Hi, I'm Doctor Fiona Caldwell, and I'm answering questions for pet owners today for Pets Best. This question is, "How can I tell if my dog is going blind?" So it's a great question, because it can actually be really tricky.
Dogs are amazing at memorizing their surroundings. They can figure out how to get up from their favorite spot, go out the doggie door, go outside, come back in, and all without really skipping a beat, and really it's because they've memorized their surroundings. So especially in older pets that you're starting to suspect that there might be some additional changes, there are some things that you can do to test it. One would be to create some obstacles, so moving the furniture or putting something in the way that isn't usually there, most dogs will see them and they'll go around it.
Another thing that you can do is use some type of an object that doesn't have a smell or a sound to it, like a cotton ball, and you can drop them in front, and most dogs will track the cotton ball and watch where it lands, and then go over to investigate. And if they can't see it and they can't smell it, and they can't hear it, and the dog is blind, then they may ignore those cotton balls.
If you've got concerns that your dog is losing eyesight, you should definitely contact your veterinarian. If you guys have questions or comments, feel free to post them below or on Pets Best Facebook page.