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Glaucoma in dogs presents itself with clouded eyes, as seen in this Labrador Retriever.
Glaucoma in dogs is a serious eye condition that every owner should take seriously. Discover why glaucoma in dogs needs treatment and how to spot the symptoms in this article.
Glaucoma isn’t just a serious illness in humans – it’s one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs and cats too. Moreover, it can lead to painful consequences for dogs.
Don’t ignore the signs and seek your veterinarian’s advice at the earliest suspicion.
Symptoms: How to Spot Glaucoma in Dogs
Depending on the severity of the condition, your dog might show the following signs if suffering from glaucoma:
The eye appears red and cloudy
Your pet is sensitive to light and squints (Blepharospasm)
Your dog eats less
The pupils are dilated
The animal seems in significant pain
Your dog’s behaviour changes, such as becoming anxious
Over time, affected dogs can lose their sight and may appear disoriented, struggling to navigate their familiar environment.
If glaucoma is left untreated, leading to chronic glaucoma, your dog’s eyeball can significantly enlarge.
When Should I Visit the Vet?
If your dog behaves unusually or shows any signs of illness, head to your vet – especially if your pooch is suddenly in pain.
Don’t hesitate, even if it’s the weekend or you’re busy. Prompt action can save your furry friend from potential long-term damage.
Which Dogs are Often Affected?
Any dog can develop glaucoma regardless of age or gender. However, an inherited risk for primary glaucoma has been described in certain breeds:
The vet diagnoses glaucoma amongst other means by using ophthalmic tonometers.
Diagnosis: Recognising Glaucoma in Dogs
If you notice any typical symptoms, visit your vet promptly. They can conduct simple tests to determine whether your dog might have glaucoma or another eye condition.
The Examination Process
Your vet will examine your dog’s eye externally and discuss your pet’s history with you.
After inspecting the eye for injuries and other abnormalities, the vet uses a tonometer to measure the intraocular pressure in both eyes.
These medical instruments resemble a pen that the vet gently places on the cornea. No anaesthesia is needed, but local anaesthetic drops can prevent blinking.
If the intraocular pressure is above the normal range of 10-23mm Hg, it indicates that your dog has glaucoma.
Treatment: Managing Glaucoma in Dogs
The aim is to reduce the intraocular pressure. The chosen therapy depends on the cause, the damage incurred, and your dog’s age and health.
Conservative Measures
Your vet may reduce the pressure with infusions or pressure-lowering medications.
Various drops or tablets can lessen the production of aqueous humour.
To ease pain and inflammation, painkillers and anti-inflammatories may be prescribed for your dog.
Surgical Measures
In severe cases, medication may not suffice, and eye surgery might be necessary to destroy the ciliary body responsible for producing aqueous fluid. This can be achieved with lasers or cryotherapy.
If the eye’s function is compromised, your vet might need to remove the afflicted eye. This enucleation can enable a pain-free life for your dog.
Regular Check-ups
Once your vet has controlled or operated on the glaucoma, regular eye examinations are crucial to monitor therapy success and spot any pressure changes.
Pressure-reducing eye drops are just one of the many treatments for managing glaucoma in dogs.
Causes: How Does Glaucoma Develop in Dogs?
The ciliary body produces aqueous humour, a fluid that flows from the back to the front chamber of the eye, nourishing the cornea’s endothelium with nutrients and oxygen.
The fluid drains through the chamber angle between the iris and cornea. If it can’t drain or if too much humour is produced, intraocular pressure rises, resulting in glaucoma.
Two types of glaucoma can affect dogs.
Primary Glaucoma
Primary glaucoma stems from a congenital defect, often development disorders of the chamber angle (Goniodysgenesis), like anomalous ligamentum pectinatum bridging the angle.
Secondary Glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma arises from other eye changes, obstructing the humour’s flow through the pupil or chamber angle. Common causes include:
Bleeding: Eyeball injuries can lead to bleeding, blocking the front chamber (Hyphema).
Inflammation: Eye inflammations at various sites can cause increased pressure.
Lens Dislocation: A common issue is lens dislocation, slipping into the front chamber (anterior Luxatio) or vitreous body (posterior Luxatio).
Tumours: Even cancer can hinder aqueous humour drainage.
Prognosis: Is Glaucoma in Dogs Curable?
Glaucoma constitutes a severe eye disease that can lead to vision loss in dogs. Unchecked, it causes severe pain, affecting quality of life.
The prognosis hinges on glaucoma’s cause and your dog’s general health. While complications may occur post-surgery, many dogs can still lead happy lives under early and continual therapy.
Life with Glaucoma
If your dog loses an eye to the disease, it generally adapts over time.
Support and patience are paramount on your part. Together, you can ensure a pain-free, joyful life despite blindness.
For advice on living with a blind dog, check out zooplus magazine.
Prevention: Can You Avoid Glaucoma in Dogs?
Due to the variety of causes, preventing glaucoma isn’t always possible. However, reducing overall risk factors is wise through appropriate care and feeding.
Also, regularly inspect your dog’s eyes for any changes. Spotting issues like foreign bodies early can mean swift help for your pet.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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