Retina detachment

[Onesaddog]

Hello! My little dog got some sort of eye infection (bloods not clear what) which caused eye inflammation, retina detachment and sudden blindness. He’s been on antibiotics and steroids for the past 10 days and his retina has reattached (on its own, no surgery) but his vision has not improved. Vet says likelihood is that the retina has degenerated and sight won’t return but googling (I know!) suggests that it can take time for the sight to come back after retinal reattachment. Has anyone experienced anything similar? He’s only fairly young and whilst I know he will adjust currently seems so sorry for himself. Wondering if there is any hope!

Sorry to add, it’s both eyes affected

I can't answer the question about whether the sight will come back, but I can tell you that he will cope just fine once he gets used to it. I have known three totally blind dogs, and one of my previous dogs lost hearing in old age - every single one of them adapted perfectly. Dogs compensate by using other senses, and in all honesty sight is probably the one they "need" least as a pet. My advice is to not "pander" - every dog in the world can feel sorry for themselves if they think there's a benefit to it. My dog is starving every night at bedtime, poor thing, he looks like he will expire from lack of food - until his treat comes out! Try to keep things as normal as possible and he will learn new ways to manage his life. Then if he does get an improvement it will be a bonus.

Ahh thank you. My previous dog got cataracts but she was elderly with many other health issues so it was expected and also gradual. My current dog is still young and it’s happened so suddenly. I know you’re right though. I need to not humanise him and yes haha definitely not pander (which is totally what I’m doing)

Yeah I know, its tempting to pander isn't it? That's about making ourselves feel better about it, not the dog! I have a service dog, so obviously highly trained, but he is (a) still the hardest done to dog in the world and (b) able to limp for England when there is literally nothing wrong with him!

Dog eyesight is very different from ours - we rely on eyesight for many things that dogs simply don't. Their more restricted daylight sight is poor compared to ours, but they can see much better in low light - an adaptation for hunting, rather than working out where the food bowl went.

You don't mention what breed the dog is, but perhaps start playing some scent games - especially good if they are food motivated - hiding high value food around so that they are encouraged to explore using other senses in familiar settings. Outside, if they have the "fetch" instinct, they can fetch familiar toys by scent. My dog loves a game of frisbee but if he occasionally loses track of it I know he can't see it in grass (colour blindness) but he runs in circles until he smells it, which is just as much fun in his book.

If you have a look on line there are loads of sites with advice and games for dogs with sight blindness. It opens up a whole new vista of things for you and your companion.

He’s a jack russell - is very food and toy orientated, that’s all great advice thank you

Totally disagree with previous poster. Dogs do cope extremely well with losing their hearing - eyesight is much harder for them to deal with.

They will walk into things, many dogs initially will make their world smaller by only moving about in areas that they are very familiar with.

The will need support from their owner and people that they spend time with them.

Basic things like not moving furniture and leaving things in the dogs way must be avoided.

Putting textured mats before steps will help your dog know where they are.

Pad sharp corners of furniture or corners etc.

Depends how you define pandering to a dog but personally I will be supporting the dog I will be making sure the area is safe for my dog and I will make sure that the dog has a safe area that they can move in. So yes I will pander to their changing needs.

OP I do hope your dog gets their sight back but there are many ways you can help them, but it will take time and support.

Thank you, this is all helpful advice.

If anyone has experienced anything similar though with retinal detachment, any insight would be appreciated. We have had great advice from vets on helping our dog adjust and as I mentioned have had a blind dog before. I really just wanted to know if anyone had gone through something like this before, the info online about how long it can take for dogs sight to return is mixed and I guess I’m trying to figure out if there is still any chance of it happening

We did have a dog that had retinal re-attachment surgery and his sight in that eye seemed good after surgery. He only had it on the one eye so was blind in the other eye. He had surgery with Veterinary Vision Centre.

My previous Labrador lost his sight between five and six years old from progressive retinal atrophy. He adjusted brilliantly, though it was a gradual decline. But he knew four sets of relations' houses and a selection of holiday cottages we visited more than once. Then we moved house and he took that in his stride.

Don't sit with your feet stretched out and doors should be either fully open or fully closed.