Puppy With Suspected Sight Issue

[belindam]

I have a 6 month old lab x staffy female (Gemma) who we got from the RSPCA in January. Just this weekend she has started acting very weird with her eye sight. When i go into the back yard and stand and talk to her she wags her tail but doesn't actually look at me, she will look off to one side as though she cannot see me. She has never been like this before and her sight has always seemed normal. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said that he couldn't see anything wrong with her eyes and that she appears to have normal sight however he did agree that she was acting a little weird with the fact she looks straight past you or at the wall next to you. She has no trouble walking around, or chasing a ball, or anything except for the fact she constantly looks like she is scanning the area around you trying to actually locate where I'm standing. It's very weird and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this with their own dogs, or know what it might be because the vet had no solutions. At first I though I may have been overeacting but my fiance agrees that she is having some sort of issue. I am very eager to work out what is happening and fix it as I don't want her getting distressed or it affecting her permanently. She does however seem fine in herself, still happy to play and go for walks or for play dates with other dogs so it doesn't seem to be affecting her greatly.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Belinda

[storm]

Sounds like she needs a complete vet check just to make sure there is nothing wrong and if there is to get on top of it quickly.

Good luck and I hope all works out well

[Boxer Crazee]

Not sure if this helps or not but when I was first learning dog obedience we were told to not look directly into our dogs eyes and look over their head when giving commands etc as they will avoid eye contact as it is a form of confrontation for them.

If the vet cant find anything wrong with her and you are satisfied with that perhaps she is just avoiding confrontation with you as she knows your the boss......just a thought, could be right off base though! ;)

If you aren't satisfied with what the vet has told you perhaps you should try another vet to get a second opinion to just make sure everything is ok.

[polarpeak]

Perhaps ifyou think it is an eye problem a veterinary opthalmologist would be better than just your ordinary run of the mill vet. What area/state do you live in?

[Bosshog_Boo]

I have a dog who is "sight impaired".

I discovered this when she was approx 12 weeks old and very active. She could catch a ball, fetch etc, chase birds in the sky (its her quirk).

I knew something wasnt right because whenever I went outside she would run around with me but sometimes bump into things. Turns out her pupils dont quite work correctly so she can see but not 100%

Go to a vet who has specialised in eyes - they can tell you what is wrong and what can be done. My girl hasnt needed any treatment and lives a very active life.

[Kirty]

Dogs feel that eye contact is a dominance thing, however my dogs know their places but are still happy to make eye contact with me in a friendly way, and certainly look straight at me when I speak to them. I would be seeing a specialist if I were you. Good luck.

[~sgs~]

We just brought home a rescue with limited vision and is also deaf. The limited vision doesn't slow him up much, nor does the lack of hearing.

Edited June 20, 2008 by skygoddyss