Shedding Light On Fading Sight: Managing Eyesight Decline In Aging Pets

Growing old alongside your furry friend brings cherished memories, but it also brings inevitable changes. As they age, pets slow down, may experience behavioral changes, and develop stiff joints; one of the most jarring changes that come with a pet’s aging can be their loss of vision.

Dr. Lucien Vallone, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, describes how to effectively manage the potential age-related decline of eyesight in pets. 

Recognizing Eyesight Decline

As pets age, their vision can change from one day to the next, prompting behavioral changes that can lead owners to question their companion’s health. These changes may be the result of failing eyesight.

Pets with vision disturbances will likely display one or more of these signs: 

• Increased hesitancy navigating their environment
• Bumping into objects
• Decreased activity and energy levels
• Faulty depth perception

Owners also may notice that their pet is behaving differently toward other pets or people in the household. In addition, reduced vision can trigger fear responses in some animals, which can lead to aggression.

Causes Of Vision Loss

Dogs and cats can experience vision loss from a variety of causes, but one of the most common is an age-related hardening to the lens known as nuclear sclerosis. The change is progressive throughout life but usually becomes noticeable when pets are around 7 years old or are trying to navigate low-light environments.

“Owners will notice that their cat or dog’s pupil will begin to develop a greyish-white haze that can often be mistaken for a cataract,” Vallone said. “Unlike cataracts, which block incoming light completely, nuclear sclerosis still allows light to reach the retina. This means that vision disturbances are usually subtle and can seem more like faulty depth perception, where the pet sometimes misjudges its footing on stairs or its jumps onto a couch or bed.”

According to Vallone, companion animals may also begin to lose their vision because of years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, which can potentially damage the cornea, lens, and retina. 

“Excessive exposure to UV-light will hasten the development of age-related changes and increase the likelihood of developing spontaneous inflammatory and cancerous diseases of the eye,” Vallone said.

“Pets that live in outdoor environments are at the greatest risk for experiencing UV-light-related eye problems and should be provided with heavily shaded areas within their environment to lessen their risk,” he said.

Implementing Routine Changes

In meeting the adjusted needs of an aging pet with declining vision, there are several key factors to focus on — establishing environmental consistency, mitigating safety concerns, and finding ways to help pets use their other senses to navigate the world.

Environments that change frequently are particularly challenging to pets with limited vision.

“It is important to ensure that furniture and obstructive objects are kept in consistent locations,” Vallone said. “Companion animals, on average, are remarkably adept at memorizing stable environments and learning how to avoid potential hazards.”

Establishing foolproof safety measures is also extremely important, as pets who are less aware of their environment may have more trouble avoiding danger.

“It is vital for owners to ensure that stairwells, bodies of water, and motorways are completely blocked off to the low-vision pet to avoid life threatening hazards,” Vallone said.

To better assist your pet in adjusting to reduced vision, you can encourage them to lean into their other sensory cues.

“A low-vision pet will struggle most in an environment that is loud and lacking identifiable touch cues,” Vallone said. “It can be helpful to provide throw rugs or mats in strategic locations to provide a tactile reference point as low-vision pets navigate their environment.”

“For some owners of multiple pets, bells can be attached to the collar or harness of sighted pets,” he said. “These sighted pets can then serve as a familiar reference for the low-vision pet.”

“Adding air fresheners of varying scents in consistent locations throughout a low-vision pet’s environment can similarly help with their navigation,” Vallone said.

Being A Guiding Hand

As a general rule, if an owner is concerned about their pet’s vision, so are the veterinarians who care for your well-loved pet. 

“We encourage owners to schedule an eye examination when concerns first arise because the eye has a limited capacity to repair itself from injury,” Vallone said. “The earlier a problem is identified, the greater the likelihood that a treatment intervention and positive outcome can be achieved.” By keeping a well-trained eye on your pet’s vision changes as they age, you can take proactive steps to support their well-being, ensuring they continue to live a comfortable and fulfilling life by your side.