Doggy Getting Up There In Years? 4 Tips To Help It Navigate Through Cataracts

Now that your dog is aging, it could start having trouble with its vision. Cataracts are one vision problem that your dog could encounter. Like with its human counterparts, cataracts can cause blindness in dogs. If your dog has been diagnosed with cataracts, you'll need to take steps to help keep it safe. Vision problems can make it difficult for dogs to navigate safely. Here are four steps you can take to help protect your dog from injuries related to cataracts.

Avoid Change

If you've had your home decorated the same way for years, your dog has probably become accustomed to the furniture arrangement. Now that it has cataracts, it can use memorization to navigate the house. That is, unless you redecorate. If your dog has cataracts, you should avoid change as much as possible. Too much change could lead to sight-related injuries.

Provide Guided Tours

If your dog has cataracts, it can be difficult for your dog to navigate around unfamiliar territory. This can make vacations extremely troublesome, especially if you're going to be staying with relatives. To help your dog familiarize itself with new territory, take it for a guided tour before you set it loose in the house. Walk through the house with your dog several times to help it recognize where large objects and doorways are. If your dog is still having a difficult time navigating its new surroundings, you might want to consider isolating it in one section of the house, preferably one small room. This will prevent injuries and confusion for your pet.

Use a Leash

If your dog has lost its vision, going outside can be a dangerous situation, especially if the area isn't fenced. To help prevent accidents, use a leash whenever you take your dog outside. If the area isn't fenced, you should never leave your dog unattended. If you're going to be traveling, and you want your dog to have space to roam, consider bringing a collapsible dog run. This will allow you to set up a safe place for your dog to spend time outside, without the need for a leash.

See the Vet

If your dog has been diagnosed with cataracts, it's important that you watch for sudden vision changes. Issues such as redness, inflammation and fluid leakage from around the eye can all be signs of a more serious vision problem called phacolytic uveitis. If you notice any of the signs described above, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.