Do All Poodles Go Blind? Really !

I’ve heard that all poodles eventually go blind. Is this true? I read on the internet that it’s a myth, but other people say it has happened to their pups. What do you think?

Do Poodles Go Blind? The short answer is no! It’s just not something that happens to them as it does with other breeds of dogs. There are some exceptions, but they’re pretty rare and usually happen because of eye problems before birth or injury afterward.

And even then, if they go blind in one eye later in life, there’s still a good chance they’ll keep the sight in their other eye for years to come.”

Do All Types Of Poodles Really Get Blind?

The answer to the question is “no”. But there is a bit more to the story. It’s important to know what you might have heard about poodle health so that when it comes time for your puppy or dog to start going blind, you’ll be prepared and not panicked by the question “do all poodles go blind?”

Poodles with Juvenile Cataracts:

This is the only eye condition that happens to poodles that really can cause blindness. It’s similar to cataracts in people, where the lens of the eye turns cloudy and you lose your eyesight.

Here’s What I’ve Learned about Juvenile Cataracts:

This condition almost always happens to both eyes at once; in fact, it’s very rare for only one eye to develop juvenile cataracts.

If your poodle gets them in just one eye later in life, you should talk with your vet about the possibility that his other eye won’t be affected. If they are both involved now, then yes he’ll go blind much sooner than a dog who doesn’t have cataracts.

But don’t panic yet, because there’s a lot your vet can do to help keep him comfortable and make sure he still has a good quality of life for as long as possible.

Cataract Surgery:

By now you may be wondering if surgery is an option to prevent blindness in your poodle. It is, but only if the surgery happens before he goes blind.

Once your dog is completely blind in both eyes, there’s no surgery to correct cataracts and I doubt you’ll want to put him through it anyway.

So here’s what can happen with surgery:

If it’s done early enough, it can delay blindness for months or even years in some poodles.

And if you and your vet work together to make sure your dog gets the right eye drops after surgery, he’ll be able to enjoy good vision for as long as possible without worrying about blindness! I’ll talk more about that when we get to the next question.

Juvenile cataracts, also called cataracts of prematurity or congenital cataracts, are more common in dogs than many people think.

Poodles are just one breed that can have them, but they’re not the only one. British bulldogs and Boston terriers are 2 more breeds that can get them too.

It’s also common in breeds with merle coloring like Australian shepherds, but this type of cataract doesn’t seem to be related to the merle gene (which is what causes the marbling color pattern in some dogs like poodles).

What Causes Juvenile Cataracts in Poodles?

Research has shown that in poodles, there can be a link between the condition and eye problems before birth. But even if your poodle doesn’t have any family history of cataracts, he’s still at risk for them – it just means his chances are lower.

What about injury? The good news is that I’ve never heard of a case where juvenile cataracts were caused by an injury.

The bad news is that it’s still possible, but I think you’ll have a much better chance of preventing them from happening during your dog’s first few weeks and months of life.

What Should You Do About Juvenile Cataracts in Your Poodle?

As soon as the blindness happens, you want to have a vet check your dog over for any signs of eye injury.

Even if there isn’t an injury, your vet can prescribe medications that will help keep your dog’s eyes as safe and comfortable as possible.

While the blindness is still reversible (before it becomes complete), I would also give my poodle oral supplements to help his eye stay healthy.

I would probably start with lutein, an antioxidant that’s good for the eyes, and maybe add some vitamin E in too. Omega 3 fatty acids are also known to be helpful if your dog can eat them.

Can Long Hair Cause Blindness in Poodles Too?

Poodles are a breed of dog that often has long hair, which can lead to eye problems.

One of the most common is a condition called distichiasis, which causes them to grow abnormal eyelashes.

These eyelashes can rub against the dog’s eyes and cause irritation or make their eyes water excessively – sometimes even causing corneal ulcers because it happens so often.

As you might guess, this increases the chances of developing a cataract. What should you do about it?

1. Well, if the condition is severe and your dog’s eyelashes rub his eyes enough to cause irritation or ulcers, then I would have them removed by a vet.
2. In most cases where distichiasis doesn’t bother your dog, you can just leave it alone.
3. Since it can be inherited, though, you may want to talk to your vet about getting your dog’s eyes checked every year just to make sure there aren’t any other problems developing.
4. One last thing: The eyelashes themselves don’t cause cataracts. Well, usually they don’t – but it’s possible for them to catch some things that irritate the eyes, which can cause your dog’s eye to get scratched and then develop a cataract over time.
5. One example is by catching dust and other contaminants like plastic (puppies especially seem to be at risk for this).
6. To avoid this problem, make sure your poodle’s eyes are as clean and healthy as possible.

How Can You Prevent Blindness In Poodles And Other Dogs Too?

1. I usually recommend a diet rich in antioxidants like lutein (which is good for their eyes) and vitamin E (which might help prevent cataracts from forming).
2. Some people also give dietary supplements like those mentioned above, but you should always check with your vet first to make sure they are safe for your dog.
3. The other thing to make sure of is that their eyes are clean and healthy.
4. For long hair breeds, this means using good grooming practices like wiping the eyes every day to make sure no dirt or other contaminants get into them. I also recommend checking the eyes every few months once your dog is an adult just to keep track of them.
5. As I said mentioned above, even if you have a poodle with no family history of cataracts, they are still at risk for it!
6. This means that you should still check their eyes regularly and make sure they’re healthy.
7. Just like with people, cataracts can appear at any time during your dog’s life and they can be caused by something that happened in the past (even if you didn’t know it).
8. So you should always keep an eye on their eyes – especially in dogs who have long hair!

Conclusion:

Juvenile Cataracts in Poodles is a common condition that can cause blindness. You may also find it helpful to know what causes juvenile cataracts and how you can prevent them from happening again. If your poodle has had this surgery, we’d love to hear about the experience!