Approximately 39 percent of U.S. households have at least one dog, reports The Humane Society of the United States, with more than 78.2 million dogs owned across the country. Many people lavish love and attention on their dogs, and treat them as an honored member of the family.  And although they spend considerable time with their pet, it’s easy to miss early signs that their four-legged friend is experiencing vision problems.

Vision problems, such as hazy vision or complete blindness, commonly occur as dogs advance in years. Other contributing factors may be heredity, disease or injury. Unfortunately, increasing numbers of dogs have diabetes, with an estimated 1 in 10 dogs worldwide experiencing this disease. Those that are obese or don’t have proper nutrition tend to be more susceptible.

About three out of four dogs with diabetes also develop cataracts within in the first year of diagnosis, which may result in partial or complete blindness. Other vision problems include glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy and suddenly acquired retinal degeneration syndrome.

Dogs do not have the same level of vision detail as their owners. Even though dogs can detect moving objects in dim light, they cannot focus as well on close-up objects. Many dogs also are colorblind.

Pet owners are advised to seek veterinary care as soon as their dog exhibits any vision changes. Early diagnosis is important in providing treatment.

Learn more about detecting canine vision problems by reading the WebMd article “Healthy Dogs.”