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Did you know that glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in dogs?
Canine glaucoma can strike quickly and without warning.
Sometimes, by the time you get to the vet, there's already permanent damage.
That's why it's important to know the symptoms of glaucoma in dogs.
The more you know about it, the better chance you'll have of getting help in time.
What Is Glaucoma In Dogs?
Here's how it works: The eye contains a type of fluid called aqueous humor that maintains the eye's shape.This fluid is constantly being produced, and if an equal amount can't get out of the eye, the pressure starts to build up.
Simply put, a dangerously high pressure inside the eyeball causes glaucoma in dogs.
So why is that a problem?
Just as high blood pressure can damage the heart, too much pressure inside the eye can damage the eye's inner workings.
The retina (a structure at the back of the eye that's essential for vision) and the optic nerve (that carries visual signals to the brain) are especially sensitive to an eye pressure problem.
Glaucoma can also break down the structures holding the lens in place and can cause damage to the iris and cornea.
Causes of Glaucoma in Dogs
There are two main types of glaucoma--primary and secondary.Primary glaucoma is a hereditary disease, and is seen most often in American Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Australian Shepherds, Chow Chows, Samoyeds, Shar Peis, Labrador Retrievers and Nordic breeds (Huskies, Elkhounds, etc.).
With primary glaucoma in dogs, there's a developmental defect of the drainage structures within the dog's eye.
Since the eye can't drain properly, the pressure inside the eye slowly builds up to dangerous levels--usually by middle age, if not before.
Primary glaucoma usually begins in one eye, but in most dogs it eventually involves both eyes, leading to complete blindness.
The second eye is usually affected from 5 months to two years after the first eye.
Secondary glaucoma in dogs occurs when something happens in the eye that prevents normal fluid flow and drainage.
Some of these problems may be:
- Dislocated lens
- Detached retina
- Eye inflammation (uveitis)
- Cancer in the eye
- Advanced cataracts
- Trauma to the eye (scratch or other injury)
So check your Golden Retriever carefully for eye injuries, and take prompt action if you see any of the symptoms explained below.
Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma In Dogs
Glaucoma is believed to be even more painful in dogs than it is in people. Your dog may keep his eye closed, paw at his eye, or rub his head along the floor to try to relieve the pain.He may lose his appetite, become irritable, and have less desire to play. Here are a few other glaucoma symptoms you can watch for:
- Inflamed, "bloodshot" eye
- Squinting or fluttering eyelids
- Tearing in his eye
- Cloudy (whitish/blue) cornea (front surface of the eye)
If you notice any of these signs of glaucoma in dogs, get your dog to the veterinarian immediately. If it's Friday night, don't wait until Monday. Go now!
As the disease quickly progresses, the result is large, bulging eyes and pupils that won't contract in light. But by the time these symptoms are seen, it's often too late to save your dog's vision in that eye.
Since all this can happen in a matter of a few hours, the earlier the glaucoma is diagnosed, the better the chance of saving your dog's vision.
Diagnosing Glaucoma in Dogs
There's only one way to diagnose glaucoma in dogs early enough to get successful treatment--by using a small device called a tonometer that measures pressure within a dog's eye.
It's a simple and quick glaucoma test that can be done in your vet's office.
A drop of local anesthetic is put in your dog's eye, and then the tonometer is gently tapped against the eyeball to get a pressure reading.
The whole test only takes a minute or two.
Even my Husky mix, Molly (pictured here) cooperated beautifully when she had this procedure done while being treated for a scratched eye.
Treating Glaucoma In Dogs
Your vet has several goals:
- Decrease the pressure within the eye
- Reduce the amount of fluid the eye produces
- Increase the amount of fluid drainage
- Control any inflammation within the eye
- Treat or correct any underlying causes
- Provide pain relief, as necessary
- Save the dog's vision, if possible
In many cases, your veterinarian will initiate treatment immediately.
But he may also refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist.
That's a specialist who spends his whole day working with the eyes of animals.
Unfortunately, there are no miracle glaucoma cures.
But if it's caught early and treated aggressively, many times primary glaucoma in dogs can be managed for at least a while with medication.
Both topical medications (eyedrops for glaucoma, placed directly on the eye) and systemic medications (pills or injections) are available.
It's vitally important that your dog gets his glaucoma eyedrops as many times a day as the vet prescribes, to keep pressure from building up again to dangerous levels.
Unfortunately, the first eye to develop primary glaucoma in dogs is usually already blind by the time the disease is recognized.
In these cases, treatment is directed at relieving discomfort in the blind eye and preventing or delaying glaucoma development in the other eye.
When you've unsuccessfully run through the whole gamut of medications and surgery for glaucoma, and the pressure within the eye remains high, when the dog is in constant pain, or when the eye is blind and glaucoma therapy is too expensive to continue, then surgical removal of the eye may be considered.
You can even replace it with a prosthetic eye, if you want to. That's just for your benefit, of course--your dog doesn't really care what he looks like.
Dealing With Glaucoma In Dogs
Canine glaucoma is a very frustrating disease because it requires constant monitoring, may require several different therapies, has a high cost financially, and despite excellent care often still results in permanent vision loss.
Even if your dog is currently on medication, it's best to prepare yourself for the idea that the time might come when your pooch is no longer comfortable with his eye intact.
Having an eye removed is actually not as painful or traumatic for a dog as you might imagine.
Because he relies so heavily on scent and hearing, losing some or all of his sight isn't such a big deal for a dog.
Even without sight, your dog can still lead a happy and fulfilling life. As long as he has you in his life, he'll be totally content.
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