Blindness in Dogs

By: Dr. Noelle McNabb

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Pet Lovers

Diagnosis

Veterinary care should include tests to establish a diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Diagnostic tests are essential in determining the exact cause of the blindness. Tests may include:

Complete physical examination and history

Complete ophthalmic examination, including direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, pupillary light reflex testing, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, tonometry, Schirmer tear testing, navigation of the pet through an obstacle course, visual tracking and visual placing tests, and fluorescein staining of the cornea.

Complete neurologic examination

Other Diagnostic Tests

Complete blood count (CBC) and serum tests via blood samples

Blood pressure testing

Electroretinography to evaluate the electrical responses of the retina to light stimulation

Visually evoked response test to detect abnormality within the optic nerve or visual center of the brain

Specific serologic tests to evaluate the cause and identify any related problems

Corneal and conjunctival cell samples for cell analysis and specific tests to determine the presence of infection or inflammation

Specialized imaging tests of the eye and skull, such as ultrasound examinations, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scans

Cerebral spinal fluid tap to collect a sample of fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain with a small needle

Treatment

Successful treatment depends on obtaining an accurate diagnosis.

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