When walking your dog on dark evenings or leaving them to roam the house at night, you may have wondered, "Do dogs see in the dark?" Do they have some kind of built-in night-vision goggles?

As a pet parent, it's natural to worry about our furry companions. We're here to put your mind at ease and let you know whether you need to start leaving a light on for your doggy pal.

Can Dogs See in the Dark?

Dogs cannot see in complete darkness and still require some light to see, as light stimulates the photoreceptor cells. But they're still able to move around in darkness better than humans, thanks to their other senses.
Dogs will use their sense of smell and hearing to help them see. You may have witnessed your dog chase after a rabbit before it has seen it because it has caught its scent.

What Colours Can Dogs See?

While humans can see a wide range of colours, dogs have only two cone types in their eyes to detect colour. Dog vision can be related to that of someone with red-green colour blindness. They see various shades of grey, yellow, and blue - not just black and white!

Dogs have poorer depth perception than humans, see fewer colours, have lower visual acuity to detect finer details, and have a narrower field of view because they're closer to the ground. But when it comes to night vision, a dog's eyesight exceeds that of humans.

How Do Dogs' Eyes Work?

To understand how dog vision works, you first need to know about the anatomy of their eye. It's made up of the sclera, conjunctiva, cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina.

• Sclera: The sclera is the white part of the eye.
• Conjunctiva: The conjunctiva is the lining of the eyelids that helps to clean and protect the eye, alongside the third eyelid.
• Cornea: The cornea is a transparent layer that focuses and controls the light that enters the eye.
• Iris and pupil: The iris is the coloured part of the eye with the pupil in the middle. They work together to control the amount of light that is let into the back of the eye, depending on the lighting conditions.
• Lens: Behind the pupil is the lens, which focuses the light. It changes shapes to help the eye focus on objects.
• Retina: At the back of the eye, the retina contains photoreceptor cells called rods and cones that convert light into nerve signals. Light-sensitive rods recognise black and white, so they are useful in dim lighting for detecting shapes and motion. Cones detect colours and work on sharpness and clarity.

What Do Dogs See at Night?

While humans often stumble around in the dark looking for a light switch, dogs' eyes have some anatomical differences that help them to hunt and survive at night. Let's dive deeper into these now:

Tapetum Lucidum

A reflective tissue that's located beneath the retina. The tapetum lucidum acts like a mirror, reflecting light onto the retina, giving it another chance to register it. This means dogs can see in dim light because their eyes use light more efficiently than human eyes do.

Some dogs don't have a tapetum layer; this is most common in blue-eyed dogs, Labrador retrievers, and Beagles.

Rod-dominated Retina

A dog's eyes contain more rods than cones, which means that their motion detection and shape recognition are enhanced. Dogs can detect movement over greater distances than humans, even in low-light conditions. So they're more likely to spot a moving object far away than a closer stationary object. Before being domesticated, dogs would hunt during dawn and dusk.

Larger pupil size

It may not sound like an uber-impressive superpower, but pooches have larger pupils than humans, allowing more light to enter the eye and improving night vision.

Dogs have excellent peripheral vision due to the positioning of their eyes, meaning they don't need to turn their heads to see to the side.

Breeds with longer noses have better peripheral vision than shorter-nosed breeds, like Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs, and French Bulldogs.

Why Do My Dog’s Eyes Glow in the Dark?

You've no doubt seen your dog's eyes glowing at night when a torch, car headlights or a camera flash hits them. This is because of the tapetum lucidum, a layer of the eye that reflects light onto the retina.

The colour of the glow can vary from orange, blue, green or a yellow hue. If your dog doesn't have a tapetum layer, their eyes will appear red due to the blood vessels at the back of the eye.

Can Dogs See in Complete Darkness?

Dogs cannot see in total darkness and still require some light to see, as light stimulates the photoreceptor cells. However, they're still able to move around in darkness better than humans, thanks to their other senses.

Your pooch will use their sense of smell and hearing to help them see. You may have witnessed your dog chase after a rabbit before it has seen it because it has caught its scent.

Is There Something Wrong With My Dog’s Vision?

If you're worried about your dog's vision, it's best to get them checked by a vet. Many eye conditions can cause reduced vision, such as glaucoma and cataracts. Some conditions can lead to complete blindness. Look out for the following signs:

• Bumping into objects
• Clouding of the eye
• Dilated pupil
• Increased tearing
• Nervousness in dim lighting
• Pawing or rubbing eyes
• Red eyes

A dog's vision may naturally deteriorate as they age, so some changes to their vision are normal. Always speak to your vet if you have any concerns.

Can Dogs See Better Than Humans?

Dogs' eyesight is poorer than humans' in daylight, but dogs have better night vision. There are a few factors that improve a dog's eyesight at night, but the most important is the special additional layer in the eye called the tapetum lucidum and the fact that dogs have more rod cells in their retina.

So, you no longer need to worry about walking your dog in the evening or leaving them alone at night. However, your dog doesn't have night vision and can't see in complete darkness, so they may appreciate a small night light.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

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