Cataracts in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Do your dog's eyes look strangely milky or cloudy? If you've noticed these symptoms, you might be wondering if your beloved pet has cataracts. This common eye condition can affect dogs of any age, but it's most common in seniors.

Age-related cataracts can affect your dog's vision and quality of life, but the good news is this: with early detection and treatment, you can minimize the effects of cataracts in dogs.

Here's what the team at Allure Veterinary Partners wants you to know about cataracts.

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are cloudy, or opaque, areas that cover part or all of the lens of the eye. Because they cover the lens, cataracts make it hard for light to reach your pet's retina, which leads to vision impairment or even total blindness.

Causes of Cataracts in Dogs

Multiple different factors can cause cataracts to develop in dogs, including:

• Aging: Age-related changes in your dog's body can cause cataracts, which is why they're common in senior dogs.
• Genetics: Breeds like labrador retrievers, poodles, and cocker spaniels, are more at risk of developing cataracts simply because of their genetic makeup.
• Diabetes: Cataracts can develop quickly in diabetic dogs.
• Eye injuries: Any trauma to a dog's eye can trigger a cataract to develop.
• Inflammation or infections: Eye diseases like uveitis (inflammation of the eye) can lead to cataracts.

Cataracts usually grow slowly, unless a dog is diabetic. The symptoms include a bluish-gray or white haziness in the eye and increased clumsiness as your dog struggles with her vision.

Treatment Options for Cataracts

There aren't any medications that get rid of cataracts, but cataract surgery can. In cataract surgery, a veterinarian removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. This is a lot like cataract surgery in humans, and it has a high success rate.

If cataract surgery isn't an option, you can work with your veterinarian to manage any underlying conditions causing them. This can include managing diabetes or eye inflammation with regular vet check-ups and treatment plans.

Plenty of dogs adapt well to vision loss due to cataracts. You can help by keeping your pet's environment consistent and relying more on verbal cues to help your dog safely navigate her world.

If you believe your dog may have cataracts, reach out to our caring veterinary team at Allure Veterinary Partners. We can discuss cataract surgery and other treatments and management options that work for you and your pet.

Call us today at (916) 680-9975 to schedule a vision appointment!