Most dog owners want the best care for their canine friends. Their time with us seems short compared to our own lives, so giving them all our love and care become central while living with us. When it comes to caring for their eyes, most people never give it a second thought until we start to notice significant changes to their behavior.
Unless we take our friend to the veterinarian, how else can we check our dog’s eyesight? You can try using a standard eye chart by hanging it low on the wall and getting your dog to tap the floor with their paw — five times for the letter E – but this may be a challenge, even for a border collie (we kid, of course). But seriously, there are ways we can check our canine’s eyesight at home without incurring the expense of a veterinarian.
At one time, dogs were thought to see only in black and white; we now know that is not the case. Dogs actually see colors like yellow, blue, and grey in varying degrees, but to a much lesser extent than their human counterparts do. Checking their eyesight is not as difficult as it may seem, in fact, it can be similar to ways we check our own eyesight.
Start by relaxing your dog. If your dog is hyperactive, wait until they are tired. Hold your pooch gently by its ear in a bright light and take a close look at each eye. You want to look for scratches, cloudiness, obstructions, or anything that appears unordinary. Glaucoma, cataracts, and conjunctivitis are all problems dogs can develop and require immediate attention by a professional. If all looks fine, let’s move on to the next test.
Dogs see best in low light. They are predators by nature and are designed to function in low light settings. They also have great mapping skills and can memorize a room’s layout quickly so we have to come up with a way to fool them. It sounds rather cruel, but if you suspect your dog is losing its eyesight, the best way to check is to set up an obstacle course in a dark room. Use chairs, books, tables, whatever you have available, and place them in areas that your dog normally travels without obstruction. If your dog maneuvers these objects well, try again in a brightly lit room. Getting the same results in both lighting conditions mean that your dog has either great eyesight, or poor eyesight if they stumbled, or you just filled the room with so many objects no one could maneuver it without tripping over something.
If you suspect your canine friend did poorly on this test, it is best to have your veterinarian look at your dog’s eyesight. Do not leave it be or else serious, irreversible damage could occur. It is possible that you do not realize your dog has poor eyesight until you perform this test or take them to a new location and observe them stumbling around objects.
If you have a puppy, checking his eyesight is just as important as it is in an older dog. Get someone to hold the puppy and stand in front of them holding a favorite treat or toy in your hand. Hold the toy in front of your puppy at a distance of about 6 feet and slowly move it from side to side. Your puppy should follow it by turning its head. Any sign of impairment should bring about a trip to your vet for further testing.
Dogs are our best friends, and members of our family. They take care of us in ways no human could possibly do so why not take a few minutes to check your dog’s eyesight. Your furry companion may benefit from routinely taking a natural supplement that benefits eyesight; Ocu-GLO Rx vision supplement for dogs incorporates twelve different beneficial nutrients like Omega-3 and grape seed extract to strengthen this important sense. Consult with your veterinarian, and you may be pleasantly surprised in your dog’s sight and behavior. So give your dog the treat of good eyesight!
