Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog(s) of the Day:
Pebbles, Rask, Pete, and Bean
Want your pup to be featured here? Join our Facebook group - Post Your Pooch!
Meme of the day: Dogs fix everything!
The first pet rewards credit card with free pet insurance, meet Nibbles
Vet bills aren’t getting any cheaper. Costs have jumped more than 60% in the last decade, and pet owners are feeling it. But one new card is actually helping lighten the load.
The Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card offers 3x rewards on pet purchases - from vet visits to toys - and even includes free pet insurance for one eligible pet, with no annual fee. It’s a smart way to save while keeping your best friend happy and healthy.
Nibbles is not a bank. The Nibbles Card is issued by Lead Bank. Fees and T&C apply.
Identifying the signs of vision loss in dogs
It’s one of the hardest things for a dog lover to witness: your once-confident pup suddenly hesitating at the top of the stairs, or failing to catch a treat that would have normally disappeared in mid-air. Because our dogs can’t tell us when their world is getting a little blurrier, they rely on us to "read between the lines" of their behavior.
Vision loss in dogs can be a slow sunset or a sudden change, but in either case, your dog's incredible ability to adapt often masks the early signs. Here is how to spot the subtle shifts and help your best friend navigate their world with confidence.
Subtle Behavioral Shifts
Often, the first signs of vision loss aren't related to the eyes at all, but to how your dog moves through their environment.
The "Shadow" Phase: You might notice your dog sticking closer to your side than usual. If they feel uncertain about their surroundings, you become their lighthouse.
Hesitation in New Places: A dog losing their sight might be perfectly fine at home (where they’ve "mapped" the furniture), but becomes anxious or "clumsy" in a new park or a friend's house.
Misjudging Distances: Watch for "near misses." This could be bumping into a doorway, overshooting a jump onto the couch, or failing to track a toy thrown across the yard.
Changes in Play: If a game of fetch suddenly ends because they can’t find the ball once it stops moving, it may be because they’ve lost the ability to track motion.
Physical Signs in the Eyes
While behavior tells one story, the eyes themselves often provide physical clues. Take a moment in a well-lit room to really look into your dog’s eyes.
Symptom | What it looks like |
Cloudiness | A bluish-gray or "milky" haze deep inside the eye (often cataracts). |
Increased Redness | Bloodshot whites of the eyes or constant squinting. |
Pupil Dilation | Pupils that stay large even in bright light, or look uneven. |
Tearing or Discharge | Excessive "weeping" or pawing at the face frequently. |
Night Blindness: The Early Warning
For many dogs, vision fades in low light first. If your dog is reluctant to go out for a final potty break after the sun goes down, or if they seem "frozen" in a dark hallway, their night vision may be compromised. This is a common early indicator of conditions like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).
A Quick Tip: If you suspect vision loss, try the "Obstacle Course Test." Move a few pieces of furniture in a safe room and see if your dog navigates them easily or bumps into the new placements.
The Good News: Their Nose Knows
It’s important to remember that while vision loss feels devastating to us, dogs are remarkably resilient. A dog’s primary "view" of the world is actually through their nose. As their sight fades, their senses of smell and hearing often sharpen to compensate.
A blind dog can still live a joyful, playful, and high-quality life—they just might need a few extra rugs to mark "paths" through the house and a little more vocal encouragement from their favorite human.
If you’ve noticed any of these changes, the best first step is a visit to your vet or a veterinary ophthalmologist. Many conditions, like glaucoma or certain infections, are treatable if caught early!
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Bonnihill Farms (Fromm Family Foods) - BeefiBowls Beef Recipe gently cooked frozen dog food, 16 oz. chubs for potential plastic contamination
Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Family Photo of the Day:
Charlie!
We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
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Meme of the day - Instagram: @puppy_yogaclub
