I need to test my dog's eyesight?

Question

My cockapoo is slightly over a year old, and is always barking at things that inexplicably frighten him. Sometimes he'll be sitting in his cage, and all of a sudden something that's been there forever will suddenly become a threat. He barks uncontrollably until he or the item is moved. He did the same thing with a trash can yesterday. We are now considering the fact that maybe he has bad eyesight (common in cockapoos) and I would like to get his eye's tested, but don't want to spend a bunch of money at the vet yet. Is there a way to do a test at home?

Answer 1

I know this is not the kind of answer you were looking for but... what would you do if you found out he as bad eye sight?  Unless you are willing to spend lots of $ on a treatment, is it even worth getting the eye sight tested... eye health yes, eysight...???  I don't think you can give a dog glasses :)

Answer 2

Well you knew you would be spending a lot of money on vet bills when you bought this kind of mongrel.  

It might not be his eyesight.  There is a condition called "Cocker rage" that manifests itself like this, and he is at the right age for it to become really noticeable.  Or it could be a combination of that, and one of the many eye conditions both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles that are badly bred suffer from.  It will get worse.  And will mean the dog will need to be kept under some degree of sedation, as well as have expensive eye care.

Answer 3

If your state has a veterinary college, you can take him to the opthalmologist there.

I take all of my puppies when they're six weeks old & they charge me about 15 dollars a puppy.

Answer 4

Hold a flash light(turned off) up to his face. Now turn it on. Does he flinch at the brightness of the light. If not, you should spend the money going to the vet. If he does flinch the other problems could mean that he has some sort of mental disease. To test his farther away sight I would hold a largely sized treat or loved toy and take about 15 steps back. Does he run for it or squint at it? Hope that I helped and best wishes for your pup!!!

Answer 5

Nope, you should take him to the vet and have his eyesight checked.

Answer 6

    At my vet's advice I tested a dog's eyesight after he barked like a nut at a huge Dish antenna that had been there for years. I put obstacles for him to jump over or go around in the garage in a dim light and watched how he manuvered. We found his peripheral

vision was poor.