Cataracts in Dogs

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Cataracts in Dogs

By: Dr. Jennifer Welser

Pages 1 2

4 5 6

Section: Information In-depth

See Larger Image

Various eye diseases can cause a cloudy white appearance similar to that observed with cataracts. Many such diseases result in poor vision or blindness. Your veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist will be able to tell you if the white appearance and vision loss is caused by cataracts, by disease of the cornea (the clear outer covering of the eye), or the retina ( the specialized light receptor layer in the back of the eye).

There are several causes of cataracts including:

Genetic. Cataracts in dogs are frequently inherited. Over 40 breeds of dogs are known to be predisposed to cataracts, including retrievers, spaniels, poodles, schnauzers, terriers, bichon frises, Siberian huskies and Old English sheepdogs. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) maintains statistics on breeds of dogs and their reported eye diseases in order to make breeding recommendations (www.

vmdb.org....click on CERF). In general, if a dog has cataracts and no other plausible cause can be determined, the cataracts are thought to be inherited.

For some breeds, there is a considerable experience regarding the natural history (progression) of disease. For example, in the golden retriever, cataracts are frequently centered in the back of the lens and tend not to progress. In the Boston terrier, cataracts may first be noted by 6 months of age and can rapidly progress causing blindness by age 2. In the bichon frise, cataracts may not be evident until the dog is 4 years old, and then the rate of progression is variable.

Trauma. If the lens is punctured or damaged from something like a cat scratch or a stick penetrating the eye, a cataract usually forms. Some of these form only at the site of injury, but others progress to involve the entire lens.

Diabetes. Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) is a systemic disease in which regulation of blood sugar (glucose) is not controlled. The lens requires some glucose, but when the levels are too high, cataracts can form rapidly. Diabetic cataracts can develop even when an animal is receiving insulin.

Congenital, developmental cataract. Animals can be born with cataracts, but they are not necessarily inherited (genetic) cataracts. There may have been a problem in the development of the lens or of the blood vessel that surrounds the lens as it develops during the pregnancy.

Old Age. Age related cataracts are usually very small and tend to progress very slowly. A true senile cataract is not the same as the natural aging of the lens that gives it a bluish-white hue known as nuclear or lenticular sclerosis.

Secondary to other diseases. Retinal diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and inflammatory eye diseases, such as anterior uveitis can cause cataracts. The underlying eye disease alters the nutrition of the lens, and a cataract forms. Nutritional deficiencies early in life, changes in blood calcium, exposure to certain drugs and toxins, exposure to concentrated microwaves, radiation therapy and electrocution may also alter both the nutrition and the structure of the lens, resulting in cataracts.

Pages 1 2

4 5 6

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
Ketoconazole is used in both dogs and cats to treat infections caused by fungi. These infections may affect the skin, claws, lymph nodes, respiratory tract, bone and other tissues.
Read More
2 Cloudy Eye in Dogs
A cloudy eye or increased opacity of the eye is associated with reduced transparency of either the cornea, the fluid media within the eye, or the lens that may or may not be associated with a reduction...
Read More
3 Diabetes in Dogs
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs. It is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the dog's ability to metabolize sugar....
Read More
4 Blindness in Dogs
Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes and may be caused by disorders of the structures that receive and process the image or specific visual pathways of the brain that transmit and further process...
Read More
5 Glaucoma in Dogs
Inside the normal eye there is constant production and drainage of a watery fluid. When a problem with the drainage of the fluid occurs, the pressure inside of the eye can increase. High pressure causes...
Read More
6 Retinal Detachment in Dogs
Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from the underlying choroid and occurs most often as a result of degenerative changes in the peripheral retina and vitreous body, which produce holes...
Read More
7 Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
The objective of Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is to eliminate heritable eye diseases in purebred dogs. CERF accumulates research data, provides eye registration certificates and facilitates...
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1 Cloudy Eye in Dogs
A cloudy eye or increased opacity of the eye is associated with reduced transparency of either the cornea, the fluid media within the eye, or the lens that may or may not be associated with a reduction...
Read More
2 Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
Ketoconazole is used in both dogs and cats to treat infections caused by fungi. These infections may affect the skin, claws, lymph nodes, respiratory tract, bone and other tissues.
Read More
3 Diabetes in Dogs
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs. It is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the dog's ability to metabolize sugar....
Read More
4 Glaucoma in Dogs
Inside the normal eye there is constant production and drainage of a watery fluid. When a problem with the drainage of the fluid occurs, the pressure inside of the eye can increase. High pressure causes...
Read More
5 Retinal Detachment in Dogs
Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from the underlying choroid and occurs most often as a result of degenerative changes in the peripheral retina and vitreous body, which produce holes...
Read More
6 Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
The objective of Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is to eliminate heritable eye diseases in purebred dogs. CERF accumulates research data, provides eye registration certificates and facilitates...
Read More
7 Blindness in Dogs
Blindness is the loss of vision in both eyes and may be caused by disorders of the structures that receive and process the image or specific visual pathways of the brain that transmit and further process...
Read More

Cataracts in Dogs

Cataracts in Dogs

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles