In dogs, blindness and foaming of the mouth are two symptoms that are usually unrelated. When these symptoms occur together, it is usually indicative of a more serious illness or disease such as rabies or epilepsy. Apart, these symptoms are often the sign of a more treatable disease. However, owners should be aware of the causes of both conditions in order to best provide their dog with the appropriate help.
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Rabies
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Rabies is a serious viral infection that is often fatal. Dogs with rabies may have both foaming at the mouth and blindness accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of coordination, aggression, seizures, circling and a change of voice.
Epilepsy/Seizures
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Epilepsy can cause both blindness and foaming at the mouth during an epileptic seizure; though blindness is relatively uncommon. Additional symptoms of a seizure include collapse followed by convulsions, excessive salivation and loss of bowel and bladder control.
Daily Activity
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Occasionally, certain daily activities such as playing with certain toys―such as a ball or a stick―may cause foaming at the mouth. This is usually not a cause for concern, as it is a normal result of some dogs who become excited. However; foaming of the mouth may also occur because of stress or fear.
Heat Stroke
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In some dogs, foaming at the mouth may be a sign of heat stroke. Additional symptoms of heat stroke include heavy panting, vomiting, increased salivation, diarrhea, paleness or gray gums, shallowed breathing, seizures or coma.
Environmental Factors
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Various environmental factors may also lead to foaming of the mouth in canines. This includes contact with certain animals―such as poisonous toads―but can also include other environmental factors such as surrounding vegetation or odors.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye Syndrome)
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Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye syndrome, can eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. Repetitive dry eye leads to corneal scarring, pigment deposits on the surface of the cornea and blood vessel in-growth; all of which contribute to vision loss or blindness.
Infection
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Various infections―including those that are fungal, bacterial, parasitic, viral or protozoal―can all lead to canine blindness. In these cases, the infection can cause retinal detachment; thus resulting in blindness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
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PRA, or progressive retinal atrophy, is a hereditary disease that affects both eyes. In this disease, the pigment cells of the retina are killed off and eventually leads to loss of vision, night blindness and eventually total loss of sight.
Entropion
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In severe cases, entropion can lead to blindness in dogs. Entropion is a condition in which the eyelid margins are inverted, but it can also be due to heavy facial folds or brows―such as those found in certain breeds such as the Shar-Pei.
Lens Luxation
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Lens luxation is a condition where the eye lens is located in the wrong part of the eye. If left untreated, it may result in glaucoma and eventually can lead to reduced vision and blindness in one or both of the eyes of the affected dog.
Glaucoma
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Glaucoma is a condition in which the eye becomes enlarged due to pressure buildup. Dogs with glaucoma may eventually become blind in one or both eyes.
Uveitis
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When the ciliary body and the iris of a canine eye become inflamed, it is referred to as "soft eye," or uveitis. Uveitis may cause many additional symptoms, including blindness, severe tearing, a protruding third eyelid, squinting, a hazy or cloudy appearance, avoidance of light and redness.
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