By Courtney Prue | November 26, 2025

Vision Loss in Senior Pets

Common Signs Your Senior Pet is Losing Vision

You may have observed your pet behaving in an unusual way, or noticed that their eyes don’t look quite right. If you aren’t sure, a trip to the vet is recommended so that the problem can be assessed by an expert.

Here are some common indicators that an elderly cat or dog may be losing their vision:

Eye Appearance and Responses

• A pet’s pupils appear dilated and don’t change in size in response to light
• Their eyes are red or cloudy
• They may have discharge coming from their eyes
• They frequently blink or squint.

Behavioural Changes

• They bump into walls, doorways and furniture
• They hesitate before jumping onto furniture or tackling stairs, whereas they didn’t in the past
• They’re more clumsy and experience more falls
• They can’t seem to locate their water, food or litter box
• They avoid certain areas of the home where they previously ventured
• Their walk appears more cautious than before
• They’re easily startled by noises and disoriented in once-familiar areas.

Anxiety Signs

• They’re more clingy and need you close by
• They vocalise more than usual (yowling, meowing, barking)
• They appear stressed or confused when their environment changes, or when they enter new environments.

Night Vision Problems 

• They have trouble finding their way in low-light conditions
• They’re hesitant to walk around in the dark.

Why Do Pets Lose Vision?

There are a range of reasons why aging pets have eyesight issues. Let’s run through the common causes of sight loss for senior cats and dogs.

Common Causes For Vision Loss in Senior Dogs

Injury

Obviously an injury to the eye can cause vision loss or complete blindness. Injuries can result from a range of causes, and can range in severity. An eye injury could range from a mild scratch to the cornea to something more serious like blunt-force damage. Eye injuries can result in pain, and cause the eye to swell, become red or even cloudy. Excess tears may also appear. If the injury is not treated soon enough, vision loss is possible. Additionally, if the eye injury is of such severity that the eye can’t be saved, blindness may be the final outcome.

For any eye injury, seeing a vet promptly is essential, as even minor eye wounds can quickly become infected and worsen in condition. A vet will assess the injury and provide treatment. This could include flushing out the eye to remove debris, and prescribing anti-inflammatory eye drops, antibiotics, and pain relief. As a pet owner, you will need to be diligent about administering medications/drops/pain relief at home, to ensure your senior dog remains comfortable and heals.

For serious eye injuries, surgery may be required to try to repair the eye, or to remove damaged tissue.

Dry Eye

When a dog produces insufficient tears, they can get ‘dry’eye’ (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca). Your dog’s eye may appear red and irritated and often there will be a lot of discharge coming from the eye. In severe cases, or if left untreated, their cornea may become damaged leading to scarring and pigmentation on the surface of the eye that can obscure their vision. 

A vet can assess your dog’s eye and measure their tear production. There are many different potential causes for ‘dry eye’ and treatment usually involves life-long medication such as eye drops to lubricate the eye and promote tear production. When your senior dog experiences this condition, it’s important that you monitor their eyes to ensure their symptoms are improving, rather than worsening.

Cataracts

When a dog has cataracts, the lens of their eye grows opaque or cloudy. This restricts the passage of light to the eye, leading to impaired vision. You may notice that their eyes become a bluish-grey colour, they may blink or squint more than before, bump into things, and appear to be more cautious of their surroundings. Cataracts can affect both eyes, or just one eye – and unfortunately many dogs with a cataract in one eye will eventually develop cataracts in the other eye. 

Why do cataracts occur? Cataracts are most commonly caused by diabetes, but can also be due to genetics, age, eye trauma, or inflammation. Your veterinarian will examine your senior dog’s eye and usually run a blood test to try to determine the underlying cause. 

How can cataracts be treated? Cataracts can be treated surgically by a veterinary ophthalmologist. However, for many families, surgery may not be an option due to various medical, financial and age-related reasons. In these cases the cataracts are closely monitored and any underlying conditions such as diabetes are closely managed. 

Like with all sight loss concerns, the home environment can be adapted to ensure your senior dog is safe.

Glaucoma 

This is one of the most common causes for vision loss in senior dogs. Glaucoma is where the pressure inside your dog’s eye or eyes rises and the optic nerve is damaged as a result. Your dog may appear to have a blue or cloudy eye, redness in the whites of their eye, may squint or paw at their eyes, and may have more tears than usual. 

What causes glaucoma? Glaucoma is often inherited, with certain breeds (e.g. Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Poodles, Fox Terriers, Maltese) being more prone to glaucoma than others. Glaucoma can also occur secondary to chronic inflammation of the eye, injury, and other eye conditions. 

Sadly, glaucoma can progress very rapidly and can cause your dog a lot of pain. So if you notice any changes to your senior dog’s eyes, it is important for them to be assessed by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If detected early, medicated eye drops can be used to quickly reduce the pressure in your dog’s eyes and prevent further decline. However, in many cases, surgery is required to control the glaucoma and save vision.  

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

PRA is an inherited eye disease that causes the retina, which is integral to vision, to slowly deteriorate, leading to gradual blindness. Initially, your dog may show signs of night blindness, such as walking into things at night or being reluctant to go out into the dark. But over time, day vision will start to become affected.  Both eyes are impacted by the disease, though they may deteriorate at different rates.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure for PRA. However, as the disease progresses slowly, most senior dogs cope well with the vision loss and over time, will adapt to their environment. Here are some adjustments that you can make to your home to ensure your older dog is able to feel familiar and safe in their environment. 

Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS)

SARDS involves the sudden destruction of the retinal cells in the back of the eye, resulting in dogs losing complete vision very suddenly within a period of days or weeks. Aside from blindness, affected dogs may also demonstrate an increase in thirst, appetite and urination. 

Unfortunately the cause for SARDS is not well understood, however, it’s thought to be related to hormonal and immune factors.

If you suspect there are changes in your senior dog’s vision or notice any increase in thirst/appetite, please contact your veterinarian. There is unfortunately no treatment for SARDS, however, adjustments can be made to a dog’s environment and daily routines to help them feel secure.

Optic Neuritis

The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain, transmitting visual signals. When that nerve becomes inflamed, it’s known as Optic Neuritis and can be caused by a number of conditions, including immune system disorders, infections, brain inflammation and trauma.

Optic Neuritis can cause sudden loss of vision in one or both of a dog’s eyes. Signs your senior dog may be suffering optic neuritis include dilated pupils, eye pain, disorientation, change in behaviour, and sudden vision loss. 

If you notice any of these changes in your senior dog, please visit your veterinarian for assessment and treatment as soon as possible. Treatment involves reducing the inflammation in the eye as well as managing any underlying conditions. With prompt treatment, it’s possible your dog may recover some or all of their vision. 

Common Causes For Vision Loss in Senior Cats

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

A common cause of vision loss in elderly cats is hypertension. When blood pressure rises, the delicate blood vessels in the retina can be damaged resulting in bleeding in the back of the eye or retinal detachment.

Signs a senior cat is experiencing vision loss due to hypertension include dilated pupils, disorientation, and sudden blindness. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, please take them to your veterinarian where they can measure your cat’s blood pressure and run tests to identify any underlying conditions that may be contributing to hypertension, such as Hyperthyroidism or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Your cat may require medication to manage their hypertension, and if identified and treated promptly, their vision can improve. 

Retinal Detachment

When the retina separates from the back of the eye, vision loss can occur quite quickly. This can occur due to inflammation or trauma to the eye, or due to an underlying health condition such as high blood pressure from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). You might notice that your senior cat may bump into objects, appear to squint, and may have dilated pupils.

If you notice any of these signs, please visit your veterinarian, who will examine the eye and check for any underlying health conditions.  Treatment involves management of these conditions, though in severe cases surgery may be required. If retinal detachment is detected and treated quickly, your senior cat’s vision may return to normal, though sadly for some cats the vision loss can be permanent. 

Eye Injury

Injuries to the eye can range from minor scratches on the cornea to more severe trauma like punctures or blunt-force damage. Injuries may cause pain, swelling, redness, or cloudiness, and if untreated, can lead to partial or complete vision loss. A vet will assess the damage and provide treatment such as flushing out debris, prescribing antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, or performing surgery for severe injuries.

Toxins

Certain toxins, medications, or plants can damage a cat’s eyes and lead to sudden or gradual vision loss. Symptoms vary depending on the toxin but can include redness, swelling, excessive tearing, or behavioural changes such as disorientation. 

When toxins are at play, it’s vital to seek immediate veterinary attention. Treatment may involve flushing the eyes, medications to reduce inflammation, and supportive care.

Glaucoma

Cats with glaucoma may show redness, cloudiness, squinting, or paw at their eyes, and the affected eye may appear enlarged or bulging. Early veterinary intervention is crucial, as untreated glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness. Treatment may involve medications to lower eye pressure, and in severe cases, surgery.

Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation of the uveal tract (the middle layer of the eye) and can be caused by infection, trauma, immune-mediated disease, or other systemic illnesses. Symptoms include redness, squinting, sensitivity to light, and cloudy eyes.

Cats showing these symptoms should be assessed by a vet promptly. A vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory or immune-modulating medications, to preserve vision and reduce discomfort.

How to Support a Senior Pet Experiencing Vision Loss

Whilst vision loss is unsettling for senior pets, there are measures you can take when it comes to helping pets adapt to blindness and ensuring they feel comfortable and safe in their surroundings. With just a few simple adjustments, most older pets with sight-loss will learn to adapt very quickly. 

• Maintain a familiar environment: Your pet will already be familiar with how things are arranged in your home. Senior pets rely on memory and scent to navigate, so if you move things around, it will add to their sense of disorientation and make them feel anxious. So, avoid moving food and water bowls, litter trays or furniture unless absolutely necessary.
• Prioritise safety: If your pet is suffering partial or full vision loss, then parts of their home environment may become hazardous. Please keep them as safe as possible by blocking off stairs or lowered platforms, covering sharp corners and removing other hazards. Sometimes it can be safer to limit their access to particular areas of the house. 
• Avoid high surfaces: Refrain from placing a blind animal on a high surface to feed, and if they have a tendency to get up on the couch, ensure they can get down safely, or else make a comfortable bed for them on the floor. 
• Create safe spaces: Rugs or mats can help define safe walking areas, and baby gates can limit access to risky spaces.
• Provide emotional reassurance: Blind senior pets can become more clingy and anxious. Extra affection, gentle voices, and predictable routines help them feel secure.
• Guide rather than carry: Let your pet explore at their own pace, offering gentle guidance. This helps them maintain independence and allows them to develop a mental map of their surroundings, which they can’t do if you carry them everywhere.
• Offer enrichment: Toys with noise or scent, safe indoor games, and familiar outdoor routes encourage stimulation and confidence.
• Maintain Health Checks: Regular veterinary checks are essential. Some causes of vision loss, like high blood pressure or cataracts, can be managed to preserve remaining vision and comfort.

With thoughtful adjustments and loving pet care, senior pets experiencing vision loss can continue to live happy, enriched lives.

Does Vision Loss Impact My Senior Pet’s Quality of Life? 

When a senior cat or dog struggles with vision loss, it’s common for owners to question whether their pet is suffering. While vision loss may have some impact on your pets quality of life,  with a little extra support from their owners, most blind pets are able to live comfortably and happily.

The reasons why a pet experiencing vision loss can lead a full life include:

• Pets are adaptable. Dogs and cats rely on a range of senses, not just their sight. They can still smell, hear, and feel vibrations. As long as their environment is adapted to make it predictable, then they can feel confident and be kept safe.
• Home Adjustments Help. Pet owners can make a number of adjustments to the home to support their vision-impaired cat or dog. Adjustments may include blocking access to stairs, keeping pet beds on the floor, keeping furniture in consistent locations, adding scented markers or textures, and using auditory cues, like tapping a food bowl, to communicate.
• Emotional Wellbeing Matters Most. Regardless of your pet losing their sight, as long as they’re happy and comfortable, they can continue to enjoy many of the good things in life, like a tasty meal, a reassuring pat, or a sunny spot in the living room.

If your pet’s vision loss is accompanied by other serious health concerns or signs of pain, then your pet’s quality of life will come into question. Similarly, if the vision loss is starting to impact their day-to-day life and they are no longer able to enjoy their favourite activities, then it might be best to seek a quality of life assessment from a qualified vet. This way, you can get proper support and guidance in making some important decisions for your beloved pet.

Rest Your Paws: Supporting Senior Pets 

Rest Your Paws provide a range of services for senior pet owners, including: 

• Quality of Life Assessments (via Telehealth or in person)
• Palliative Care
• Peaceful Home Euthanasia
• Aftercare & Cremation

Not sure what is right for your pet? Just contact us. We can talk about your unique situation and uncover how we can best support your elderly cat or dog.

Click here for useful resources relating to supporting senior pets.