Regrettably, most senior dogs do not see as well as they did when they were younger, there are 4 disorders listed here that cause their entire world to become cloudy.
1. Cataracts are the most common cause. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye lens. They occur when the normal mechanics of the lens is altered, along with the regular balance of water and protein in the eye alter, permitting excess water to enter the lens. The eye has a whitish cloudiness to it. If the cataracts have progressed sufficiently, your dog may well show signs of vision loss.
Almost all senior dogs at some point acquire a blue-gray color as opposed to a white color on their eyes. Many people tend to mistake this development for cataracts, it is a great deal more probably that such dogs actually have a condition referred to as nuclear stenosis, which has little effect on the dog's ability to see.
The only real cure for cataracts is to have the lens removed surgically. However if your dog has diabetes or you have an elderly dog that is failing in health, it would be best to simply get treatment for any inflammation that the cataracts have caused and of course, to take as many steps as possible to revive your elderly dogs overall health.
Older dogs are particularly vulnerable to conjunctivitis or "Pink eye", that is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that surrounds the eyeball and eyelids. This common canine eye condition has a number of causes, including bacterial or viral infections, foreign bodies in the eye, irritation from shampoos and dips, or possibly allergies, and a wide range of other underlying eye diseases.
2. Conjunctivitis. A dog with conjunctivitis shows very apparent signs of discomfort in the eye area. Redness will appear in the white parts of the eye and, or the eyelids, your pooch may squint or even paw at the affected eye. The eye will most likely emit a discharge, although the nature of the discharge often depends on the main cause of the conjunctivitis.
To treat conjunctivitis, the vet will try and figure out what brought on the condition in the first place. If the veterinarian can determine the cause, treatment is going to be based on his findings. The veterinarian will start out by alleviating the distress your dog is feeling. If the veterinarian does not discover a exact cause, he generally prescribes a topical antibiotic and or corticosteroid to decrease irritation and eliminate the infection. Conjunctivitis clears up reasonably fast if the underlying cause is identified and eliminated. If the cause is unknown, remedy of the symptoms tends to be slow.
3. Dry eye, formally known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS, results when a dog's eye does not produce enough tears. Causes of dry eye include skin allergies, side effects of certain drugs, and of course, age. Among some breeds, like Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, and West Highland Terriers, the condition is relatively common. With no treatment, the surface of the cornea could become damaged, that can significantly increase the discomfort your dog is already feeling and will certainly lead to blindness.
A dog with dry eye acquires a red eye that discharges thick mucus. Your canine will start to squint to alleviate the discomfort or paw at the eyes. Crusty material tend to form at the corners.
Dry eye responds very well to appropriate treatment. Cyclosporine in cream or liquid form, a couple times a day can increase your dog's tear production. Artificial tears and antibiotic eye medications can help too. Wiping away the crusty eye material at the corners is a wise course of action, just soak a cotton ball with warm water or acquire dog wipes designed to be gentle around the eye area. The moisture will soften the crusts making it easier to wipe away. Sadly, in many cases, treatment contunues for the rest of your dog's life.
4. Glaucoma results when the fluid within the eye, which normally drains into the circulatory system, is blocked from making such an exit. As a result, the fluid accumulates and takes up space in the eye, causing fluid pressure inside the eye to increase. As the pressure increases, the optic nerve becomes irreversibly damaged. With no treatment, the dog loses sight in the eye.
A abrupt bright redness in the eye is a familiar symptom of glaucoma. Other signs consist of light sensitivity, dilated pupils, loss of vision, eyelid spasms, eye enlargement, discoloration or cloudiness of the cornea, and rubbing or pawing of the eye area. The dog also may tilt his head on the same side as the affected eye so as to alleviate the pressure. Unlike human glaucoma, the canine version of this disease can be incredibly aggressive, because of this, your canine could lose sight in the eye within just a few days if he is not treated as quickly as possible.
Treatment is dependent on whether or not any sight remains in the affected eye. If the eye retains some sight, surgery to either diminish the production of fluid or to bypass the blockage may help. To decrease pressure within the eye, prescribed medications will help. When the pupil no longer responds to light, your dog loses his vision in the affected eye. At that point, the best course of action is frequently to remove the eye in order to remove any infection or pain that results from the disease. A prosthetic eye may be used to take the place of the eye.
A dog with glaucoma at some point loses sight in the affected eye, and generally, sadly, the other eye is affected later on. Fast treatment might put off the inevitable, generally for quite a while.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.natureezine.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
