Glaucoma in Dogs

Optimal treatment for your pet requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. Follow-up can be critical and may involve the following:

Administer prescribed medication(s) as directed and be certain to alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet. Repeated trips to your veterinarian are important in order to monitor the pressure within the eye and to make adjustments in medications. Do not stop glaucoma medications once they are started unless your veterinarian gives you instructions to do so.

Understand the medications that your pet is taking and what each one is used for. Ask your veterinarian about potential side effects to the drugs and how to monitor for those side effects. Also, ask your veterinarian about alternate plans should side effects be experienced by your dog.

Be aware that glaucoma may require long-term therapy and monitoring.

Also be aware that all dogs that have experienced primary glaucoma in one eye are prone to the disease in the other eye. Ask your veterinarian about starting preventative therapy for the other eye.

Because glaucoma can be so rapidly devastating to an eye, it is important to have the dog evaluated immediately. An examination should not be delayed until the following day, or wait for the end of a weekend or holiday. Help should be sought immediately for any dog that has already been blinded by glaucoma in one eye, and who is exhibiting suspicious symptoms in the opposite (good) eye.