pet if you leave them on the way to his bowl.

Return items to their proper places after you have taken them. For example, chairs moved from their usual places to the table for receiving guests. Pets can easily trip or hit these objects, which can cause injury or disorientation.

Provide a safe place for your dog to eat and rest. Do not move her bowls, especially with water, and a bed, keep toys in a certain place.

Do not try to move your dog from one place to another, as this may confuse him. If a blind dog will move to the place that he needs, he will be better oriented. At first, until the dog adapts, you can accompany him around the house.

If your pet seems “lost” or disoriented, encourage him with gentle words as you walk around the house. Talk to him, encouraging him to approach you, focusing on the voice. If the dog is “lost”, take it to the starting point to restart the route.

Many animals use the fine hairs on their muzzle (whiskers) and eyebrows (vibrissae) as antennae. These hairs are very sensitive, helping the animal to recognize objects and collect air currents. If your pet is blind, never trim these hairs so they can use them to detect and recognize objects.

Talk to your dog, use your voice to wake him up instead of touching him. Many blind animals are afraid of unexpected touches. Some dogs may bite out of fear.

Using a collar with a bell will help you to know the location of your dog.

Keep safe. It is important to provide a safe environment for a blind dog. Take a close look at your home:
1. Barrier off radiators and pool.
2. Isolate all sharp objects, especially if they are at the level of the animal’s eyes.
3. Keep your pet away from fireplaces, open stairs, balconies, and other potentially dangerous areas.
4. Make sure that your dog always has identification marks: a collar with an identification key fob, a brand, a microchip. After all, if a blind dog gets lost, it will not be able to find its way home on its own. On the keychain, note that the dog is blind.

Set a fixed place for bowls. Set a specific place for food and water bowls, and never change it! Make sure your dog can find his water bowl. Use a specific sound before feeding so your dog knows what’s coming and can focus on that sound. Feed her always at the same time.

Supervise the dog outside. Always accompany your dog on a walk outside on a leash, or have it fenced off if you have a private home. A blind dog is at great risk of being injured on the street, because he cannot detect danger and avoid it. You must be her eyes and carefully avoid objects that the dog can crash into.

Never let your blind dog walk outside without a leash. If you let him out for a walk in the garden, examine all fences, flower pots, bushes and trees for sharp objects that could injure the dog.

Stimulate the senses. Blind pets rely on their other senses to help them navigate their new surroundings. Their sense of smell, touch and hearing are sharpened. Help your dog by talking to him on a walk. Praise her if she is on the right path, warn her if there is danger ahead.

Toys with balls and bells inside, squeaky toys, and puzzle toys with treats inside are excellent sensory stimulation and good fun. Stimulate your dog’s sense of smell and touch by taking him out for fresh air and sunbathing frequently. Warm up your dog’s food a little to enhance the smell.

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Blind dog: features of care

When a dog is diagnosed with “blindness” (loss of vision in both eyes), owners often panic. Life with a disabled dog seems to them something terribly difficult, difficult and very sad.

However, dogs usually adapt well to the new conditions of their lives, dictated by the loss of vision. Therefore, you should not be especially upset, it is enough to slightly correct the care of your dog, and she will still be able to live a full and happy life.

Safety

The first thing you need to do is protect your dog from anything that could be harmful or even life threatening.

If you live in a private house, close all hatches, doors to cellars, cellars, cover ventilation openings with bars. All piercing, cutting and similar dangerous objects (thorny plants, metal structures, etc.) block or remove where the dog cannot reach. Unprotected exits to the terrace and balconies are also dangerous. If your house has a high foundation, fence it around the perimeter so that the dog cannot fall from a height. A lattice with a wide pitch of rods should be additionally covered with a mesh.

Always close the fireplace, oven, cabinet doors in your house or apartment. Particularly dangerous in this regard are all kinds of pantries, where preservation in glass containers, tools and other heavy or breakable things are often stored.

To avoid trouble, remove bulky but unstable vases, ceramic flower pots, electrical wires from the floor.

Look at your home through your dog’s eyes – anything that could injure him should be removed or securely covered.

Do not scare!

Dogs that have recently become blind (especially if the blindness has developed very quickly) may be frightened by unexpected loud and sharp sounds and touches. Don’t slam doors, don’t honk your horn near your dog, don’t rattle dishes, don’t turn on the music at full blast.

The buzzing of household appliances can also frighten the dog – try not to turn on the vacuum cleaner or blender in close proximity to the dog.

Carry out repair and construction work in the room from which the dog was previously taken.

If you like to cuddle and cuddle your dog, be careful about losing your sight. Unexpected touches may result in a bite. Of course, after a couple of seconds, the dog will understand by smell that there are “friends” in front of her, but the first reaction will be fear and defense. Therefore, before climbing to a blind dog with tenderness, talk to it, make sure that it has heard you (opened its eyes, wagged its tail), and then you can already pet and hug.

Memory instead of vision

Since your dog cannot see his food bowl or bed, he will use his memory to guide him. Do not disorientate her, move or rearrange her things.

Over time, a blind dog, even in a previously unfamiliar place, will begin to feel quite confident and move cheerfully.

Stimulate your hearing

If you have not been very talkative with your pet in the past, try to talk to your dog more often when he loses his sight. Your voice will be for her the same guide through the world that has become blind. When calling a dog to a bowl of food or to its place, or inviting you to play with you, do not limit yourself to a single “come” or “come to eat.” Talk to your dog all the time as he walks towards you, praise and encourage him for “error-free passage” – when the dog correctly chooses the door to the room where he needs to go, or goes around the corner of the sofa without touching it.

Add toys that squeak or make other sounds to your dog’s familiar toys. In a place that is safe for walking the dog (enclosed yard, fenced area), it is useful to play fetching with a ball with bells inside.

Constant monitoring

Do not stop taking your dog for a walk. Blindness is not a sentence to life in captivity without communication with their own kind. Just be extremely careful! Never let your dog off the leash outside. This can only be done in a place intended for walking, it is desirable that it be surrounded by a fence. If there is no fence, follow the dog. Studying the area, she can go out onto the road, turn into the yard, go into the nearest entrance, fall into an open hatch … The road is very dangerous for a blind dog. Do not let her walk freely close to roads or places where a car can suddenly appear (exits from yards, gates of enterprises, etc.)

Useful to read: Dog and the road: safety rules

Always put a collar on your dog with your contact numbers before going outside. If your blind dog is still lost, immediately start searching. In such cases, blindness plays against her health and life.

Good to read: What to do if the dog is lost

Photo dogtime.com

Walking stick for blind dogs

If you often move from place to place, or take your dog with you on holidays or guests, a special “cane” for blind dogs can become an indispensable thing for caring for your pet.

Structurally, a cane for blind dogs is a vest-jacket or harness for a dog, in which a semi-ring is built in, directed forward. The dog has the ability to “feel” objects without bumping into them with his muzzle.

This cane is indispensable for both energetic, young animals, who are used to actively exploring the world around them, and for calm, older dogs, for whom every collision with an obstacle on the way is a little stress.

As you can see, blindness in dogs is not as terrible as it might seem at first. Love, care and precautions taken are the main conditions for a long and happy life for your dog.

. And while they require a little more attention than animals without vision problems, being a good owner for a blind pet is easier than you think. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering getting a blind pet.

Blind dogs and cats

Some pets are born blind, others lose their sight due to injury or health problems. According to The Spruce Pets, the main cause is diseases that lead to loss of vision due to age-related conditions. These can be cataracts or macular degeneration, or diseases such as glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy.

Unfortunately, many pets end up in shelters after losing their eyesight because of the mistaken belief that they will now be too difficult to care for. But in fact, dogs and cats are animals that adapt easily, so they get used to living “without eyes” quite quickly. And they are generally just as easy to care for as any other pet. Don’t be afraid to get a blind dog or a blind cat – they can be a great addition to your family.

What you need to know if you decide to get a blind dog or cat

Before adopting any pet, it’s important to ask yourself questions that will help determine if the pet is right for your home and if you can provide the care it needs for its well-being. In addition to the standard questions to ask yourself before getting any dog ​​or cat, there are a few additional questions you can ask about a blind pet:

• What caused the loss of vision and is treatment required? You need to know if your pet will need specialized veterinary care, how much it will cost, and if you can afford it.

• If a pet’s vision is partially lost, will it get worse over time? Some types of visual impairment get worse over time. In this case, there is a chance that the pet’s vision will stabilize and will not lead to complete blindness.

• Does the pet know any special commands? Many owners of blind dogs find it helpful for their pets to know commands such as “stop” or “wait” so they can better navigate their environment.

• How well does the pet adapt to change? If you know how much change makes the animal nervous, you will understand whether your home will become a comfortable environment for him.

• What makes a pet tired or nervous? Even emotionally stable pets have their quirks and can get excited about certain sounds, smells, or textures. If you know what causes stress in your pet, you can properly prepare the house.

The shelter staff will definitely ask all the necessary and important questions about your options for caring for a blind animal. They will want to make sure that the pet fits the family just as well as the owners. It is important to answer the questions as truthfully as possible, because you need to be honest with yourself first of all in order to understand whether you can even care for a pet, let alone a blind one.

Home preparation for the arrival of a blind pet

Prepare the house before you bring your new pet there. The Save the Blind Dog recommends the following steps to prepare your home for the arrival of a blind dog or cat:

• Get down to pet level and walk around the house and yard looking for potential hazards. Remove items that your pet may trip over. Use bubble wrap or styrofoam to wrap sharp furniture edges and trim branches or bushes that could hurt you. Use pet-safe scented sprays to mark items your pet might stumble upon, but don’t use essential oils as many are toxic to pets, especially cats.

• Use child barriers to block exits on stairs, balconies, and other places that could create a fall hazard. On open verandas or terraces with wide railings that your pet can crawl through and fall through, it is better to stretch wire mesh or install fences so that he can enjoy the fresh air without the risk of falling.

• Place objects of various textures around the house and in the yard to help your pet navigate. For example, place a mat under the food and water bowls so that the animal knows that it is in the right place. A rug or textured rug in front of the steps leading into the house will let a blind pet know that it’s time to climb the stairs.

• Carefully consider the placement of items such as food and water bowls, bedding, aviary and litter box. They will serve as landmarks that will help the pet understand exactly where in the house he is. When the animal remembers where the items are, do not rearrange them. If you need to rearrange something, take your pet to a new place to show him where this item is now, and, if necessary, again secure sharp corners until he learns the situation.

• When your pet is exploring a new home, sprinkle dry food around to mark routes and help him navigate with his sense of smell.

Living with a Blind Pet

Once your pet has learned the layout of the house, it will most likely be able to navigate without too much difficulty. But here are a few more things you can do to make life easier for yourself and your blind friend:

• Hang bells on other pets, if you have them, so they don’t scare a blind pet. If you also wear a bell, it will be easier for him to find you. If the pet is small enough to get under your feet unnoticed, hang a bell on it too, because blind animals do not know when to move out of the way. This will make it easier for you not to step on it.

• Watch your new friend go up and down the stairs until it becomes a habit. Even after that, you should block the exit to the stairs with a barrier for safety reasons.

• Use the clicker to train your pet. If he does not yet know such commands as “stop”, “stand” or “ladder”, the clicker will help the pet learn to navigate in the surrounding space.

• If you don’t have other pets, you might consider adopting a sighted dog or cat as a companion for a blind pet. Even without special training, sighted animals instinctively begin to help their blind relatives navigate and avoid danger.

• Consider cage training a blind pet if you plan to leave it alone for extended periods of time, or lock it in a confined space when you leave.