This condition is painful, and very high intraocular (inside the eyes) pressure is considered a veterinary emergency, as it can lead to permanent damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. Glaucoma in dogs occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases, resulting in damage to the structures in the eye. There is a surgical solution for cataracts, but it is best to do this as early in their formation as possible,” says Dr. Sometimes they do not pose any additional problems beyond vision loss itself, but other times they can lead to an even more serious issue – glaucoma. Some of the breeds most commonly affected include the Australian Shepherd, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Havanese, Silky Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky, and West Highland White Terrier.Ĭataracts can obscure your dog’s vision. These cataracts can occur when the dogs are puppies or as they age, depending on the type of inherited cataracts, and they usually occur in both eyes. Some breeds of dog are more susceptible to hereditary cataracts than others. There are a variety of causes of cataracts in dogs, including age, trauma, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and genetics. These protein strands gradually obscure the lens, making it harder for your dog to see and in some cases causing total blindness. These materials are organized in a very specific way, and when the proteins start to clump together, either as the result of age or trauma, they can form cataracts. The lens is made up of water and protein. The lens in both dog eyes and human eyes acts like a camera lens, focusing light on the film at the back of the eye, called the retina, where the brain then processes the information to form a picture of the world around it. These white, milky changes to your dog’s lens are the result of abnormal lens metabolism. “If your dog develops nuclear sclerosis, your vet will want to conduct regular check-ups to look for cataracts.” Cataracts in Dogsĭogs develop cataracts just like people do. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. “It is often common for dogs who have nuclear sclerosis to also develop cataracts,” says Dr. There is no treatment needed because the condition does not cause serious problems, but it might be a good idea to discuss your dog’s aging eyes with your veterinarian, so that you know what to expect as your dog grows older. Nuclear sclerosis is a change in the lens of the eye that normally occurs with aging. The two conditions look different when your veterinarian examines your dog’s eyes with an ophthalmoscope. It tends to affect both eyes at the same time. More important, nuclear sclerosis (also called lenticular sclerosis) does not significantly diminish your dog’s vision the way cataracts do. Nuclear sclerosis usually gives your dog’s eyes a cloudy, bluish discoloration, unlike cataracts, which are white and opaque. Both conditions cause the lens to appear cloudy, but there are a few differences. It is easy to confuse cataracts and nuclear sclerosis. However, focusing ability may become impaired.” “Unlike cataracts,” Coster says, “this condition rarely causes vision impairment. “Most dogs, with age, develop a haze within the lens similar to cataracts, called nuclear sclerosis,” says veterinary ophthalmologist Martin Coster, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO). Nuclear Sclerosis in DogsĪs dogs age, some cloudiness is normal. However, there are some other conditions that can also create a cloudy appearance in your dog’s eyes that require immediate veterinary attention. The most common causes of cloudy eyes in senior dogs are nuclear sclerosis and cataracts. While your veterinarian is your best source of information about your dog’s eye health, it helps to know what types of problems can cause a cloudy appearance in your dog’s eyes, and any other symptoms you can look out for. Trying to distinguish between what is normal and what is a problem can be tricky. But cloudy eyes in dogs can also can be a symptom of a number of eye problems. When you see dogs with cloudy eyes, it may be a natural part of the aging process. After all, we don’t want our dogs to lose their vision or be uncomfortable. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then it is no wonder we get worried when we notice cloudy eyes in dogs.
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