Old Dog Losing Eyesight and Hearing: Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention Strategies

As your furry friend ages, you may start to notice changes in their behavior and physical abilities. One of the most common signs of aging in dogs is the loss of eyesight and hearing.

Old dogs can start losing their eyesight as early as 7 years old, with the majority of dogs experiencing some degree of vision loss by the age of 12. This can be due to a range of factors, including cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.

You may notice your dog bumping into things more often, having trouble finding their food or toys, or seeming more disoriented in familiar surroundings. These are all potential signs that your dog is losing their eyesight.

Dogs can start losing their hearing as early as 5 years old, with the majority of dogs experiencing some degree of hearing loss by the age of 10. This can be due to a range of factors, including age-related wear and tear on the ears, ear infections, or exposure to loud noises.

As your dog loses their hearing, you may notice them not responding to their name, not reacting to loud noises, or seeming more startled by sudden sounds.

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PRA is a degenerative disease that affects the retina, causing blindness in dogs. It's a painless condition, but it can be frustrating for pet owners to watch their dogs lose their vision.

PRA can be inherited, and certain breeds are more prone to developing it, including Bedlington Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, American Cocker Spaniels, and English Springer Spaniels. In some breeds, like Old English Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs, it's a dominant gene, meaning a dog only needs one copy of the defective gene to be affected.

The first sign of PRA is often night blindness, where affected dogs become nervous at night, reluctant to go into dark rooms, or bump into things when the light is dim. Other signs may include reflective eyes, dilated pupils, and clumsiness in unfamiliar surroundings.

In most cases, PRA progresses slowly, causing complete blindness over a period of one to two years. However, the speed of development depends on the breed and form of the disease.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a group of degenerative diseases that affect photoreceptor cells, leading to blindness in affected dogs.

There are two main forms of PRA recognized in dogs: retinal dysplasia, an early onset or inherited form, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a late onset form.

In most cases, PRA develops at a slower rate than SARDS, and there is no cure for it. Certain dog breeds are more prone to developing PRA, including Bedlington Terriers, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers.

PRA can either be early onset and show up in puppies, or late onset that shows up in older dogs. The speed of development depends on the breed and form of disease.

In most cases, the dog experiences a complete loss of vision over a period of one to two years. However, the initial sign noticed in a dog is night blindness, where the dog may be nervous at night, reluctant to go into dark rooms, or bump into things when the light is dim.

Dogs with PRA tend to be clumsy in unfamiliar surroundings and may have very reflective eyes with dilated pupils. Both eyes are affected.

Here are some dog breeds commonly affected by PRA:

It's essential to remove affected dogs from breeding programs to prevent the disease from becoming increasingly common. Genetic testing is available through various companies, and a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist can perform certified eye exams to help detect early signs.

Cataracts in dogs can appear as white areas in the lens of the eye, blocking vision.

Cataracts usually start with a small portion of the eye, but it can progress to the entire lens.

They often cause a cloudy or milky appearance to the eyes, and can impact one or both eyes.

Cataracts are often a symptom of diabetes, but can also develop as a response to trauma.

The quicker you catch cataracts, the easier they'll be to treat, and treatment options include medication, supplements, and surgery performed by a veterinary eye specialist.

Surgery can remove the cataract and insert an artificial lens to restore vision, but it's essential to have it done by a specialist.

Old dogs can lose their eyesight due to age-related issues, just like humans. As dogs get older, their vision tends to deteriorate, making it crucial to bring them to the vet frequently for eye checks.

Some breeds are more prone to vision loss due to their genetics, including Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Siberian Huskies, and Schnauzers. Certain breeds like English Springer Spaniel, Siberian Huskies, Poodles, and Collie Breeds are also at a higher risk.

Old age is another common cause of blindness in dogs, as their eyes simply wear out over time. Diabetes is an increasingly common cause of blindness in dogs, with one in 10 dogs becoming diabetic and 75% eventually going blind.

Dogs can also go blind due to other illnesses, including glaucoma, cataracts, and SARDS. If your dog is experiencing vision loss, it's essential to identify the underlying cause and seek proper treatment.

Dogs can be prone to vision loss due to various risk factors. Some breeds are more genetically inclined to develop vision issues, including Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Siberian Huskies, Schnauzers, Golden Retrievers, Maltese, Boston Terriers, Old English Sheepdogs, Shih Tzus, Pugs, and Yorkshire Terriers.

As dogs age, their vision tends to deteriorate, and older dogs are more likely to develop cataracts and glaucoma, both of which can lead to blindness.

Certain dog breeds and genders are more likely to go blind due to their genetics, including English Springer Spaniel, Siberian Huskies, Poodles, and Collie Breeds, with female dogs potentially more prone to SARDS.

Here are some dog breeds that are commonly affected by Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Bedlington Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, American Cocker Spaniels, and English Springer Spaniels.

In some breeds, PRA appears to be a dominant gene, meaning a dog only needs to inherit one copy of the defective gene to be affected, while in others, it appears to be sex-linked and found mainly in male dogs.

The speed of development of PRA depends on the breed and form of disease, with most dogs experiencing a complete loss of vision over a period of one to two years.

Old age is another common cause of blindness in dogs as their eyes simply wear out over time.

Here's a list of dog breeds that are prone to losing their eyesight due to defects introduced through breeding: Dalmatians, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, Bassett Hounds, Chihuahuas.

Dogs can also go blind after losing one or both eyes to injury or cancer, and some go blind due to other illnesses, including diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, and SARDS.

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Sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD) can cause sudden blindness in middle-aged to older dogs, with symptoms developing within days to weeks. This is a form of acquired PRA with an unknown cause.

Other possible causes of slowly developing blindness in dogs include glaucoma, uveitis, lens luxation, and optic nerve disease. These conditions tend to be painful.

SARD is differentiated from inherited PRA because it develops at a later age, typically in middle-aged to older dogs.

Autoimmune Conditions can cause blindness in dogs, and one such condition is Pannus, which affects the cornea and can be treated with eye medication if caught early.

Pannus can lead to severe vision impairment or even blindness if left untreated for a long time.

Uveodermatologic syndrome is another condition that can cause blindness in dogs, particularly those with blue eyes.

Symptoms of Uveodermatologic syndrome typically begin as eye problems, such as redness, squinting, and cloudy eyes.

Systemic corticosteroids are often used as a treatment for Uveodermatologic syndrome.

If caught early, your dog's vision may be temporarily restored with treatment, but blindness can still occur eventually.

Trauma can cause sudden blindness in dogs, often resulting from damage to the brain or nerves that impact vision, or damage to the eyes themselves.

Being hit by a car, scratched, or hit in the face are specific examples of traumas that can lead to blindness in dogs.

A dog that's been hit by a car may suffer from sudden blindness due to the trauma.

This type of blindness is typically immediate and occurs as a direct result of the traumatic event.

Some types of blindness in dogs can be prevented. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight and making sure he gets plenty of exercise can prevent diabetes and reduce the risk of cancer.

Protecting your dog's eyes from sunlight reduces the chance of developing cataracts. This is especially important if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors.

Feeding your dog a healthy, whole food diet and a daily vitamin supplement is also crucial. This helps ensure he gets vital nutrients that can protect his eyes.

Here are some nutrient-rich foods that can help protect eye health:

Regular eye check-ups with your holistic vet are also essential for preventing blindness in dogs.

Hearing loss in dogs is a gradual process that can go unnoticed by owners, often attributed to genetics or aging.

Dogs rarely give us clues about their hearing loss, making it difficult for owners to determine if their dog's hearing is slipping.

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In many cases, dogs lose particular frequencies first, which can make it hard to determine if their hearing is fading. For example, a dog might hear the bass of a man's voice but not a higher-pitched female voice.

Dogs can lose hearing more dramatically in one ear than another at first, causing confusion when calling them.

If your dog's hearing is gone, they won't react to snapping fingers or clapping hands behind their head.

Our 14-year-old dog, Courtney, eventually suffered a total loss of hearing, making it harder for her to hear and allowing us to "sneak" into the house without her knowing.

A total loss of hearing can be confirmed when your dog sleeps soundly through a loud noise, like a thunderstorm.

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