Sadly, most senior dogs do not see as well as they did when they were younger, there are 4 problems listed here that cause their entire world to become over cast.
1. Cataracts are the most common cause. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye lens. They occur when the regular mechanics of the lens changes, along with the regular balance of water and protein in the eye alter, allowing excess water to get into the lens. The eye has a whitish cloudiness to it. In the event the cataracts have advanced sufficiently, your dog may well show signs of vision loss.
Most senior dogs will probably acquire a blue-gray color instead of a white color on their eyes. Some people tend to mistake this development for cataracts, it is a great deal more likely that these 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 you're dog has diabetes or you have an elderly dog that is failing in health, it might be best to simply get treatment for any inflammation that the cataracts have caused and certainly, to take as many measures as you possibly can to restore your elderly dogs overall health.
Elderly dogs are especially vulnerable to conjunctivitis or "Pink eye", which is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that surrounds the eyeball and eyelids. This common canine eye disorder has many 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 manifest in the white parts of the eye and, or the eyelids, your dog may squint or even paw at the affected eye. The eye will more than likely emit a discharge, although the nature of the discharge typically depends on the underlying cause of the conjunctivitis.
To take care of conjunctivitis, the vet will try and find out what triggered the condition in the first place. If the veterinarian can determine the cause, treatment would be based on his findings. The veterinarian will start by relieving the distress your pet is suffering. If the vet does not discover a exact cause, he usually prescribes a topical antibiotic and or corticosteroid to decrease irritation and eradicate the infection. Conjunctivitis clears up reasonably fast if the main cause is identified and eliminated. If the cause is unknown, treatment of the symptoms is likely 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, such as Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, and West Highland Terriers, the condition is fairly common. Without treatment, the surface of the cornea may become damaged, that can greatly increase the discomfort your canine is already feeling and will lead to blindness.
A dog with dry eye acquires a red eye that discharges thick mucus. Your canine will begin to squint to relieve the discomfort or paw at the eyes. Crusty material often form at the corners.
Dry eye does respond very well to proper treatment. Cyclosporine in cream or liquid form, a couple times a day can improve your dog's tear production. Artificial tears and antibiotic eye medications can help as well. Wiping away the crusty eye material at the corners is a good plan, just soak a cotton ball with warm water or obtain dog wipes designed to be gentle around the eye area. The moisture will soften the crusts so that it is less difficult to wipe away. Unfortunately, in lots of cases, treatment contunues for the rest of your dog's life.
4. Glaucoma results when the fluid in the eye, which normally drains directly into the circulatory system, is blocked from making such an exit. Consequently, the fluid accumulates and takes up space in the eye, causing fluid pressure within 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 typical symptom of glaucoma. Other signs include 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 afflicted eye so as to alleviate the pressure. Unlike human glaucoma, the doggy version of this disease can be highly aggressive, because of this, your canine may lose sight in the eye within just a few days if he or she 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 lessen pressure within the eye, prescribed medications will help. When the pupil no longer reacts to light, your dog loses his vision in the affected eye. When this occurs, the best course of action is frequently to remove the eye in order to get rid of any infection or pain that results from the disease. A prosthetic eye may be used to replace the eye.
A dog with glaucoma at some point loses sight in the affected eye, and generally, sadly, the other eye is affected later. Prompt treatment may put off the inevitable, usually for quite a while.
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