Living With a Blind Dog

There is no reason at all why blind dogs can’t live a happy, comfortable, and fulfilling life. There are a few things that you can do though, that will help your dog, despite his blindness, live a long and happy life.

• Talk to your dog often throughout the day, and include your normal commands to him such as “come, stay, down, and sit.” Apart from your voice being reassuring to him, it will help to guide him too, to get around with confidence.

• Don’t move furniture around if you can help it. Blind dogs form a mental picture of their surroundings, and changing the position of the furniture in your home will completely disorientate him. Make sure too, to always keep his bedding and bowls in the same place.

• Clip a small bell around your wrist or to a belt loop. This will help your dog to find you, and prevent him from becoming distressed

• Create a “roadway” for your dog, by placing carpet runners on the floor in your home.

• If you have stairs, then make it easier for him to navigate them, by installing carpets on your stairway. Help him to build confidence by leading him gently up the stairs with his favorite treat, while supporting his mid-section with your other hand.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can help your blind dog live a happy and contented life. As soon as he gets used to a routine, and has formed a mental picture of your home, he will get around just like any other seeing dog would, and do it so well in fact, that guests will probably not even be aware that he is blind.

Why Do Dogs Go Blind?

Many dogs will gradually become blind as they get older, and this is often for the same reasons as humans. Dogs can get things like cataracts and macular degeneration, both of which will reduce their eyesight. 

Some dogs might also develop glaucoma, which can also result in blindness, and which can happen earlier than some other types of age related blindness in dogs. 

Some dogs might lose their eyesight because of physical damage to their eyes or even brain damage that affects the optical nerve and image processing center of the brain. 

In some cases though, dogs are born blind or partially sighted, and that's often simply a genetic or congenital defect.