Dogs and people are great pals. Part of the reason? Dogs has excellent senses. For example, puppies’ noses are 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans’, making them great hunting companions and search-and-rescue team members.
Eyesight is one area where people typically hold the upper hand (or paw) — or so we’ve thought for years. To some extent, this is true. Dogs see fewer colours and have less acute eyesight than humans. Can dogs see in the darkness? What constitutes “normal” vision for dogs?
Understanding the responses to these questions is critical. Vision impairment might limit a dog’s ability to roam around the house or outside, but there are ways to make the surroundings safer. Furthermore, understanding a dog’s vision might assist you in training.
What’s the matter with dogs’ night vision? The solution may surprise you; see it below.
Can dogs see in the darkness?
Canines without eyesight loss can see in the dark. Dogs have greater night vision than humans. Surprised? That is understandable. Dogs have “normal” eyesight of 20/75, which isn’t as keen as humans’ 20/20 vision, and they see far shorter distances. Dogs aren’t colorblind (that’s a myth), but they only see yellows and blues, far fewer than most people. However, dogs see better in the dark than we do.
Keep a watchful eye on your dog the next time you take it for a walk before or after sunrise or dusk. You may note how swiftly they travel between objects. You may suppose they are utilising their nose (and are possibly more agile than you). These assumptions may be correct. However, it is likely that the eyes are also working. In low-light conditions, Fido sees movement and light better than you do.
Why? How? Prepare to get to know your pooch better.
Evolution
Before they started living with people and stealing all the blankets, dogs were wild animals that were nocturnal (much like their feline relatives, who are still night owls). Dogs were most active from twilight until dawn. To hunt and protect themselves, dogs needed to be able to see movement in low light. Otherwise? Simply put, the dogs would starve (or become someone else’s meal).
Dogs have evolved. However, canines retained their night vision from their feral days. Previously, humans did not require exceptional night vision. We used to labour only during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset.
A dog’s eye structure
The canine eye anatomy enables dogs to see well in low-light conditions. Dogs, like humans, have a retina, which collects light that enters the eye and works with the brain to change it into what we perceive.
Here is the difference: A dog’s retina is studded with light-sensitive rods that gather weak light and let him see better at night. A human retina contains more cones, allowing us to detect colour and have clearer vision when it is light out.
That isn’t the only feature of the canine eye that allows dogs to see clearly in the dark. Dogs have a tapetum lucidum, which is a fancy term for a portion of the eye located behind the retina. Humans do not have one. The tapetum lucidum resembles a mirror. When light enters the eye, the tapetum lucidum reflects it, giving the retina a second chance to detect the light. As a result, dogs have higher visual sensitivity and can notice objects in low light.
The location of the dog’s eyes
Most canine breeds have eyes located closer to the sides of their heads than humans. As a result, dogs have a wider range, allowing them to monitor their surroundings faster. While puppies may not have the same range of vision as humans, their scanning abilities allow them to protect themselves and notice objects in low-light situations.
Why do dogs’ eyes glow in the dark?
Have you ever noticed your dog’s eyes glitter in the dark? When taking images with a flash, you may notice this “strange” glow, which is green-yellow. That’s the dog’s tapetum, the portion of the eye that helps a puppy see in the dark. The tapetum, like a mirror, reflects light. You can see this when a car’s headlights reflect in your dog’s eyes or when you shine a torch in their eyes (which you should not do).
Final thoughts
Humans have greater vision than dogs in daylight. Canines reign supreme after the sun goes down. In the wild, dogs were most active between dark and dawn. Today’s puppies inherited this trait. Dogs also have an eye structure that makes them superior at night vision. If your dog is having difficulty seeing at night, you may be inclined to dismiss it as “typical poor vision” in dogs. However, since dogs often see well at night, you should consult with your veterinarian. If your dog has vision loss, your veterinarian can help you make their life safer and more accessible.