Losing eyesight with age is not uncommon, especially for dogs. One of the most challenging things to come to terms with, however, is that your dog has completely lost their eyesight. Aside from it being difficult to watch them struggle, it’s difficult knowing how scary this is for them! As their owner, it’s important that you prepare your home for the adjustments that they’ll need to live comfortably.

Today we’re going to cover a few of the ways that you can take care of your blind dog as easy as possible.

Talk to Your Dog

Losing their sight is scary — they’re no longer able to see you, but they also have no idea where they are or how to get around at this point. One of the best ways to reassure them that they’re okay, even though things are scary, is to talk to them. Most dog owners already hold full conversations with their furry friends, so this shouldn’t be too challenging.

Aside from comfort, talking to them is a great way to let them know that you’re there. This is important for getting them accustomed to this new lifestyle, but it also allows them to put their guard down. Can you imagine being touched by someone when you can’t see them? Let your dog know that you’re there before petting them — they’ll appreciate it.

Follow a Routine

Following a daily routine is a fantastic way to get your dog accustomed to this lifestyle. They begin to get familiar with where they need to go, where certain items will be, and can better adapt to this significant change. If you were following a routine prior to them losing their sight, then do your best to continue it. Guide them when they need help and assist them so that they can adapt, but keeping things as normal as possible will benefit them quite a bit.

If you don’t already have a routine with your dog, it’s time to start one! As we just mentioned, this can really help a dog get accustomed to this big change and make being independent even the slightest bit easier.

Create a Safe Spot

Losing sight for a dog is most unnerving because the home and life they once knew are now entirely gone, at least to them. They now have to refamiliarize themselves with the home and get comfortable with the space again. Create a safe spot for your dog that they can come back to and know as their own. It should be large enough for them to move around in, nice and comfortable so that they can sleep there, and filled with items that they are familiar with. If your dog has a favorite plush animal, add it to their safe spot. This is a great way to build their sense of security.

Muffin’s Halo is Here to Help

We’ve only just covered a few of the ways that you can help your dog adjust to this big change, but there are so many additional pieces that we’d like to touch on. Make sure to keep an eye out for our future blog post that will continue to touch on ways that you can help your dog during this transition. For now, head on over to Muffin’s Halo and browse our selection of halo guides for blind dogs, designed to make getting around just a little bit easier.