A Natural Solution to Help your Blind Dog Navigate their World
That moment your dog bumps into the coffee table and stands there, unsure which way to turn, you feel it too.
Vision loss in dogs is more common than most owners expect. 1 in 10 dogs will develop diabetes, and 75% of those will eventually lose their sight. Glaucoma alone takes the vision of 40% of affected dogs within their first year of diagnosis.
Blind dogs can still live full, joyful, independent lives. They just need the right tools to find their footing again.
That's exactly what Tracerz scent markers were made for. Small, natural, and remarkably effective, they help your dog rebuild confidence using their most powerful sense: smell.
What Are Innovet’s Tracerz Scent Markers?
Tracerz are small adhesive wax dots infused with 100% natural essential oils.They’re designed specifically to help blind and visually impaired dogs, and cats, move safely around the home.
A few characteristics make them indispensable:
- Stick to any surface, wood, vinyl, carpet, tile, plastic
- 6 distinct scents, assign each one a meaning (danger, food, safe path, stairs)
- Undetectable to humans at normal distance, no strong smells in your home
- No pheromones, no synthetic chemicals, no harsh ingredients
- Removable and repositionable as your layout changes
- Lasts up to 1 full year per marker
Just press them onto furniture edges, wall corners, stair tops, or anywhere you want your dog to notice.
Each marker gives off a subtle scent that people can’t smell from a normal distance, but your dog can easily pick up.
Each dot is a landmark. Together, they create an invisible map only your dog can read.
Tracerz is the result of Matt working to find a way that would help Maximus to retain his independence around the house, find food and water but also be able to stay safe by avoiding potentially dangerous situations, like stairs.
Matt and Dave, founders of Innovet, believe strongly that pet products should be safe and natural. This makes them ideal for pets and also the environment. It’s important that we all do our part to take care of the earth because we only have this one planet.
We want to make sure that we take care of this planet and only develop and sell products that are earth-friendly. As well, all natural products seem best for pets as we can never truly know how chemicals are making them feel.
This is why every product we formulate is made with the environment and your dog in mind. If it isn’t safe, it doesn’t pass the test to be sold. A lot of research goes into every single product and Tracerz is no different. It was created to fill a need and a niche that no one else was filling, a natural, eco-friendly way to help blind dogs.
We have worked diligently to create eco-friendly products that are affordable and effective. We go out of our way to ensure that the best ingredients are found to include in all of our formulations. Why? Because of Maximus and the other dogs we’ve loved for many years. Every product we create is created with our own pets in mind.
Many of them, specifically developed for issues our own pets have had.
Without Tracerz, even a well-acclimated blind dog will struggle to cope with these sorts of changes. With the help of familiar scent markers, your blind dog will be able to "see" with their nose and will be able to adjust to the unavoidable moves with more ease.
Tracerz are specific scented oils with a bag of round scent markers that you can attach in the environment of your home, office or place that your pet frequents. They can be used to alert him to a spot to avoid or a path to follow. The scent allows him to create a map within his or her mind that will help to maneuver through the household safely and find things and places.
There are six different scents in the bag that can be used to represent certain things.
We don’t use pheromones that may attract dogs to things. Instead, we use natural essential oils that can help to alert dogs to dangerous situations or help them find specific areas of the home or office.
Tracerz for blind dogs was developed to help Maximus, Matt’s Labrador Retriever who lived to be very old and had many health challenges. Maximus developed an eye condition at age 7 that left him blind. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) took his vision and it was a hard transition for Maximus. Suddenly, his own home was filled with potential dangers because he couldn’t see what he might walk right into.
Every table, wall, and piece of furniture was a potential pitfall, but he was an otherwise healthy dog at that time. He did face some other challenges as he reached his very senior years (Maximus lived to the age of 16) but when he became a blind dog, he was still a young, active pup that wanted to continue to move around on his own and even play.
Matt wanted his dog to be able to still enjoy his life, even in blindness. Tracerz was the idea that Matt came up with and it worked so well for Maximus that he just knew it was something that the blind dog world would welcome. There wasn’t anything around at that time, specifically for dogs that were visually impaired.
Setup takes under 30 minutes and requires no training experience.
Phase 1 - Map your home: Walk through each room to identify hazards (sharp corners, stairs, drop-offs) and note important destinations such as the food bowl, water, bed, and the door to the outside…
Phase 2 - Place your markers: Press one scent onto each hazard and follow the next steps
Phase 3 - Let your dog explore: Guide them gently through the space and let them sniff each marker without rushing. You can reward calm, confident movements during playtime.
Phase 4 - Watch the map form: Most dogs begin recognizing markers within a few days. You’ll notice fewer collisions and more purposeful movement. By then, you could simply adjust marker placement as needed
How to place your Markers
You have your Tracer in hand. Follow the next steps to place your scent marker correctly:
- Remove the dropper cap from the bottle.
- Microwave the bottle (no cap) for 1 minute.
- Press the dropper vial into the dropper head while the bottle is heating.
- Wait 1 minute after heating to let it cool down.
- Repeat the heating for 1 more minute, or until the wax is fully melted.
- Use a glove to remove the bottle (it will be very hot).
- Place the dropper cap back on to bring the vial to the right temperature.
- Apply the melted wax onto the dots using the dropper.
- Screw the cap on tightly when done.
- For future uses, loosen the cap slightly before reheating to avoid pressure buildup.
- Scratch the dots once a week to release a fresh burst of scent.
- Replace or top up each dot every 6 to 12 months.
Blindness changes how your dog sees the world. With your support, some helpful tools like Tracerz, and a bit of patience, blind dogs can still be playful, independent, and truly happy.
At home:
- Use Tracerz to mark hazards and create consistent scent paths
- Keep furniture in the same position during the adjustment period
- Remove loose rugs and clutter from main walking routes
- Speak to your dog often, your voice is a powerful anchor
Outside:
- Always use a short leash in unfamiliar environments
- Narrate as you walk, warn them of curbs, steps, and turns
- Stick to familiar routes at first
- Avoid retractable leashes, they reduce your ability to guide quickly
Marking hazards with Tracerz, keeping furniture in place, or talking to your dog during walks all make a difference. Your dog is still the same at heart. They just need your help to navigate their world.
Dogs don’t miss their vision in the way we might worry they do. They adjust more quickly than you might think, and your steady, calm presence is just as important as any product you choose.
- MOMarisa O.Rated 4 out of 5 stars5 years agoSmart Dogs Smart Tools
Prissy, our 6 yr old vizsla, succumbed to a sudden a severe case of glaucoma this summer and had to have both eyes removed. Her confidence was shaken and her world was turned upside down. I bought Tracerz to help her find her way around the house again by scent. Within 2 days she began to use the scented walls as her paths and guide. 3 weeks later she’s regained her confidence. She’s cautious but far more comfortable with navigating her own way about without an escort. She’s actively avoiding obstacles ...and at least not knocking into them as hard as she was. The Tracerz tool is definitely making this transition easier for Prissy and for us.
- MSMarylee S.Rated 5 out of 5 stars6 years agoScent Markers Really Do Work Well
Our 9-year-old diabetic miniature schnauzer suddenly went blind with diabetic cataracts. I had heard the onset of such blindness could occur suddenly and for Oliver it happened overnight. The scent markers really did help him to maneuver around furniture, get to his water and food bowls, and navigate to the door for potty breaks.
- MBMarilyn B.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars7 months agoHaven't Tried Yet
I haven't tried the product yet as we are completing a renovation and want things to be somewhat normal before using this so our pup doesn't get confused.
- SBSherrie B.Verified BuyerRated 3 out of 5 stars2 years agoTo long to get
I returned , unopened.
IPInnovet Pet2 years agoWe apologize for any inconvenience regarding your return. Please reach out to us at info@innovetpet.com, and we'll provide further guidance to resolve the issue. Thank you for your understanding.
- LSLinda S.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars2 years agoTracerz Scent Markers
I don't think that it is working. I followed the directions very closely and after over a week, my pup is still running into things. I don't feel that the cost is worth it.
IPInnovet Pet2 years agoWe're sorry to hear about your pup's experience. Please reach out to us at info@innovet.com with details for assistance and a possible solution. Your satisfaction is important to us.