Canine blindness can be caused by various issues, including diabetes, glaucoma, SARDs, and cataracts. Treatment options involve addressing the root cause of blindness; in most cases, vision loss is irreversible, but there are ways to help your blind Shih Tzu live a happy and healthy life.
Just like humans, a Shih Tzu’s vision can deteriorate with age. As they grow older, you may start noticing that they bump into objects right in front of them or show anxiety before entering a new place. This likely means your dog is losing its vision, and you need to find a way to help them cope with it.
Blindness is a condition of the inability to see due to injury, disease, congenital conditions, or general aging changes. Blindness in Shih Tzu dogs can occur with age or as a result of health problems such as glaucoma or diabetes.
Blindness in Shih Tzu can develop suddenly or over several months or years. But the sooner you catch it, the better you can help your Shih Tzu deal with it. This leaves you with plenty of time to determine why your dog is going blind, possible treatments, and how you can accommodate their new needs.
These are common symptoms indicating whether your Shih Tzu is blind or starting to lose vision:
– Blurry appearance of the eye
– Your dog bumps into objects
– Signs of anxiety or hesitation in new places
– Suddenly not wanting to climb stairs or jump on furniture, which they normally do
– Red, swollen, or puffy eyes
– Obvious eye irritation or pawing at the face
– If your dog appears confused, disoriented, easily startled
– Bumping into things
– Acting fearful of moving
– General clumsiness
– Restlessness
– Apprehensive during play
– Unable to find water, food, and toys
– Unwillingness to go out
– Depression
– Sleeping more than usual
– Anxiety
– Excessive thirst
– Dilated pupils
– Absent/unable to catch thrown treats
The most obvious sign that your Shih Tzu is going blind is that they will start bumping into furniture or objects in your home, especially new objects. Your blind dog may have memorized the layout of your house, but if you add something new to the layout, they will likely run into it. Canine anxiety can also be a symptom of visual impairment. So, if your puppy hesitates before going out for a nighttime potty, it may be an indication that they are losing their vision.
The appearance of your Shih Tzu’s eyes can also tell a lot about their vision. The eyes of blind Shih Tzus tend to look hazy, red, or swollen