In the summer of 2008, a friend playing with my dog ‘Jazz’ commented that her right pupil seemed more dilated than the left. Sure enough, it was – and upon further examination I could see that her right pupil had little reaction to light. I acted quickly. Jazz was seen by canine ophthalmologist Nick Whelan, B.V.Sc., M.V.Sc., M.A.C.V.Sc., Dip. A.C.V.C.P., Dip. A.C.V.O., at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ont. He ran some tests and made his diagnosis – bilateral iris atrophy with the retinal degeneration considerably more pronounced in the right eye. Jazz was going blind.

Since then, I’ve learned a lot about canine blindness, including how the condition can affect dogs and the people who love them.

The following are some practical guidelines for helping your dog cope with blindness.

In Jazz’s case, a dilated pupil was an obvious clue. But often, the signs of blindness are more behavioural in nature. “Your dog might be reluctant to go out at night, when vision will be most compromised,” Whelan explains. “He might seem hesitant to go up and down stairs, bump into things or have trouble catching a ball.” With an acute onset of blindness, dogs can start bumping into things rather suddenly, so the symptoms are more obvious.

If you suspect a problem with your dog’s vision, contact your veterinarian immediately. He can perform some basic tests and refer you to a specialist.

It’s important not to wait. For many dogs, blindness is irreversible. But there are cases where vision or partial vision can be restored. In those cases, time is of the essence. “Err on the side of caution,” Whelan advises, “and get your dog in for a checkup right away.”

It’s not easy to hear the news – something Caroline Levin knows firsthand. Levin was an RN with a decade of ophthalmology experience when she saw an ad for a job at a veterinary ophthalmology clinic. Eager for a change, she jumped at the opportunity and worked there for years. Her experiences led her to write a comprehensive book, Living With Blind Dogs.

“I noticed that almost every time someone’s dog was diagnosed with blindness the owner left in tears,” says Levin. “Feelings of grief and loss are common – and perfectly nor-mal reactions.”

Whelan’s experience is similar. Some people even talk of euthanizing their dogs because they can’t envision their dog coping, Whelan says. “What I say to people is, look, your dog couldn’t read, write or drive a car, anyway. He’s already got four other senses that are better than yours. As long as you take good care of him, he’ll be okay.”

“The across-the-board answer is that there is no across-the-board answer,” says Levin. All dogs are unique and each dog’s response to this change in lifestyle will be determined by a number of factors.

Onset and overall health. Generally speaking, a dog that loses its vision gradually will have an easier time adjusting. Young, healthy dogs have an advantage on the one hand, but pose challenges in some ways – young, energetic dogs might be more apt to run into things, for example.

Training. The transition might be easier for a dog with basic training. He’ll know how to focus on you and listen to you.

Personality and pack position. Levin points out that, in multi-dog households, a factor in the adjustment period is how his pack mates react. “There can be challenges for dominant position in the pack,” she notes. “It all depends on the mix in your household. Sometimes a dog’s pack mates help him adjust.”

Your dedication. Your dedication and involvement in this process can be a make-or-break aspect of your dog’s transition.

Canine behaviour expert Jean Donaldson notes, “Most blind dogs will cope very well; in fact, they cope better than most people do. There is none of the ‘this shouldn’t have happened to me’ stuff that people experience. Dogs tend to just accept it and move on.”

If your dog is blind or becoming blind, his world is changing. It’s up to you to identify ways to make his life easier. You can help by making some day-to-day adjustments.

First things first: keep your house in order. “Regardless of whether it’s an acute onset or a gradual deterioration, get in the habit of putting everything in its place and don’t move furniture around,” Donaldson advises. “Animals are pretty good at spatial mapping – memorizing what is where. Get in the habit of doing things like pushing chairs into the dining room table.”

Next up: training. Training is a good idea for your dog, at any age. It may not be physically demanding for him to learn certain things, but it will be mentally stimulating. And when your dog becomes blind, training can become a safety issue. Teaching your dog to stop on command can help him avoid unforeseen obstacles, for example. Donaldson suggests the way to teach Stop is to watch your dog closely and if he’s about to bump into something, put the warning cue right before he makes contact, using a command like “careful.” Levin advocates regular, everyday training. “Every moment can be a training opportunity for you to show your dog how to do a different task. In the few minutes it takes for the rice to boil, you can teach him something.”

With blind dogs, a positive approach is critical. “There is no room for punishment when you’re dealing with a blind dog,” says Levin. “That’s only going to result in setbacks as far as the dog’s confidence.”

Donaldson goes one step further. “There is no place for negative training any time, anywhere. There is simply no call for it because you can get everything you want or need from your dog without it. We’re supposed to be a dog’s best friend – well, I’m not much of a best friend if I educate you by scaring you.”

Which brings us to the subject of patience.

“In general with dogs,” laments Donaldson, “people can be catastrophically impatient – people want things now, now, now. Your blind dog is just trying to get through his day.” His pace may slow down with a loss of vision, but Donaldson doesn’t see that as a negative. “Dogs get us moving at biological time, which is a good thing,” she says. “ It’s good to slow down and get outside of yourself for a bit. This is an opportunity for you to nurture your dog.”

Blind dogs need reassurance. Your dog won’t be able to see you but he can hear you – and the sound of your voice should be reassuring.

Levin suggests using a regular phrase, like “You’re okay,” specifically for calming your dog down if he seems agitated or uncertain. You might also be able to take his mind off any an-xiety by distracting him with a toy or something to chew on.

Blind dogs may become less active. It’s important to monitor your dog’s weight and adjust his food if necessary in response to weight gain. It’s also critical for you to continue providing him with physical and mental stimulation.

“If your dog’s exercise options become limited,” says Donaldson, “there is a possibility for him to become under-stimulated.”

Some of your regular activities may need to be reconsidered and this can be quite a loss for both you and your dog. My heart aches for days when I could head deep into a local forest preserve and let my dogs run off-leash. But where Jazz could once navigate obstacles with amazing agility, she’d now be at a greater risk for an injury.

“Focus not on what they can’t do,” advises Donaldson, “but on what they still can do. They can still learn tricks, play hide-and-seek, go for walks, etc. Identify activities that are safe and fun for your dog.”

Many owners of blind dogs would be the first to say they find their dogs inspiring. “Their ability to bounce back, adapt and carry on is remarkable,” says Levin.

I would agree with that. I’m proud of little Jazz. She has changed. Once fiercely independent, she does need more reassurance these days. But she’s still fit and active and feisty. Her world may be getting darker, but I don’t think most people would ever know it. She trots confidently along on our walks and manoeuvres around the house and yard perfectly well.

There is so much to admire about dogs, not the least of which is their ability to bounce back from adversity, adapt and carry on. For us, the onset of a pet’s blindness might seem like a heartbreaking diagnosis, but for the dogs we love it’s just another challenge to overcome. And they do.