Diabetes is one of the most common conditions affecting the dog's endocrine system. This chronic condition arises when there is a deficiency of insulin, a hormone responsible for helping the body metabolize sugar, according to Dr. Leah Cohn, professor, diplomate ACVIM (small animal internal medicine), DVM, University of Tennessee. To refurnish the body with insulin and control the disease, diabetic dogs may require daily insulin injections. Among the variety of metabolic changes and complications caused by high levels of glucose in the blood, eye problems are one of the most common.
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Effects
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A dog's eye depends on fluids in order to be healthy. The lens of a dog's eye depend on fluids in order to receive nutrients. When elevated amounts of sugar circulate throughout the body of diabetic dogs, the lens of the dog's eyes may suffer significant consequences. The excess sugar content found in the fluids circulating in the dog's eyes will cause the dog's lens to become incapacitated from absorbing additional fluids. Over time, the dog's lens will therefore crystallize and become opaque, causing an eye disorder in diabetic dogs known as cataracts, according to the website "Vetinfo.com."
Symptoms
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Vision loss is a symptom of cataracts. The opacity in the lens caused by cataracts will block the transmission of light to the retina, according to Dr. Jennifer Welser, DVM and diplomate from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. This will cause vision impairment and sometimes blindness in advanced cases. Symptoms suggesting the presence of cataracts in diabetic dogs are the following: a bluish, gray or whitish tint inside the eye, trouble climbing stairs, bumping into furniture, hesitancy in moving around in familiar surroundings and other signs of possible vision impairment or vision loss.
Statistics
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Cataracts is a very common eye disorder in diabetic dogs. Indeed, it is estimated that three out of every four dogs affected by diabetes will develop cataracts leading to blindness. It is also estimated that 75 percent of diabetic dogs will develop cataracts and blindness affecting both eyes within one year of being diagnosed with diabetes, according to Animal Eye Care LLC, a referral practice for comprehensive ophthalmic examination based in Bellingham, Washington.
Treatment
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The only way to remove cataracts is through surgery. It is unfortunate that there are currently no medical treatments to reverse or shrink the cataracts once present. The only way to remove the cataracts remains through surgery, according to Dr. Jennifer Welser, DVM and diplomate from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Generally, good candidates are diabetic dogs with cataracts that are not complicated by other eye diseases and are determined by a veterinary ophthalmologist on a case-by-case basis. Obviously, other than removing the cataracts, medical management and good control of diabetes is crucial as well.
Warning
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Left untreated, cataracts may lead to other serious complications of the eye. Indeed, advanced cataracts may cause intraocular inflammation of the eye, a condition known as lens-induced uveitis. This condition may damage the eyes because it may ultimately cause glaucoma, which is a significant increase of intraocular pressure in the eye that can quickly lead to blindness. At this point in time, cataract surgery might no longer be possible. For this reason it is of primary importance to have a diabetic dog's eyes examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as possible, according to Animal Eye Care LLC.
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