Central (post‐retinal) visual impairment in the dog—a clinical‐pathological study

Three cases of central (post‐retinal) visual impairment are reported in the dog, which are considered atypical due to the discrete neurological signs resulting from relatively specific central visual pathway pathology. In case 1 a squamous cell carcinoma was found compressing the optic nerves and chiasma. Case 2 had a focal granulomatous meningitis which compressed and infiltrated the lateral geniculate bodies. In case 3, widespread anaemic infarction was found in the cerebral cortex of the occipital lobes. The clinical‐pathological correlations are discussed. It is concluded that ‘visual impairment’ may be a more appropriate term than ‘blindness’ to define visual disturbance in animals.