An Untreated Dog Cataract

Dogs get cataracts as the result of diabetes mellitus, trauma, infection or old age. Some dogs actually have cataracts at birth, as it can be inherited or the puppy may have been infected with something while in his mother's womb. If left untreated, a cataract causes serious inflammation in your dog's eyes. If the cataract is not removed, you must give your dog anti-inflammatory eye drops daily for the rest of his life. When dog cataracts are serious this can cause glaucoma or a detached retina.

  1. Glaucoma

    • Cataracts result in intraocular inflammation or Lens-Induced Uveitis (LIU). When this occurs, it hurts the dog's eyes because the pressure in his eye increases. Too much pressure in the eye leads to glaucoma, which causes a chronic headache. When a cataract is not treated, it can slip or luxate from the tissue that holds it in place. It is then able to float around the eye, and when it settles it can block the natural fluid drainage in the eye. This causes glaucoma, which can lead to permanent blindness. Cataract surgery should be performed early on, before glaucoma sets in. If the cataract dissolves on its own, it causes inflammation in the dog's eye and a lot of pain.

    Diabetes and Other Factors

    • When a dog is diabetic, he is likely to develop cataracts within the first year of diagnosis. The cataracts can actually crop up over night, according to the Animaleyecare website. Cataracts can also be caused by various non-genetic factors, according to Dr. Mike Richards, including a vitamin B deficiency, feeding puppies milk-replacing formula, toxins and chronic inflammation.

    Dog Breeds

    • There are certain dog breeds that get cataracts because of a dominate gene. This means that one of the dog's parents transmitted the gene for cataracts. Those breeds include the Chesapeake Bay retriever and beagles. Those dogs that get cataracts because of a recessive gene, which means that both parents have passed on the recessive gene to the pup, include the Boston bull terrier, old English sheepdog, Welsh springer spaniel, American cocker spaniel, golden retriever, German shepherd, miniature schnauzer, Afghan hound, Staffordshire bull terrier, standard pool and Siberian husky.

    Blindness

    • Cataracts can blind your dog. Three out of four diabetic dogs get blinding cataracts. Surgery can prevent permanent blindness. If your dog has lost vision due to cataracts, it is sometimes possible for vision to be restored. A veterinary ophthalmologist removes the lens in the eye and puts in an acrylic or plastic lens. However not all dogs are good candidates for this kind of surgery, particularly if you have waited too long to treat the condition.