Glaucoma in Dogs symptoms and treatment
Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure internal of the eye, known as intraocular pressure, increases to the point of blindness and permanent damage. It is a common cause of blindness in dogs and humans. Glaucoma in dogs must be diagnosed in time to treat it more effectively.
What causes glaucoma in dogs?
The pressure inside the eye is kept thanks to the balance between the amount of fluid that comes in and out of it. If there is excess liquid entering or few exiting, the balance is broken and it increases intraocular pressure, causing damage to the retina and the optic nerve. Glaucoma is usually painful and approximately 40% of the cases lead to blindness.
In the case of primary glaucoma, this occurs because of a genetic predisposition of the animal to suffer from the disease. For example, the design of the eye can have very small draining pores or very narrow angles that do not allow the correct flow of ocular fluid.
Glaucoma is said to be secondary if another disease is the cause. It can even be caused by an object that accidentally falls into the dog’s eye and causes an inflammation that alters the flow of the eyeball.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma in dogs?
The symptoms of primary glaucoma primary tend to be:
- Constant eye blinking
- Red eyes
- Cloudiness in the eye lens
- Dilated pupil or light nonrespondent
- Blindness
- Elongation of the eyeball
In the case of secondary glaucoma, symptoms may include:
- Red eyes
- Cloudiness in the eye lens
- Inflammation in the eye
- Pupil constriction
- The iris sticks to the cornea or the lens
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Change of attitude, apathy towards games.
What can I do if my dog suffers from glaucoma?
Symptoms of glaucoma are hard to notice with the naked eye. This means that when they are very apparent, the damage to the eye is almost irreversible and the veterinarian must perform an operation to relieve pressure within the eyeball. This is done in order to try to save the dog’s sight.
If glaucoma was detected in time, the veterinarian will be able to handle the situation but you will have to bring your dog for regular checkups. If glaucoma happens in one eye only, the veterinarian will check the unaffected eye to determine if this other eye is at risk or not.
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