Dog Vision Change

by Holly

Reader Question:Dog Vision Change

My 6 year old Jack Russell has gone completely blind twice and regained her sight. This seems to coincide with ear infections. Crazy isn’t it!!! What is happening?

Thanks,

Holly

Vet Suggestion for Dog Vision Change


Hi Holly,

How do you know that your dog was blind? This may sound like an odd question, but it is not always easy to assess vision at home, and other problems can mimic blindness.

I honestly don’t know what is going on with your dog. I’d need to perform an exam and possibly some other tests during one of these episodes before I could come up with a tentative diagnosis. Have you had your cat in to see a vet?

One possibility that comes to mind is Horner’s syndrome. Ear infections or medications applied to an ear with a ruptured ear drum can affect a nerve that runs to the eye. This doesn’t result in blindness, but it can cause some changes (e.g., an elevated third eyelid and constricted pupils) that could be misconstrued as an inability to see.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM