The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Cataracts in Dogs The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Cataracts in Dogs
Showing posts with label Cataracts in Dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cataracts in Dogs. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Vision Loss in Senior Dogs — Symptoms and Management


Just as our eyesight can become impaired as we age, dogs can also suffer from vision loss as they enter their senior years. However, unlike humans, dogs do not rely on vision as their most important sense. Their noses and ears allow them to adapt quite well to changes in their eyesight. Here are the signs of potential vision impairment and some steps you can take to help your senior dog cope with any loss of sight.

Vision Loss: Causes and Symptoms
There are many causes of vision loss in older dogs, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.

One of the more probable causes is a cataract, when the lens of the eye is clouded over. A cataract will appear as a hazy, opaque white growth over the eye and often goes hand-in-hand with other illnesses, such as diabetes.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause a multitude of ocular problems, such as retinal detachment, which could lead to blindness. Untreated infections, chronic dry eye, and tumors or cancer can also cause blindness. It’s vital for your elderly dog to have regular visits (at least every 6-to-9 months) with his veterinarian, as the sooner the condition is detected and diagnosed, the better the possible outcome.

Signs that your dog is losing his eyesight can be quite obvious. He might bump into walls or furniture or have trouble locating his food or toys. He might stop making eye contact with you. The signs can also be subtler, such as being reluctant to jump on or off the couch, a new level of anxiety, or becoming clingy. Your dog may even begin to show aggression because his vision loss may leave him feeling vulnerable and more inclined to act offensively in an attempt to keep himself safe.

To read more on this story, click here: Vision Loss in Senior Dogs — Symptoms and Management

FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Cataracts in Dogs: Stages, Causes, Treatments, And More


A dog has a clear lens in its eyes to help him focus, similar to a camera. But much like humans, cataracts in dogs is serious and painful. A cataract usually isn’t painful, but it can impair vision and can eventually cause complete vision loss.

What is Cataracts in Dogs?
Cataracts in dogs are a disease that clouds the lens of the eye. Smaller cataracts in dogs typically do not impact vision as larger cataracts; however, all cataracts in dogs must be closely monitored to prevent blindness.

Cataract formation is typically caused by old age, disease (such as diabetes mellitus), and eye trauma. It appears as a murky, cloudy, grayish-blue color while some can also become red and irritated.

As the disease worsens, the eye lens can become completely opaque, causing total blindness.

Stages of Cataracts in Dogs
A cataract is an opacity in the eye lens that can range in size and severity. A very small (incipient cataract) does not typically impair vision.

Incipient cataracts is the very first stage of cataracts in dogs and caught early and treated by a veterinary ophthalmologist can lead to a good outcome for your dog.

Cataracts in dogs that are more opaque (immature cataract or also known as a “juvenile cataracts”) are more serious and typically cause blurred vision.

To read more on this story, click here: Cataracts in Dogs: Stages, Causes, Treatments, And More

FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, November 13, 2017

Does Your Pet Have Cataracts? – Do You Know the Symptoms?


Just as we humans get cataracts, so can our furry family members. Please take time to look at the videos and visit the websites below.

While attending a Love Ball (a Love Ball is an annual fundraiser) for the Montgomery County Humane Society last month, I met a pet owner with a cute little Shih Tzu, I don’t remember her name because I met a lot of dogs that night! I had fun with all the dogs, but this little one caught my attention because she look so much like my Sugar who crossed over the rainbow bridge in 2008.

Her mom told me that she was 15 years old and was recently diagnosed with cataracts. She told me that she was being treated, but had not yet decided on having surgery.

I am not an expert on cataracts in pets, but decided to research the information hoping that someone reading this blog with notice the signs of cataracts in their pet and get them to a vet before the condition worsens.

What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is an opacity in the lens of a dog’s eye, causing him to have blurry vision. If the cataract is small, it won’t likely disturb the dog’s vision too much, but cataracts must be monitored because the thicker and denser they become, the more likely it is they will lead to blindness.








If you suspect an eye problem with your pet, please take them to see a veterinarian immediately! FOLLOW US!
/