![]() Be careful of how you phrase your questions and do not "lead" the owners (that is, ask whether there is a difference between the pet’s daytime and nighttime vision rather than “is your pet seeing worse at night?”). One of the first behavioral signs of inherited, degenerative diseases of the outer retina (commonly known as progressive retinal atrophy) is loss of night vision as rods are affected before cones. Inquire whether the blindness was associated with preferential loss of night vision. The change in environment causes the animal to bump into objects, misleading the owners into believing that the blindness is acute. We can assume that even though an animal has been blind for some time, the gradual onset of the disease enabled it to learn to navigate at home. Questioning will likely reveal that the blindness was noticed when the animal’s environment was changed (e.g. Owners often report sudden loss of vision in the pet, even though ophthalmic examination reveals changes associated with chronic disease. Ask whether the blindness came on abruptly or gradually. ![]() HistoryĪs with any patient, begin by taking a history. Therefore, all patients that present with blindness-even those that do not regain vision-should undergo a comprehensive examination to reach an ophthalmic and systemic diagnosis, as the latter may have profound and long-term implications for the animal’s health. However, veterinarians and pet owners should bear in mind that acute blindness can be, and often is, a manifestation of systemic disease. Fortunately, in many cases vision can be restored. ![]() Acute blindness in a pet is distressing for both the animal and the owner.
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