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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Any vets about or those who know about dog eyesight?

4 replies

rainbowinthesky · 10/10/2010 09:13

Hi
Our dog was very ill a couple of years ago with lung worm disease, nearly died but seemingly made a full recovery. He is very well behaved, comes when called stays close to us, doesnt go up to people, will 50 50 go up to say hello to other dogs off lead.

Every so often it's like when he is ahead of us it's like he loses us and charges forward as if he were looking for us and couldnt find us. If he can hear me call he'll come back but if the wind is blowing the wrong way he'll keep on till eventually I'm in calling distance or I get his attention. He then comes running aback.

Until a few days ago we had two dogs (lost one very sadly). I've really noticed it now since walking him on his own. My mother came with and we did an experiment where she walked him off the lead a little way knowing he would want to come back to me. SHe let him off a short distance away and he came running back and would have ran right past me had I not called his name when he was running past me at a right angle. He then turned his head to my voice, changed direction and came running. Surely he should have been able to see me when he was running in my direction although not straight on??

We were warned he might have corneal scarring after his illness and wonder if he has tunnel vision.

Is there a simple test I could do at home? His eyes dont bother him with pain. We've had rather a lot of expenses recently with teh other dog and although both insured I know if there is an eye problem it wont be as preexisting condition etc etc.
If he does need to go of course I'll take him but he has lived like this very happily for 2 1/2 years.

OP posts:
beautifulgirls · 10/10/2010 10:38

Sight testing in dogs is unfortunately not a very accurate science like it is for humans. If only one eye is suspected of being a problem then you can bandage over the head isolating each eye in turn and see if that makes any difference. You can set a little obstacle course for him to navigate and see
how he gets on but pretty much you have done that sort of thing with your mum.
You can test whether there is any sight by dropping a piece of cotton wool infront of him and seeing if he notices - no sound to it, and don't touch him with it then you get a true picture if he responds.

The good news is that most dogs adapt very well to poor or no eyesight. They adjust to using sound and memory, and use their whiskers to help navigate when they are unsure. It is likely you are noticing more when you are out right now as he doesn't have the other dog to listen to (would have likely heard his footsteps around) and obviously just the whole routine is probably taking a bit of adjusting to for him as well - sorry for the loss of your other dog.

rainbowinthesky · 10/10/2010 11:13

Thanks beautifulgirls. He does manage fine with it. Also my mother pointed out he doesnt run in a straight line but sideways - a bit like a crab. Would that be unusual and/or connected in anyway or are we reading too much into it?

OP posts:
rainbowinthesky · 10/10/2010 11:14

We were somewhere different yesterday as we couldnt use the car with the other dog but can now so are going to different places. Before we were limited to the same walks.

OP posts:
beautifulgirls · 10/10/2010 20:52

Hard to say - if he does have better vision in some parts of the normal field of vision then he will probably head towards that direction I guess but very hard to be sure. Being elsewhere may well explain some of it, but not a reason not to go there so long as he seems happy and is coping ok.

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