Is Your Pet Suffering From Vision Loss?

Pet owners are usually pretty vigilant when it comes to noticing changes in their pets’ behaviors, but sometimes they will miss the signs of vision loss in pets, writing them off as silly or a weird habit.

Dr. Susan Carastro, a prominent veterinary ophthamologist in South Florida, noted that the biggest sign of animal vision loss is when “they have a more difficult time navigating the environment without making mistakes.”

“Pets will slow down, be more cautious in their steps, or become less playful,” Dr. Carastro told Newsmax Health. “They may trip, stumble, and have an overall harder time getting around. Some pets may even bump into walls or fall into pools.”

Once the owner recognizes the signs, the first thing they should do is “get the diagnosis.” By finding out what’s causing the vision loss problems, the owner and veterinarian can begin the necessary steps to try and help Fido.

Many times, vision loss can be improved, but in other cases, it can only be prevented from getting worse.

Dr. Carastro also mentioned that certain breeds of animals are more likely to have vision loss issues.

“Pekingese dogs, like pugs and Shih Tzu’s, are much more prone to corneal injuries,” she explained, noting that, “In these breeds, common signs of vision loss include squinting and even rubbing their eyes.”

The most important thing, according to Dr. Carastro, is to be on the lookout for symptoms. Dogs and cats can develop eye diseases, just like people do, and so it is important not to pass over any concerns or gut feelings.

“If you have a feeling that there might be something wrong, act on it… Dogs can’t wear glasses.”